Rev. Debra Haffner

I am pleased to announce that the Religious Institute, a multi-faith organization dedicated to sexual health, education and justice, has issued a statement regarding The United Methodist Church's decision General Conference not to remove the doctrinal language that states, "the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching."

Twenty-four...

On Feb. 6, Mitt Romney had this to say about the inclusion of contraception as a covered service in health insurance: "Think what that does to people who are in faiths that do no share those views. This is a violation of conscience. We must have a president...

When I went to seminary, I was surprised to discover how little information there was about sexuality in my courses, and that preparation for dealing with congregants' sexuality issues was mostly absent. A decade later, the Religious Institute's study, "Sex and the Seminary," found that few of even...

Dear Cam and Mitchell:

Can we talk?

I know you can't agree on what to do about Lily's swearing, but after she used the "F" word in your house and at the wedding, it really is time.

First let me assure that this is a very common problem....

This is the time of year of top ten lists and predictions for 2012. Although I don't have any particular prognostication skills, I do think it's safe to predict that sexuality, religion, and public life will continue to dominate the headlines during 2012. Here are my top 10 predictions:

10....

I heard a report yesterday that Herman Cain said he was having a hard time remembering the details of the accusations (and settling) of sexual harassment charges. A male correspondent I heard on another news source said something like, "That happened 20 years ago. Why is it even...

Over the past 35 years, I have counseled thousands of women faced with unintended pregnancies. Almost every one of them wrestled with what would be best in her life circumstances and with what her faith taught her. Many struggled because they incorrectly believed the prevailing rhetoric that people of faith...

I found myself alternatively fascinated and infuriated as I read the new 152 page report by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Causes and Context of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests. The report is both comprehensive and short sighted. It is both clear in its...

My children are now 17 and 25. As Mother's Day approaches, I can't help but feel nostalgic for the long-gone days of homemade cards and macaroni bracelets. There's nothing I'm prouder of than being their mother, and I am blessed to have them as part of my life.

But we...

I've had a week to think about it, and I'm still horrified that the U.S. House of Representatives voted 240 to 185 to ban Planned Parenthood from federal funding, and then went on to eliminate the Title X program, the community health centers program, the

I'm sure it's just a coincidence that Pastor Joel Osteen declared homosexuality a sin the same week we learn that former leading evangelical pastor Ted Haggard says that he is bisexual. Think of the ratings had Piers Morgan had them on together!

Osteen told Morgan, "The...

We are surrounded by a constant drumbeat of natural and manmade tragedies that call for our attention as people of faith: earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, disease, oil spills, airplane crashes, wars and intractable prejudice.

The rapidly changing 24/7 news cycle inures us to the unrelenting and preventable tragedies...

Last week, the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics issued the final birth statistics for 2007. They reported that in 2007, there were 4.3 million births in the United States, the highest total number of births ever in a single year.
Nearly 40%...

I couldn't believe the news story was true.

The Southland Christian School in St. Cloud, Florida, fired an elementary school teacher, Jarretta Hamilton, for having had premarital sex. A school administrator said, "Jarretta was asked not to return because of a moral issue that was...

The National Association of Evangelicals has published a new booklet, "Theology of Sex," as part of an effort to encourage dialogue about how to reduce abortions in the U.S. I'm delighted that they are finally taking seriously the Religious Institute's longstanding call for denominations...

Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Yvette Clark of New York introduced the Global Sexual and Reproductive Health Act of 2010, a comprehensive new framework for U.S. international assistance for reproductive and sexual health services. The legislation calls for increased support for family planning and maternal health services worldwide, prevention of...

It can happen in your congregation, too.

The crisis in the Roman Catholic Church is a stark reminder that people we love and admire may turn out to be sex offenders, capable of causing irreparable damage to young lives. Various studies indicate that a not-insignificant minority of...

The latest revelations about sexual abuse against children by Roman Catholic priests are nothing short of revolting. The story of Father Lawrence Murphy, who abused more than 200 deaf boys in Milwaukee over decades, despite the boys' speaking out and calling for help, should outrage us all. The...

Seventeen years ago this spring, I miscarried a very wanted pregnancy at 16 weeks. I had joyfully announced my pregnancy to my church community the day before, when I woke up with cramping and spotting. As the doctor performed the sonogram, we saw that the fetus had never developed past...

Ten years ago, a multifaith coalition of clergy and theologians released the Religious Declaration on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing in a full-page advertisement in the New York Times. The declaration challenged the nation's religious leaders to become better pastors for sexual health, respond to the suffering caused...