Dear Michel Martin,
thank you for having such an honest & frank discussion on Homsexuaity & The Chruch, by two very diffrent &
contasting men of the cloth. I find your blog/radio show to be a "breath of fresh air" & very innovative ! Keep up the good works R.H.

Sent by Robert Hill | 10:46 PM ET | 04-04-2007

Spirituality: I appreciate that there were no raised voices between the two pastors (which you would assume would happen, but you never know these days). As for "curing" homosexuals, I don't think we should be performing genetic changes in the fetus for any natural behavior. We should look into curing diseases, but changing someone's nature is going too far.

I also don't see why a government should apologize for something that government officials and citizen did over 100 years ago? Or why this is even a spiritual question.

Rene Syler: A double mastectomy is a very drastic decision, especially if you don't have breast cancer, but think you might. I'm surprised there was no discussion about how she feels it affects her femininity (she did say that her breasts were only "one part of her", so maybe that counts). Also, there was no explanation why she lost her job. Was it because of the continious doctor visits, or a result of the mastectomy itself (is that even legal)? I do share her experience with bad doctors. In my experience, most doctors are arrogant and rude.

Sent by Scott K | 10:11 AM ET | 04-05-2007

Keep it coming guys! I can't wait until your show is picked up! I'm checking your page everyday for these new segments. I love what I'm getting. The stories are compelling and thought-provoking. And I love the fact that I get more than what I get from "mainstream media". A wonderful addition to NPR!

Sent by Tameika J | 11:14 AM ET | 04-05-2007

Homosexuality is not a disease that needs a cure. There will probably always be debate about whether or not it should be "allowed" but since it does not affect anyone other than those involved in the relationship itself, whose business is it to sit in judgment? Let it be as there are far more important things to spend mental energy on - poverty, health & welfare, housing, hunger, peace, education, come to mind. For God's sake - let them have their privacy, rights, life and happiness JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE!

Sent by Jean Cohen | 12:47 PM ET | 04-05-2007

I think it would be very beneficial to increase discussion about homosexuality and the church. There have of course always been homosexuals in churches across the nation, but they have kept this part of themselves secret for fear of being rejected by other members. I know, I am one of those people. I ma gay and happen to be a Christian who deals with this issue all the time. Thank You.

Sent by Trevor Winn | 2:09 PM ET | 04-05-2007

I was an Episcopal priest in the U.S. South until I realized that as long as people accept the bible as the "Word of God", gays will never find a true place in the church. The church demands that its adherents accept the bible as God's Word, and that is the root of all the church's discrimination against people who have no control over their sexual orientation. The bible is obviously not the word of any god, so the church will always be torn over the presence of gays. When the bible is no longer accepted, the church will take a bounding leap forward and with any luck no longer exist as the institution we know it as today.

Sent by Michael | 5:06 PM ET | 04-05-2007

When I was a leader of a ecumencial group, I witnesed the final discussion on homosexuality and the clergy between the leader of a gay and affirming denomination and the local Catholic Bishop. After being chastised by the Bishop for allowing gay clergy to serve in the church, the leader of the gay and affirming denomination asked the Bishop, "Do you know the real difference between you and me on this?" "I know which of my clergy are gay and you don't" That may have been the final rift between the two, but it was defining for all the denominational leaders.

Sent by chris | 5:10 PM ET | 04-05-2007

Thank you for this very frank discussion. The topics are certainly important and the discussion is invaluable, especially when it's done in such a tone of mutual respect. The segment may have suffered from trying to discuss both topics at once. I would have liked to have heard more on each one separately. Perhaps the interviews could have been conducted at one time, but edited into two segments each devoted to the separate topics.

I also want to specifically comment on some of statements made about homosexuality which I felt were disingenuous. Conservatives continually try to reduce homosexuals to a particular sexual act. Dr. York did this in a veiled way with his repeated claim that homosexuality is a "behavior". He is clearly wrong on this point and it needs to be said. Homosexuality is not any one behavior, it is an orientation. There is no one behavior which is exclusive to all gay people and neither is there any behavior which all gay people share universally. Furthermore, the ability to love and feel attraction for the same geneder is always with you, regardless of what behaviors you may be performing at the time. Straight people are straight even when they are not having sex, just so with homosexuals.

Given more time for each topic, perhaps these points might have been addressed.

Sent by Mickey Lasco | 2:38 PM ET | 04-07-2007

The culture coach is a great addition and the podcast/blog format is a great way to test the idea.

thanks for the dialogue.

Sent by frank | 3:57 PM ET | 04-07-2007

great show.

The bible isn't that clear on homosexuality. Sodom was destroyed, but it's more likely that it was because they wanted to rape the angels or that they were being "bad hosts" to the town visitors. There is way more in the Bible about sex outside of marriage. since homosexuals can't marry in most places, this shouldn't apply to them. There were plenty of people who used the Bible to justify slavery and they don't do that now. The same thing will happen regarding using the Bible to defend putting down homosexuals.

Jesus said we should love everyone. how can homosexuals be rejected so easily? God is perfect and a perfect being can't create something imperfect.

Apologizing about slavery would be nice because it would acknowledge that the states supported unethical treatment they now realize was wrong and show that the states have changed. It will also create a forum for discussing why it was wrong. Having said that, people will think the apology was too little, too late and only served as window-dressing to hide current racism. I believe both issues need to be separated. Draw a distinction between then and now and deal with current racism in the open now that this issue will force people to think about creating a more just society.

just some thoughts.

Sent by Simon h | 8:38 PM ET | 04-07-2007

Amazing to see how passionate the views are on this -- from both sides. Seems too often folks are itching to convey WHAT they believe, but stop short of really laying out WHY. Perhaps because they don't really know. (?)

At any rate, good to see "meaty" dialogue here...

Sent by Lee Hill with Rough Cuts | 9:51 AM ET | 04-09-2007

Do you have a website or a place where I can download the words from the Abigail Adams letter?

Sent by Jim | 2:23 PM ET | 04-11-2007