I do not agree with the statements made by Marc Mutty, executive chairman of Stand for Marriage Maine, in his guest column Aug. 30. His premise is that the goal of marriage is to procreate and raise children.

Some people raise children outside of marriage. Some marry and do not raise children.

Some same-sex couples have children or adopt and do an excellent job of raising them. Some heterosexual couples do a terrible job of raising children, with child abuse and neglect.

After reading his article, I read “Peanuts.” I see a similar viewpoint. Lucy hears that Linus is patting a bird on the head. She yells at him that he will ruin their family’s reputation. Society does not accept patting a bird. It is perfectly OK to pat a dog.

Are not both Lucy’s and Mutty’s viewpoints old-fashioned and narrow-minded? They are turning a positive into a negative.

All citizens deserve civil rights.

A church that does not want to marry gay couples does not have to. Why should some people have the right to tell a church that wants to marry a couple that they cannot. Doesn’t that limit freedom of religion? Those people would take away liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They are denying a civil right because of prejudice.

I wonder — why do they care? Should it matter how and whom people love?

There is far too much hate in this world. That is what we should all be working to change.

Nancy Willard, Woodstock