A strong statement from a range of evangelical organizations has called on the Church of Scotland to affirm the membership and ministry of gay people in the church on biblical and traditional grounds - in opposition to anti-gay activists.

Secularist campaigners will be marching to the Italian Embassy in London today, in a demonstration coinciding with one in Rome against the Vatican's interventions in Italian, European and global politics.

For half a century, says Savi Hensman, theologians have vigorously debated lesbian and gay love and the response of society and the Church. Yet theological reflection on these issues, for instance in literature, dates back further.

Leading evangelical Christian celebrity Sir Cliff Richard, who is now aged 67, thinks the church should be supportive of committed gay relationships and says he is sick of intrusive speculation about his own sexuality.

The openly gay US bishop whose consecration in 2003 polarised the worldwide Anglican Communion, says he believes that one day the Church will regret its rejection of homosexuals the way that it now regrets its past support for slavery.

Civil libertarians are infuriated at special regulations coming into force for the upcoming Catholic World Youth Day event in Sydney, Australia, where Pope Benedict XVI will be the guest of honour.

The head of Changing Attitude England, a group of Anglican Christians working for an inclusive church, has exposed a "shocking" act of anti-gay violence in Nigeria and called on the Church there to condemn it unequivocally.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, evangelical leaders Rick and Kay Warren and the Rev Gideon Byamugisha, the first African Anglican priest to openly say he is HIV-positive, are contributors to an Advent Calendar focussing on HIV-AIDS awareness.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has attended a confidential meeting of the Clergy Consultation - an ongoing support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and intersex clergy and their partners.

The Christian agency Faithworks, which contracts with government and has 20,000 community and church partners, has made a critical response to a report challenging the contribution faith groups make to public service provision.