The Catechism of the Catholic Church (#2368, 1994) states that “They (homosexuals) do not choose their homosexual condition; for most of them it is a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.”

As a Catholic, I submit that the proposed referendum of the Christian Civic League fails on all these counts, and should be rejected by the voters as uncharitable and at odds with the love of Christ.

In addition, the referendum seeks to deny sexual rights legally guaranteed to heterosexuals – the constitutional right to engage in non-reproductive sexual conduct. If that conduct is wrong for homosexuals, it most emphatically is wrong for heterosexuals. And instead of legal discrimination, which cannot stand, it is, I submit, up to heterosexuals to set the example of chastity and non-contraceptive sex in the first place, since it is unlikely that the courts will reverse Griswold, Roe, and related decisions.

My main objection to the referendum is that it is arguably a Trojan horse for Republican political policies, mainly economic and foreign, and seeks to promote those by means of the effective moral blackmail route – they try to trick people into voting Republican by deceptive and misleading appeals to “morality.”

If people are happy with the economy and the Iraq war, they might vote for the referendum.

If people are unhappy with those, they should vote against the referendum, and anybody who supports it.

Paul Corrao, Lewiston