collette, i had no particular problem with the pope's speech. i found it silly, but in the scheme of things pretty inoffensive.

BUT, when cook writes of "violation of human dignity" i would like to know damn well why. and, if the church rejects the "genital expression of homosexuality" to the extent of actively supporting its criminalization, it is no longer sufficient to say it's simply a bunch of god people talking their god stuff. OF COURSE they talk of god. the question is why should anybody consider them to be more than a bunch of religiously inspired bigots?

this cannot be answered by appeals god. it has to do with the gratuitous moral condemnation of acts, and of people who do not share your god. appeals to god may be natural for you, but such appeals are an argument for nothing.