What better way to help kick off the return of the blog than to talk about two controversial topics mixed into one?

Daniel Bowman recently wrote an op-ed to a local Maine newspaper scolding the Catholic church for asking for tithes to advertise against gay marriage legislation.

http://mainecampus.com/2009/09/28/op-ed-give-tithes-for-anti-marriage-equality-tv-ads/ 

"I implore all churchgoers: Spend your money on something more substantial than an ad campaign designed to drive a wedge between people who love each other. Buying a Playboy magazine would be more virtuous. The last time I checked, homosexuals were still homo sapiens and are promised the same freedoms as the rest of the country. Said freedoms include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These things were first engraved in our national consciousness when we declared our independence from Britain."

Even if you do believe in tithing (God help you), using it lobby for legislation rather than using it for the things it was intended (like providing for the 'Levites' and feeding the poor and hungry) seems like a pretty big no-no.

Personally, I think the US would do well to follow the lead of other countries and separate the legal and religious institution of marriage and allow civil unions for everyone and let churches & synagogues celebrate marriage in the manner they see fit. You know, that thing called "separation of church & state".