At the same time, there is no warrant for homophobic behavior on the part of Christians. We are called to reach out to all people, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, and love them unconditionally. I’ve been doing this with prisoners dying with AIDS in prisons for 25 years. I’ve also worked with homosexual prisoners who want to change their behavior. I condemn any gay bashing.

As a conservative influenced by the teaching of Russell Kirk, I believe that the first task of a conservative is the preservation of the moral order. There is, through two millennia, a clear consensus in Western civilization that marriage is defined as the union of one man and one woman for the purpose of procreation and raising children. There are many reasons why societies have historically protected this definition of marriage, because it has contributed to maintaining the social order. There are evidences in several European countries that have normalized gay marriage that, when that happens, heterosexual marriage declines precipitously. I believe it is not only biblical duty but common sense to recognize the natural law and the natural moral order in an effort to protect marriage.

Is it discriminatory to give benefits to heterosexual couples not given to homosexual couples? No more so than when government confers benefits on people and institutions because the contributions of those people or institutions is important to the general welfare. We discriminate when we give veterans benefits, farm subsidies, and all sorts of preferences. We do it because those people do something particular from which society benefits.

It may sound harsh in today’s super-tolerant culture, but preservation of the institution of marriage is indispensable to the right ordering of society. I have seen hundreds of thousands of feral children in prison. They are the products of the family breakdown. Why would any sane and sensible person want to increase this destructive pathology?