Just more craziness from the political elites and their cronies. They have time to destroy the social morays and customs not to mention trashing religion at every opportunity but not to solve the financial problems created by them and for them.

Ask the question who benefits by this nonsense? The tie store and the contributions from the GLBT groups to these moronic politicians. If you think they care one iota about gays or we the tax payers your nuts!

The financial problems in this country have nothing to do with gay marriage. Your religious beliefs should not get in the way of a person's basic right to seek a marriage license. What if it was your kid? Would you assume they don't deserve the same rights as you?

Basic rights extend to driving, gun ownership, keeping the fruits of one’s labor, worshipping as one sees fit, not being spied on by cameras, drones, software, having freedom of speech, keeping this crap out of our schools and not destroying our culture to satisfy 1% (if that) of the population. Unfortunately most of these BASIC rights have already been lost or will be soon.

Marriage is an institution which provides a stable environment for the next generation and by definition is between a man and a woman. When two males or females can procreate then let’s talk about marriage otherwise it is just carnal lust and should be kept in the closet where it belongs instead of trying to shove it down everyone's throat.

If I had a child that was gay I would love him/her but counsel against and be adamantly opposed to them marrying or adopting children for the reasons above.

You really ought to keep you hatefulness in the closet. "Marriage by definition"?--definitions change all the time as society and culture evolves, at one time Marriage meant one man and several women-check you Bible.
Gay men and Lesbian women can be great parents to adopted children the same as heterosexual couples who are infertile can be great parents to adopted children. Or do you think that should heterosexual couples not able to procreate keep their "carnal lust in a closet", too?

We don't need a Hollywood gay man here in Naperville or our State to push for immoral same sex marriage. Go back to Hollywood! An no to adoption, that's not an option! One man, one women=one flesh! And shame on people who say they are Catholic or a Christian and think same sex marriage isn't immoral and is natural. God does love all of us, but will punish the ones that believe in intrensic evil and sin.

Very well said Christine. I used to be opposed to gay marriage until I actually THOUGHT about it. Too bad some people are so deeply rooted in fear and hate that they can't even be true to themselves and THINK. Too scary to consider they may have been wrong and that what they believe is FULL of contradiction. I won't even call myself a Christian anymore because the hate and craziness has gotten out of control and in no way represents the savior they claim to follow. When asked, I call myself a Christ follower, I won't be associated with the evangelical cult of hate and judgement that the faith of my youth has become. Gerard are you even young enough to procreate? If not, you better not be married!!!!!! How sad to think that to some the definition of marriage is about procreation, not love and commitment? Oh, and how nice that these freaks will lash out in judgement over gay marriage, (homosexuality is not even spoken of in the commandments) but ignore/violate commandments regularly and publicly? So hypocritical!

And here's a newsflash for you Gerard, the institution of marriage has become a joke because of heteros that view it as temporary. Divorce rates are sky high. My sister has been in a committed lesbian relationship for 16 years. My brother divorced one woman and had a baby out of wedlock with another and is currently single and hooking up wherever he wants to but it's my sister that gets all the judgement and hate for being committed to a life partner. Nice. I am NOT an Obama supporter. There is much about the liberal agenda that I believe hurts our country, but allowing gay marriage in the state of Illinois will make us a better state. I wish The Tie Bar and Tie The Knot all the success in the world :)

I am tired of religion getting in the way of people being able to love, be loved and receive the same rights as all beings regarding rights to marriage. If you think homosexuality is evil, than so be it but you discriminate when you say that gays should not marry. I'm an atheist and consider myself more kind and loving than all the judgmental, mean and hateful gay bashers. How dare you say that gays cannot adopt or should not be able to adopt and start a loving family. You would rather let the kids suffer with no families. Keep going to church and learning how to discriminate and hate more.

Gerald I agree with you 100% and don't pay attention to the others bashing you! Consider the source!

Boo hoo! Just because a person such as myself or others don't want or like same sex marriage it's not hate, like some have said. It's getting old hearing that type of excuse because people say same sex marriage is wrong. Grow up people it's not hate, but ones moral and personal opinion. If you don't like it too bad. Stop crying like a bunch of babies.

Part 1 Despiser~ If you re-read my comment I said homosexuality is not mentioned in THE COMMANDMENTS. If you believe that 100% of the bible is true and to be taken at it's word, you'll know that it's the only part of the bible written BY GOD. I find it interesting that when God literally penned His rules for us, he made no mention of homosexuality, and He of course knew that it would be an area in need of clarity, yet he chose not to include any mention of it. He did however include adultery, so by not allowing Homosexuals to marry we are forcing them to break that commandment. Did anyone ever think of that? You stand in judgement of your homosexual neighbor even though Christ said himself that the second greatest command is to love thy neighbor. YES the bible references homosexuality as a sin, but there are many others sins that we ignore out of convenience. I just find it so amazing that "Christians" put so much effort into speaking against and preventing legislation that would allow homosexuals the right to marry. Let's not forget that non Christian Americans are not bound to Christian principles, and that they should be allowed the same liberties as any other American.

Part 2 If marriage was specifically a "Christian" covenant, the churches would be well within reason to deny a same sex couple the opportunity to marry, but marriage spans all religions and cultures and even atheists and agnostics. And, of course you can have your opinion, it just can't impede on the rights of your fellow Americans. My opinion is that you are misguided and I'm entitled to that opinion;) What nobody is entitled to however is legislation preventing any person from the same civil liberties as other Americans based on their sexual orientation, religion, or lack thereof. It seems so clear and simple. In 20 years our children will look at this issue the same way my generation looks at slavery, separate but equal, and the days when whites and blacks could not marry.... with disbelief that our nation with our constitution could be so ignorant and vile. Gerard you remember those days right? Sorry, but you're on the wrong side of the history being made today.
Oh, and um....the only one crying like a baby here is you Despiser. LOL! I think Joojo and Christine and I are all quite content with this movement in Illinois, and pleased that a Naperville business has taken part in it :)

I forgot to answer your question....I was raised non-denom Christian, asked Christ "into my heart" in third grade, and have never stopped seeking an authentic relationship with HIM. Unfortunately, I believe that organized religion has soured the very message He came to deliver. So busy passing judgement, as if God needs your help in that! It's laughable. You are commanded to love, not legislate. Try being the sheep and let the shepherd be the shepherd.

I can't wait until the excommunications start!

@Bluebird~ I totally understand and agree with your point abut the red light. My comments were more about the hypocrisy and as you stated, that is a factor in all sin committed by Christians. Of course we all sin, I'm just really turned off by the chasing down and degrading of others for their sins. Leave that to the shepherd was what I was trying to say...we should spend our time and energy doing what He told us to and not be so concerned with what he would say...leave that to Him. I suppose if there were some homosexual individual out there that did not know that the bible speaks against homosexuality it would be the duty (or whatever) of a Christian to make them aware of that in a loving way, but outside of that it's just not our job. I know it would be lovely for Christians if all of our laws were in complete alignment with the bible, but that's just not how America works and we can't hold non Christians to the same religious principles.

I should clarify what I said about God writing that part of the bible...what I meant was that he actually, physically wrote it, unlike all other scripture that was inspired by God but written by men. As a child I believed anything that came from my pastor/Christian school teachers and I believed that every word in the bible was written by God..as though he somehow whispered in the ear of it's many authors and they wrote his word verbatim. As an adult I realized that the bible has been politicized and altered, books added, books taken away....and it scared me.....my foundation was shaken. I thought "no way would God let His "word" to us be altered in any way" And then I thought about how different denominations Catholics/Christians/Mormons/JW's.....all based on the same "word" are so different and yet confident in their understanding of the bible. They can't all be right....so did He let his very word be misunderstood?

This is the type of thing that has made me take a step back and realize that I don't know everything and I don't have to. I seek Christ. And I fail daily, and I believe in His love and sacrifice. I appreciate the religious freedom we have. As an American I support that freedom for everyone. Did you have any thoughts on the comparison between slavery/ separate but equal/ interracial marriage and it paralleling the right to gay marriage? I'm seriously interested in your thoughts....I appreciate the opportunity the consider a different viewpoint, especially when made as thoughtfully and respectfully as you have. Sheesh! I keep getting cut off on the length of my messages, but so much to say! LOL!

.It's not hate. It will be the Catholic Church's prerogative following its rules and doesn't have to cater to immoral and intrensic sinners. What's next same sex married couples filing law suits because they are excummmunicated by the Church and denied communion!

Can't wait for what? The idiotic law suits? Or do you think the Church can't or has no authority to excummmunicate. It will happen! It's already started with communion where a Priest will not give communion to a same sex couple at the Catholic Church.

You said you "couldn't wait until the excommunications start" The fact that youy are looking forward to this for some reason is what I consider hateful. I don't value the man made laws or traditions of the Catholic church, but I would think the church would be protected in that case? Govt. should not be dictating to a church what it requires for participation in communion, just like a church should not be able to dictate a civil right to any American.

That's what happens with one commits the ultimate sin of the Cathoilc Church. It's not hate, but the rule of the Church to excommunicate for intrensic evils. Do you also know if a Catholic couple gets divorced and they remarry without an a annulment they are committing adultery and shouldn't receive communion and if they do so it's a sin.

I give up......you clearly are so deep within your own perspective that you are missing the extremely SIMPLE point I was trying to make. I can't spend any more time trying to make you see it.

Your point is that gays should get married and should not be punished for it by the Church if they are Catholic.

um.....wow..........OK. Whatever you say. I would encourage you to present this entire thread to your favorite Priest and see if he can't help you understand, because you clearly need some assistance.

Understand what? You are the one that doesn't! My I suggest you join a religion so you learn the real truth. What would my Priest say? That I'm correct. My Priest is 100% against same sex marriage! What will he tell me different?

Also I do speak to my Priest and he sees nothing wrong with my views and gives me the greatest guidance. As long as I'm not sinning, which I haven't. Amen.

The ones that will stay sinners until death are same sex marriage couples and all intrinsic evil doers and supporters. Me I go to confession for my venial sins! Clean slate!

Let the excumminacations start and denial of the Eucharist ! Amen!

MO3.....

The evolution of your views of how the Bible could be "inspired" --is actually pretty typical. When I "returned to Christianity," I listened to a popular biblical scholar who said the earliest piece of the NT dates to 100 years after the time of Christ. Wow! I thought. A century went by without anything written about it....! Ample time for exaggeration. Because I read other scholars, I discovered that there are multiple fragments of the NT going back to the first two or three centuries--and that the fragment that first scholar referred to was a fragment of a NT book dated to 30 years from the date of composition. Also--that same scholar has said as much elsewhere and that the text of the NT is pretty well attested. So much for his credibility! Every one has motives.

The history of the development of the biblical text cannot fit in this blog---but there are literally thousands of bits and parts of NT books and letters in existence--plus ancient commentaries quoting same. Lots of opportunities for comparison of the text and study of text history I know some books have fallen out of favor (I Clement, Shepherd of Hermas, e.g.) or have been controversial (Revelation, e.g.). The Muratorian Canon of 150 A.D. has most of the books that are now part of the NT, and those that have fallen out of favor (Epistle of Barnabas) or never were recognized (Gospel of Thomas) -- there were reasons for that--dating of text, attitude of early church, etc.

Stay tuned......

M)3...

As for "Catholics, Christians, Mormons, JWs"...as you mentioned. ... The book of Isaiah 9:6 says: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace....", The Dead Sea Scrolls have taught scholars that Judaism of 1st cent BC/Ad was looking for a Jewish man who would be both Messiah and God. There are groups who have taken different interpretations of the Bible, usually with the aid of additional scriptures. This is one reason WHY the canon of the NT began to be developed to begin with. We can get off onto major tangents with discussing JWs and LDS people--many of whom are nice people, but have followed later teachings. But the canon was closed for a reason.

As for slavery/ interracial marriage and how they compare to gay marriage.....I ultimately believe that these connections were made---originally--for political reasons. God did make people of various nationalities, and He made people of various racial backgrounds--and He declared His creation "good"--and probably still thinks so. But did He make male, female, and gay? To compare gay marriage with interracial marriage or the old "separate but equal" ideas---is to presume that all three groups were made by God. This is where disagreements set in amongst the various sides.

Everyone is entitle to their own religious beliefs pro or con but not to legislate and therefore commit the rest of the population to (through tax dollars) self-destructive, counterproductive, mostly negatively viewed laws.

Be all that you can but not on my dime. If that means being a homosexual go for it and leave the rest of us out of it. As to the motives behind what our crony, contemptible, mostly dishonest and totally inept politicians are doing it’s called pandering for votes!

Peace but vote no on gay marriage!

Amen Gerald!
The State of Illinois is being changed from the Land of Lincoln to the land of Corruption and Immortality.

I will keep on saying watch the excommunications and the denial of the Eucharist to same sex couples that get married and claim they are Catholic.

Keep despising Obama but the people have spoken and he is our president. Get used to it. Gays have the same right to marry as straight people do. Get over it. Hide behind your guns and faith but gay or straight the right to be married is a civil right. I find it so bizarre that people fight to keep gays from establishing the rights to marry. What goes on in the bedroom is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS SO GET OVER IT.

God created us as equals and gave us free will. It's the evil choices we make that sets us apart. God left it up to us to sin or not to sin. The ones that chose to murder, rape, have homosexual relations, commit intrinsic evils, continually violate the ten commandents or other acts of immorality will face the ultimate punishment on judgement day. We all have choices in life to either sin or not to sin. So if we do what we want in our life against God we will face his retribution. If some here say no! That's your choice. So you better prepare yourselves then!

Believe it or not the beast is married to a man!

Two comments were removed because they violated our Terms of Use.

DHD Simon should have stayed at home in his closet in LaLawood! He doesn't live here and should mind his own business.

"Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one? So they no longer two but one.
Matthew 19:4-6

Despiser of Obama is a bigot.

And Jerry you are a what????? Patch wouldn't allow it!!

You know, this isn't an issue of religion. It is an issue of law. Marriage, for whatever religious meaning it may or may not have, is a legal institution that conveys rights, responsibilites and privileges on a couple. Heterosexual couples can choose whether they want to take on those rights, responsibilities and privileges and right now, homosexual couples cannot. So it is an issue of fairness, not of religion.

When you marry it legally changes who automatically inherits your property should you die without a will, it changes who has the right to make decisions for you if you are injured or incapacitated, it changes who your "next of kin" is for notification purposes and for hospital visitation purposes, it changes the way you can hold property, it changes the way your income is evaluated for tax purposes, who can be covered on your insurance policy. It coveys monetary benefits that are not available otherwise.

So it isn't a matter of religion. It is a matter of equal protection under the law. It is a matter of not descriminating against people for arbitrary reasons. You don't have to like me, you don't have to like homosexuals, you don't have to like anyone, but just because you don't like them doesn't give you the right to deny them the same legal rights and protections that you enjoy.

If same same sex marriage is a big issue now why didn't gays for for it during the era of Roe vs. Wade, AKA murder!!!!

Well said Christine :)

Maybe they still should be!!!

Is that a threat Despiser? You seem sort of unstable and crazy. You seem like a very miserable angry individual.

You're lucky your last comment isn't posted here....it did however make to my email as a notification. I really don't think you speak for the Catholic Church, and it seems like you hate America and what it stands for because it doesn't suit your beliefs. America is a FREE nation, not a christian nations, regardless of the religion our forfathers practiced. But, we are free to practice our Christianity in any way that does infringe upon the civil liberties of others. Legalized Gay marriage does not put the religious freedom of catholics under attack. Nor does our President that you so freely use a derogatory name for. (Better call your priest and confess quick!!!!!!!!!!! After all...tomorrow is communion right?) I can't figure out if you're a man or a woman....another user called you Vera (I think?) but your very sexist comment to me in the post not shown here makes me think you must be a man? Might I reccommend becoming a preist and living in a secluded monastery? It would be far more agreeable to you than Naperville;)

oh, now your post shows up. I recieved 2 copies by email but it wasn't showing up here.

I can say what I want and how I feel about Odumba.. In my book he's an idiot. I love America, but Odumba has to be the worst President in decades. What's the derogatory name about Odumba?

100% sane. Unlike non believers and atheist. I'm not crazy as you say.I'm more worried about the supremacist groups out there. I'm just stating a fact as the Catholics and it's religious freedom is under attack by Odumba.

Lets see if the Patch remove my comment again?

Protestant churches losing members with approval of same-sex 'marriages'
The Catholic Church will be glad to take in new parishioners, new members always welcome.

It's called evening the playing field.

I though the church taught not to fight evil with evil?

Jerry.....this man/woman whatever is not playing with a full deck. Save yourself the frustration and don't try to reason with this individual. This thread is like a train wreck,....I can't stop looking.

Hysterical! There are 2 gay priest in the city who are still practicing at the church. When a young man joins the seminary they're not asked if they are gay, it's a don't ask don't tell policy. How do I know this , just happens that my neighbors son joined a year ago so his father and I were able to read the books he was given. They're having such a hard time with young men wanting to join the priesthood they have quit asking certain questions.
Someone listed that they're having a problem with their tax money going to the rights of gay marriage. I have a big problem with paying taxes and supporting churches that pay nothing and receive all the benefits that I must flip the bill for. They should have no use of public resources and federal ones to boot. When they want to anti up and pay like the rest of us then their voice will count. Tired of the freeloaders.
Vera your lovely church has purchased many properties in the city of Chicago that are now housing illegal aliens. My brother-in-law is one of the attorney's whose representing the other homeowners in the area who are tired of the garbage that's going on and infringing on their rights. File an FOIA with the church and you'll find out the truth, that's if they'll give you the info. Don't believe they own property like this in the city go to the clerks office, it's public record.

Catholic church is losing parishioners left and right because of their hypocritical views. I and my family would be one of them. They're archaic and absolutely hypocritical. They preach what they practice instead of practicing what they preach. They're pedophiles hiding behind a cloak. They need to clean up their act before condemning the morals and values of a loving couple!

Oh Despiser, not a false statement and it's a good thing I scrolled up to see you couldn't even post your slander correctly and on the right post. I didn't join a Mega Church. I joined a Lutheran Church that is welcoming and not one bit snobbish. They practice what they preach. When the Catholic Church starts taking responsibility for it's priest's actions, instead of hiding them for decades and decades, maybe then your garbage might be worth listening too.

and by the way, the BIBLE says "Hate the sin, not the sinner". Practice what you preach.

What a laugh a Lutheran Church. Mega Church's are phonies! Do you watch Binny Hinn too? And yes it's a false statement. If you have any sons let then join the Boy Scouts. Please stay at your Church as your old Priest doesn't even miss you!

Actually MY old priests are all dead now, but hey thanks for being nasty, it's so Catholic of you.

So Rita you quit your Church because what happened at other Church's ! That's stupid, if nothing happened at yours.

I don't listen to Lutherans!!

"I don't listen to Lutherans!!" ~Despiser of Obama

It Just. Keeps. Getting. More. Hilarious!
If only it wasn't sort of scary too ;(

Why should I listen to a Lutheran, it's not my faith or where I go for guidance. It's like me dictating to a Buddhist!

And the "Oh Wise one in his own little world" can't figure out why anyone would leave the Catholic Church HYSTERICAL! Tell us what else you preach and don't practice old judgmental one! let us all bow down to you and take everything you say as fact!

The good Lord is the only one to judge, not you. God doesn't make mistakes, so obviously gay people are fine in God's eyes, just not the almighty Catholics. Get over yourselves before you lose even more.

And by your own logic, why should any of us listen to you???

That's Lutheran mumbo-jumbo talk! There's only one true faith and that is Catholicism. I still don't see them leaving in my community or surrounding ones! And like I said why should I listen to a Lutheran. Ho humm!

I must repeat again if same sex sin marriage is approved, let the excommunications and denial of the Eucharist began to couples that claim they are so called Catholics!

That's just catholic jumbo jumbo talk :) lol!!
And for the record, I mean no disrespect to the sane Catholics that may be reading this.

Mommyof3 Priest have already denied the Eucharist to same sex couples.

Rita you better quit the Lutheran faith now!!

Lutheran Church Abuse Victims Receive $69 Million Settlement

Leah Vader and
Lynne Huskinson, a lesbian couple who got married in
Canada last August, sent a letter recently to their state
legislator decrying a Wyoming bill that would deny
recognition to same-sex marriages. The lawmaker read
the letter on the floor of the legislature.

Soon after, on
Ash Wednesday, a local paper interviewed the couple and
ran a story including pictures of them with ash on their
foreheads, a mark of their Roman Catholic faith.

Not long after
that the couple received a notice from their parish church
telling them they have been barred from receiving Communion.
Amen!! Let there be more.

I just don't understand why you think I care about excommunication of gay Catholics that want communion or whatever? You think it's some powerful statement but nobody here is concerned about it. I'm glad you have something so wonderful to look forward too, but you're the only one that gets excited about such things.

Does anyone know DOO in person? I'm beginning to think he's a troll? In any case, it's been entertaining.

Bye bye Mommyof3 take care of your kids already,

A recent study confirmed that people that don't watch any news at all are smarter than people watching Fox News...

What do you watch Joojo Jersey Shores?
Relevant radio is the way too go!

Like I said Rita, quit your New Church!!
Lutheran Church Abuse Victims Receive $69 Million Settlement

...DOO is def a troll, why would anyone comment this much on an internet site unless they had some real issues. Not to mention DOO writes on just about every article i see.

bluebird I agree with you! I was just pointing out a fact to Rita that' there is sex abusers in all walks of life and not just by Priest. I was also showing her it happens in her new Lutheran faith! I don't condone what the Priest did and they should be in prison as all pedophiles should.

Jerry you must be a troll too, if you see all my comments on all the articles!

Jerry it's simple don't read my comments!

Time to shut this one down. That's all, folks.