Will gay marriage be a major issue in the 2008 presidential election?

[JSojourner]

I don't care if it's "appealing" or not. It's not the job of the Church to compromise ideals for that which is "appealing" to the masses.

(You edited your post, so these seems tangential, but it isn't)

I'm not sure why you're being so reactionary.  I know a closeted Catholic kid who essentially feels compelled to go into service to the Church because he'll never be able to have a meaningful relationship or children.  In fact, the official Catholic Church positions on the matter essentially say, suck it up, serve God, make God your wife.  What better way to do that?

Hundreds of Catholic priests in the U.S. have died of HIV.  Either they're shooting black tar heroin, many of them are closeted homosexuals attracted to the cloth to serve the only love they're allowed to have.  Not letting people ever physically express love is going to have repercussions in some instances, obviously.

This post misunderstands chastity and the Roman Catholic Church.  The Church considers themselves guardians of the teachings of Christ.  The problem is that you are looking at everything with a 'tolerance' angle.  The Church tolerates gays, but it does not encourage homosexuality, just as it does not encourage other sins such as gluttony, sloth, greed, et cetera.  It is interesting that there are no modern activists advocating changing those sins.  Indeed, if it were not for the Church's views on sexuality then it would not be so attacked.

I'm looking forward to a renewed effort on your part to establish a Constitutional amendment prohibiting the state from recognizing the marital union of gluttons, lazy people and greedy people. And for that matter, it will be interesting to see how many communion wafers are left over when the church starts denying the sacrament to people who persist in gluttony, slothfulness and greed.

[JSojourner]

VB: What would I say to a gay Christian?  I would say, stop sinning.  Everyone struggles with sin, some more than others, but indulging in sodomy is a choice, just as being angry is a choice, eating to excess is a choice, and hitting someone is a choice.

if homosexuality is a choice, why would somebody choose to be thrown out of their home at age 15? Why would somebody choose to have awkward conversations with relatives about a girlfriend who doesn't exist? Why would somebody choose to face the wrath and anger of their entire community? Why would somebody choose to be singled out for beatings and ridicule?

Because the gays are in control of the liberal, left-wing media...Hollyweird...the government schools and are in cahoots with The Illuminati to rule the world.

Have you not been paying attention to Dr. Dobson and Reverend Phelps?

[JSojourner]

JS responds to the query of "why would somebody choose to be thrown out of their home at age 15?", with the response "Because the gays are in control of the liberal, left-wing media...Hollyweird ... ."

Trying to to connect the dots over rather rugged terrain, I guess the point you were making JS is that the omnipotent gays want 15 year olds to move out of the parents' home and into theirs.  How perspicacious of you! 

Exactly.  And think of the temptation!  I mean, all those horny, heterosexual 15 year olds would so easily be turned.  Reminds me of the abject fear of gays serving in the Marine Corps.  I'm guessing one, maybe two, gay men per Marine platoon.  Yeah, I am sure the gay Marines would easily force their -- errr --- "lifestyle choice" on the rest of the unit.