Gay Marriage

Got into a discussion a while ago on the topic of gay marriage, and so I figured I might as well post my thoughts on the matter so any readers would have something other than random ranting to read.

Let me start off by saying yes, I am a christian (catholic), and no, I do not have any problem with homosexuality. I have always taken the bible as divinely inspired (not dictated), but with the knowledge that it was written down by human beings who are capable of error and vulnerable to the temptation of corrupting the message for their own purposes. It has also always been my belief that God does not do things at random, but with a logical purpose in mind, even if that purpose cannot be understood. I like to think this belief is supported by the fact that the book is referred to as "the Word", translated from the Greek "logos" which also means "logic" or "reason".

Yes, homosexuality is demonized in Leviticus. There are also many other laws in that chapter that dictate what was proper or "right" for society at that time. If you look through them, many seem quite rational because they provide ways to keep the society healthy, peaceful, and functional. Likewise, in a society that is smaller and persecuted, particularly in an age where child mortality rates were so high, it can be seen as logical to forbid unions that would not result in offspring. That being said, society today does not suffer from the same limitations today that the Jews did thousands of years ago. Many of the laws from the Old Testament were more or less overruled by the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament, and I believe homosexuality falls under that category.

Romans chapter 13
"8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."

This is one of my favorite passages from the bible. The element of homosexuality and any sex related "sin" that is considered bad is the lust, the cravings of the body that overwhelm the mind and cause the person to lose control and be a slave to desire. Gay marriage and relationships in general to me are not vehicles of lust but of love, because these unions are not about fulfilling the cravings of the body, but rather forming a loving and heartfelt connection to another soul, just as Jesus encourages. In a world that is this overpopulated, I don't believe that God would harbor resentment for two souls in love simply because the expression of that love does not result in offspring.

As far as legal reasoning goes, we have a separation of church and state in this country, so a law that is made based solely on religious reasoning is illegal. Section 1 of the 14th amendment of the U.S. Constitution states:

"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

Laws against gay marriage not only go against the spirit of the Constitution, but against the letter of the law as well.

Well, that's my opinion on the matter anyway.