The legal equivalence of homosexual unions to heterosexual marriage indeed largely explains why the researchers use "the terms registered partnerships and same-sex marriage interchangeably." Similarly, the researchers "use the term divorce to refer to [homosexual] partnership dissolution because the divorce procedures of the marriage act [in both countries] apply to registered [homosexual] marriages as well."

"Conversations we've never had time for are coming together online. The profiles and pictures are revealing things about us that might take years to come out." says Pastor Dan Beasley. His Calvary Community Church in Maryland has 100 members in its MyChurch.org community.

Pastor Beasley goes on to say "We're seeing folks show their true gifts. People we didn't know as teachers are emerging in the blogs, and encouragement and mercy are shown in the comments."

The Affirming Catholicism document crudely caricatures the position we have carefully set out, traduces the real legal and historical position, understands 'the Church' in a very narrow sense and is disturbing in its un-Anglican and intolerant zeal to stifle public expressions of dissent and doubt.

My resolve in this direction has been stiffened, this last week, by reading a new book entitled Pierced for Our Transgressions by three authors connected with Oak Hill College in London (details below). This essay cannot be a full discussion of all the relevant matters; that would take a substantial book. It is one small step in the direction of putting down some markers for the ongoing debate.