To Ron:  I read with interest your posting on religious authorities' need to apologize to gays for past oppression. (At Right: Gene Robinson, bishop of New Hampshire, is the first known openly gay Episcopal Bishop.)

Several years ago, when one of his books had just been published, I went to an event at an Episcopal Church where now retired Bishop Spong of the Diocese of Newark New Jersey was speaking. It doesn't come through in his books, but he has a wonderful sense of humour, and he can actually make theology entertaining.

One of his comments was: "The day will come when the Church will apologize to its gay and lesbian members for what they have endured at our hands, even as the Church has apologized for its complicity in slavery, racism, and sexism." Well, the church hasn't made much progress on those, either, but at least it's trying: and a few (very few) religious voices are also trying.

Pax, Rick (one time devout Episcopalian, now agnostic)

From Ron: Dear Rick, No subject that I address gets more feedback, mostly negatively, than does the gay/religious issue. If I say that that churches should not preach against gays or televangelists are making millions on the gay issue, wrath fills my email box.

I have to assume that most of those in agreement are simply not writing, and that's okay. What only god him/herself can explain to me is why gay people continue to support organizations, religious or secular, that are seeking punishment for gay people in this wold and in the next. I have to suppose that there is such a thing as "battered gay syndrome" whereby some gay people have been beat up for so long that they think that is their lot in life. Either that or they do not have the gonads to stand up and shout that they are mad as hell and are not going to take it any longer.