[ga medic]

“Aboiut 4% of the priests have committed hideous acts and been found out. Ironically their deeds are what gays do daily and are not reproached for it, becauuse it is all done in the name of love.”

I completely disagree with you here. The priests that molested children (mostly boys) took advantage of a position of power, with boys that were sometimes not old enough to understand what they were doing, let alone consent. This is a horrible crime against another person and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible. A relationship between 2 consenting gay adults, is nothing like it. However distasteful a relationship between gays may be, it is consensual. No crime is being committed.

As for why the public doesn’t perceive gays in a negative light, I don’t really know. I can answer for myself only. I know several gay people, and have worked with several more. One I have known since I was 2, and I have always known something was different about him, even in Kindergarten. I asked my mom why Carlos didn’t care about our football or baseball games, and why he always played “dishes” with my sisters.

Yes, homosexuality is clearly a sin. No, I don’t believe it should be encouraged. But, just as I don’t condemn my buddies who sleep around, or my sister who lives with her boyfriend, I leave personal matters to people and God. It just isn’t any of my business. Trust me, I have enough trouble worrying about my own sins.

[RobbyS]

<1>A relationship between 2 consenting gay adults, is nothing like it. However distasteful a relationship between gays may be, it is consensual. No crime is being committed. I agree that the cime of the priest was worse, and not only because it was a power relationship but because it was a betrayal of trust, and by a consecrated person. But you seem no to have got my meaning. There are lots of very young boys who are prostitutes: they are taken advantage of by gays. There are many teenager boys who are seduced by older teen ager boys or by adults, teachers included. Their crime is exactly the same==buggery==and many more of them than priests have engaged in such acts and their "community not only does not condemn it: they applaud. One of the worst of the priest offenders In the Boston diocese , in fact, is famous for his promotion of man-boy relationships. But somehow the embarrassed actions of the diocese of Boston is worse than a gay community yo whom the worst crime is hypocrisy. They hide behind the rubic of mutual consent, but against this is the principal that no one has the "right" to do what is "wrong." We may be a liberty to do so, but deeds are called wrong for a reason. They are wrong because they have evil effects, and every evil effect harms the world. Even the pagans know this.