It makes sense for me to have every couple who wants to marry have a civil ceremony, and then a church ceremony if they want to have it 'blessed'. I dislike the idea of 'civil unions' as opposed to marriage, though. Too much like 'separate but equal.' Either everyone should have civil unions, or gays should have marriages.

The church should be able to do whatever they want, as long as they aren't getting any tax breaks from the government.

But the idea that the church discriminates against people because they are gay is one of the things that has caused me to lose respect for the church, or at least elements of it. I think that 'sin' is an easy excuse for homophobia.

I recommend the book 'In the Courts of the Lord', about a gay Anglican priest who was expelled from his congregation.