I think that once laws permitting same-sex marriage are enacted, the Catholic Church will drop the issue. They won't go conducting homosexual marriages in their own churches, though; and it would be foolhardy for gays to push for that. Once that can of worms is closed, better not to open it again.

I don't think the Catholic Church is far from accepting married priests in the Latin rite. Most of the eastern rites have married priests already. You won't see married nuns and orders of religious men with married members, because celibacy and community living with brothers or sisters are part of who they are. But then I'm a married, male associate member of the Sisters of Mercy - so maybe I'm proof that I'm wrong about that.

I think the prohibition against birth control will eventually be dropped, but I don't think you'll ever see abortion approved by the Catholic Church.

Ake, you say I'm happy to see secularism flourish. I suspect you're right, but what do you mean by that? If people are "secularist" in their way of thinking, why would I want to see them pressured into belonging to a church they don't believe in? I, as a heterosexual, married person, do not in the least feel that my marriage is threatened by homosexuals who want to get married. And as a believing Catholic, I don't feel threatened by people who choose a more secular line of thinking.

What I believe in above all else, is tolerance and fairness and brotherly love. "These people" really don't seem "determined to destroy all (I) believe in."

-Joe-