They also bar sexually active homosexuals from ordination as priests or ministers.

Responding to the pressure of court cases, the Government is about to end a policy of barring homosexuals from joining the armed forces, senior military officials say.

The group wanted him to come out against the so-called Briggs Initiative, which would have barred homosexuals from teaching in public schools.

In recent weeks, the Supreme Court refused to consider two constitutional challenges to the military's policy of barring homosexuals from service.

The appeal will be based on a narrow issue unrelated to the question of whether barring homosexuals is constitutional.

Forty-five percent of the military officers but only 17 percent of the civilians would bar homosexuals from military service.

Instead, objections to barring homosexuals from employment or housing are deemed unreasonable because they constitute an unfair request for "special" rights.

UNTIL 1942, no specific proviso barred homosexuals from serving in the military.

The report says the Pentagon should rethink its policy of barring homosexuals from service.

The Supreme Court refused today to consider two constitutional challenges to the military's longstanding policy of barring homosexuals from service.