In regards to Civil Unions - Civil matrimony is a contract between two people and the state, in which the state concedes certain "rights" to the couple in exchange for some "benefits". For those to whom religion isn't a large factor (or a factor at all) in their lives, this is fine and I'm sure it's all they needed to make them happy. It doesn't mean their marriage isn't valid, but I certainly don't look at it the same way as mine... And I don't mean that condescendingly - I just look at it a little differently. Not worse, not better - just different.

I am hesitant to say anything else, but I think I should. I do not want to debate, I am merely stating my thoughts on the matter. I have friends who are gay and that hasn't stopped me from being their friends, though I may not agree with their lifestyle - just as if I had an alcoholic friend, I would not stop being their friend. The best way that I can put it is this:

What the Church believes is that "homosexual marriage" can't actually exist, because "marriage" is actually the union of a man and woman for the purpose of creating together and founding a family (that is, having children and raising them up in a particular culture).

Since homosexuals cannot do that, it is not possible for them to be married. This has nothing to do with prejudice against them: it is simply that it is physically impossible.

To call something that homosexuals can do "marriage" changes the meaning of the term "marriage", and devalues the action of a man and woman coming together to found a family, since we no longer have a word for that. We lose the word that has been used to describe that by using the same word to name something completely different from that.

The Church considers the action of a man and woman coming together to found a family to be absolutely essential to the health of society and for its future, but the action of two homosexual persons coming together is purely optional: society would never be harmed if they never did that, so it would be a whole lot better to call that something else, and to keep encouraging men and women to be married, in the true sense of the meaning of that word.

Homosexuals have no need of "legalization" of their relationships in today's society, because the law does not go into the bedrooms of consenting adults, anyway. They are free to do whatever they want, already.

Having said that, I would appreciate it if I weren't attacked for sharing my own personal beliefs on this subject. I don't know who's right - all I know is that this is what I believe what with having been raised in the Church and still remaining active in it today. No one will know what was right and what was wrong until Judgement Day. I'm not pushing my views on anyone, I'm merely giving you insight as to my thoughts on the subject. So let's not turn this into a Christian bashing. 'kay?