Conservative Jews uphold antigay policy

Conservative Judaism's Rabbinical Assembly announced on Monday that a key panel has "upheld the biblical injunction against homosexual behavior," at least for now, the Chicago Tribune reports. The Committee on Jewish Law and Standards, which sets policy on application of halacha, or Jewish law, kept in place a 1992 ruling against both ordination of openly gay rabbis and commitment ceremonies for same-sex couples. The statement said committee members are divided and that their "lively debate" will continue. The committee, which has discussed the gay issue for two years, met last week near Baltimore. The committee acknowledged that "for a variety of reasons, the Jewish ideal of heterosexual marriage is unrealistic for many Jews." Panel members said they "emphatically recognize the human dignity" of such Jews and urged synagogues and schools to be "inclusive and welcoming of all Jews regardless of their marital status or sexual orientation."