In earlier times the Catholic Church supported same sex unions

[fizzana]

Boswell affirms that during the Middle Ages, Catholic and Orthodox churches developed liturgical rites for solemnizing unions between pairs of males, called "adelphopoiesis", the Greek word for "brother-making."

<snip>

Most twentieth century Americans consider marriage to be an institution that intrinsically involves different sex partners. While numerous Americans are willing to tolerate same-sex relationships, and even to sanction them to some extent, few consider them to be marriages. In contrast, historians, social anthropologists, and scholars of comparative literature have been writing about same-sex unions and marriages for most of this century, with a booklet in the last two decades. Though few critics like to admit it, same-sex marriages are a commonplace in human history and have served civilizing functions, providing couples with social support and integrating them into the larger culture.

I am not using the term marriage casually. Although some of the same-sex relationships described in this chapter have marriage-like features, I do not always deem them same-sex marriages. The term is used only when it appears that the same-sex union was treated by contemporaries and legal authorities as about the same as different sex marriage and met one or more of the civilizing functions of marriage, namely: long-term emotional support and bonding between the couple; economic security and division of labor in the household; or legitimacy and support of a family, including children.

http://andrejkoymasky.com/liv/mar/mar5.html

So much for 5,000 years of tradition. These people are evn less fucking tolerant than the Middle Ages. Now that takes some doing.

[onebigbadwulf]

1. Fundies think Catholics are hellbound anyway....

[Az]

2. Keep in mind that for centuries the Church was the dumping ground

for children that were "different". Kids that did not quite fit society were often sent off to join the clergy.

[nickinSTL]

3. different

'Keep in mind that for centuries the Church was the dumping ground
for children that were "different". Kids that did not quite fit society were often sent off to join the clergy.'

Oh, is that where guys like Savonarola came from...

[Rowdyboy]

4. I have a copy of John Boswell's - "Same Sex Unions in PreModern Europe..."

Its heavily researched and footnoted. A scholarly work, but readable-I'd strongly suggest it for anyone interested in the subject. The documentation is extensive and the liturgy used for the same sex ceremonies is quite moving.

Same sex unions, while not common, were accepted, both in the church and in society in general. Repression of homosexuality only began around the 9th or 10th century.

[TSElliott]

5. I thought this was only practiced by the Orthodox church.

And Gay marriage is only one of the many theories on what adelphopoiesis really was.

[Rowdyboy]

6. Kick

:kick: