Pastor Sandy Williams’ criticism of Barney Frank’s June 8 column seems to me a little lacking in the logic department (“Another View: Frank fails to refute anti-gay marriage arguments,” June 22).

First, he indicates that Frank does not know the difference between the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. This is just not realistic. Frank, while a tad egotistical, was one of the brightest and wittiest members of Congress. So that’s a tough charge to take seriously in Frank’s case.

In the original column, Frank was trying to demonstrate that, after so many gay marriages and a reasonable time to gauge their effect on society, nothing much has changed. Heterosexual marriages have been relatively unaffected, and the sky has not fallen.

This is worth talking about because critics said that same-sex marriage would usher in ruin and societal chaos in our lifetime. The pastor does mention two incidents that he considers deplorable, neither of which involves a marriage crisis. While those incidents seem unfair, they appear to be isolated in a nation of 300 million people.

I think that the pastor’s final argument – that same-sex marriage is not true marriage – is the weakest. I remember that slogan “love makes a family.” I think the same is true of the institution of marriage.

To be in a loving relationship, to raise children, to work and pay taxes and to have respect in your community because of your responsibility and commitment are all things that contribute to a stable society. Like Barney Frank, I think the verdict is in, and we are all better for it.

Joseph Hachey

Gorham


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