jazzGman-

As I think I've stated numerous times I have a lot of differences with the Catholic church.

The issue of gay marriage is one of the many.

However it is not The Catholic Church that is putting all the laws on the books against gay marriage - it is my governmental bodies. I find this highly offensive.

You know, I don't hold myself up to be some kind of example of how best to practice the Catholic faith. Again, I struggle with it all the time. I try to find a place to belong to a faith community but at the same time I have strong and often contrary opinions and thoughts about how things could be done differently.

What I'm coming to understand is that this doubt, this struggle, is part of MY faith journey. It is part of my spiritual life.

It is not a failure on my part to be perfectly in harmony with a religious body - it is simply my path.

There are many contradictories and paradoxes that evolve and that sit stably on my path. Being okay with those is a kind of spiritual practice in itself.

a&s