Forum Focuses on Same-Sex Marriage and Catholicism

The passage of Proposition 8 in California came about because of efforts by Christian fundamentalists and the Mormon Church. As a result, there has been a great deal of discussion about the relationship between the gay and lesbian community and religion. Most accounts tend to separate the two; it's often forgotten that a significant number of gays and lesbians are also people of faith. The Catholic Church faces a great deal of controversy in the wake of Pope Benedict's stated opposition to homosexuality and his declaration that same-sex marriages are “pseudo-matrimony.” On Nov. 11, The New Ways Ministry organized “An Evening of Dialogue: Same-Sex Marriage and Catholicism.” Held at the Jewish Reconstructionist Congreation in Evanston, the event examined the theological underpinnings behind the Church's doctrines, and the disparity between those and the lived experiences and lives of laypersons.