So effectively the Christian religion is saying that it has no place for gay people, will make no provision for them in its ceremonies, and will continue to preach against them as being un-Christian ?

I would not be surprised at all by such a viewpoint actually.

[url=http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/richard-coles-the-godgiven-dignity-to-which-the-cardinal-is-blind-7536452.html#disqus_threadNot all Christians are saying that.[/url

As far as the marriage ceremony is concerned it would seem so.

Some christians no but the actual faith and it's leaders as a rule themselves?
Different story.

Obviously, but the fact that some religious people (including ministers) are defending gay couples' right to marriage indicates that there might well be places that gay religious people could find to be married. Which, along with my earlier posts, answers your "what's the point" question.

Fair enough.
Although I later clarified what I actually meant.
I should have said 'Why would they want to'.

As I said, I don't understand that any more than I understand why women would want to be part of an organisation that had oppressed them for centuries. I suppose religious gay people are like religious straight people: selective in their reading of holy texts.

[url=http://liberalconspiracy.org/2012/03/06/watch-jon-stewart-smacks-down-rush-limbaugh/Jon Stewart hits back[/url

Well, it's all the same god figure.

And in the Old Testament, that god rates homosexuality so badly that, he actually rewards a man who offers his virgin daughters to be gang raped by a group of local men rather them rape or have consensual sex with some adult males.

That, according to the god of the Old Testament, pimping your daughters to be raped is part of what qualifies you as the one 'good man' in town who is worthy of being saved.

Just keep getting an error message.

Though woe betide you if you look back over your shoulder when you're not supposed to.

I think though tbf that original, harsh translation has since been corrected, weren't they all in fact just sent for tea and cakes, with a chaperone?

Innocent until proved guilty, but [url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-17270136this story[/url is rather interesting in the light of the Cardinal's words.

Thou shalt not marry if thou be in a loving same-sex relationship, but thou can interfere with underage members of the same sex.

I won't hold my breath for the condemnation from the church authorities.

I have to say, I find it utterly distasteful when names of alleged paedophiles are published. What if they didn't do it? There will be plenty of people who put two and two together and think, "he's a priest, they're all at it - of course he's guilty." That sort of stigma is very difficult to shift.

The whole site's down at the moment

Mark Thomas has put a link on Twitter which worked for me

Agree completely.

It is difficult (as in any cases of rape or sexual abuse) because the police might need to publish names of suspects in order to see if more witnesses are out there.

But as you say – and as was recognised the other day with the judgement against the [iPeople[/i in favour of the natural father of Baby P, who it accused of being a sex offender – it's a stigma that's difficult to shift.

That's perhaps true of any serious crimes though – that people will always say: 'ohh, there's no smoke without fire'. in that nasty, nose-touching way.

How you deal with that, at the same time as forwarding the course of justice properly, I really don't know.

See if he'll put it on here, will you?

It doesn't look like that's the case in this instance, though.

[url=http://gawker.com/5890752/jon-stewart-smacks-down-rush-limbaugh-over-his-sandra-fluke-commentsYour wish is his command[/url

Please pass on my thanks.

If I was going to be religious, Jon Stewart would be a serious contender for my God.

That's a quite nice idea.

The only problem I can foresee is that it didn't turn out too well for the last Jew a group of people decided to worship.

"You must be kidding dad, I'm not going back down there, last time you sent me they nailed me to a f'kin tree..."

Eddie Izzard on god, jesus and the holy ghost.