A couple of things to add to the discussion ...

A priest asked a young girl in his parish school, how many sacraments are there? The schoolgirl answered "Seven for you, six for me," a response that focused the Church's denial of Holy Orders to women.

I guess if one is a gay/lesbian Catholic, there are only five sacraments since marriage and Holy Orders are denied to L/G Catholics. Yet, the Catholic Church will often marry people who ought not be getting married.

Recently, I was reading the marriages/celebrations in the Sunday New York Times. Two older men, 60-plus. were married by an Universal Life minister in Massachusetts. Both men had Irish surnames and held degree from Catholic colleges. I am sorry that men were unable to marry in the Catholic Church. Too many L/G Catholics left the Church because due to institutionalized homophobia.

In California, the Knight Amendment to outlaw gay marriage passed 57-43. Last year's referendum to overturn state Supreme Court decision in support of gay marriage passed 52-48. It is only a matter of time before the supporters of gay marriage outvote their opponents. Opponents of gay marriage tend to be older, and, those voters are more likely to die off in larger numbers

As for two dads versus the traditional mom and dad family ... my grandmother was widowed at 44. My younger aunts and uncles have no or little memory of my grandfather. They seem to have turned out well despite not having a father.

On the other hand, I know lots of people who grew up having four parents (two biological, two steps). They seem to be okay. I know people have more than four parents, they keep in touch with ex-step parents. (Things can be interesting in the seating arrangements at the wedding)