The widely publicized suicide of 18-year-old Tyler Clementi in September not only put the spotlight on the harassment of gay teenagers but also highlighted the possible role of religious groups in instilling negative views about homosexuals. The 18-year-old freshman at Rutgers University jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge after a video of his intimate encounter with another man was streamed on the Internet by his roommate. Clementi’s death and other recent teen suicides stemming from the bullying of homosexuals have prompted much cultural finger-pointing. Although religious groups have been blamed in part, many of them have been seeking ways to stop such discrimination. Catholic Church teaching calls homosexual acts morally wrong but affirms the dignity of people with homosexual inclinations. Jewish groups have been urging members to sign a pledge to end anti-gay bullying, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a statement condemning the bullying of homosexuals.
Teen Suicides Prompt Soul Searching
Show Comments (
)
Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.
The latest from america
The lie that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute persisted for centuries. A new play reclaims her story.
"Magdalene: I am the utterance of my name" is advocating for setting the record straight on one of Christianity’s most vital disciples.
This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley struggle to resist the temptation to “type” each other as they learn about the Enneagram from Liz Orr, author of “The Unfiltered Enneagram: A Witty and Wise Guide to Self-Compassion.”
Keeping President Biden on the ballot is like telling voters: “Trust us. Don’t believe your eyes and ears.”
Many watching last night’s debate wondered if this was the end for Joe Biden. But I could not help but wonder if this was the end of presidential debates.