I will begin with a quote from Ulysses S. Grant: “Religion belongs at the family altar, the church and the private school supported entirely by private contributions. Keep the church and the state forever separate.”
That is the foundation of U.S. democracy. Yet the religious right constantly attacks the rest of us with their pious religious views. The Bible is a wonderful book, but it does not control the lives of all of us.
People who share my religion view planned parenthood (contraception and abortion) as saying to a soul, “Wait for a better opportunity.” We do not believe that is “killing babies.”
Having a baby and raising a child is an awesome responsibility. It takes maturity and desire to perform as a parent. Parenting does not have to be by “one man and one woman” — single parents and same-sex couples have been very successful in providing loving, nurturing homes. The worst scenario for a baby is to be born unwanted.
Contrary to what some of those who are against gay unions believe, people who are gay have no desire to teach gayness to children. They only ask to be treated equally, with the right to share their lives with the ones they love.
I end with a quote from the prophet, Kahlil Gibran: “A little while, and my longing shall gather dust and foam for another body. A little while, a moment of rest upon the wind, and another woman shall bear me.”
Nancy Willard, Woodstock
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