The cross and the crossword

Six Across. Three-letter word. Begins with "G." A person whose sexual orientation is to persons of the same sex.\nSix Down. Three-letter word. Begins with "G." The principal object of faith and worship in Christian religion.\nGay and God: two little words, two big concepts. In a crossword puzzle, these terms are able to bond harmoniously, sharing the same beginning letter "G." However, in this ever-expanding crossword puzzle called life, these words tend to cause conflict whenever they cross paths. \nThus, with the rising discussion of a constitutional ban against gay marriage, I have begun to wonder: Can the words "gay" and "God" peacefully coexist? Furthermore, does the Bible really condemn gay marriage? When it comes to answering homosexual questions in the "Christ crossword puzzle," will these blanks ever be filled?\nDespite common belief, you can be a devout Christian and still support same-sex unions.\nWhile there are "suggested passages" condemning gay relations in the Bible, scriptures in the Old Testament also speak out harshly against interracial marriage. Yet, the Bible states that Moses married a black Ethiopian woman with God's blessing. This biblical contradiction goes to show that not all marital issues are black and white, or for that matter, gay and straight.\nBecause of these passages, however, mixed race couples weren't allowed to marry in the United States until 1967. It's like the Civil Rights movement has transformed into the "Civil Union Rights Movement." It's nice to know that in 50 years we've learned absolutely nothing.\nMarital regulations in the Bible limit not only homosexual relations, but heterosexual ones as well. Scripture states that marriage shall only be considered valid if the marriage doesn't cross religious boundary and "if the wife is a virgin" (Deuteronomy 22:13-21). How many people today have actually followed that rule? Seven?\nSimilarly, in 1996, the Roman Catholic Church forbade a church marriage because the husband-to-be was a paraplegic and, thus, could not engage in sexual activity and consummate the marriage. So, abiding strictly to biblical rules, anyone who has been hit by a bus and crippled, or anyone who has been raped cannot marry legitimately.\nSome conservatives argue that same-sex unions will open the floodgates for other "alternative lifestyles." It's like once the government legalizes it people will want to start marrying their dogs and getting engaged to cucumbers. It's ludicrous. These people treat homosexuals as if they're from some perverse planet, like "gayliens," intent on taking over the straight world. \nAccording to the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuals, more than 10 percent of the population is estimated to be gay. That's nearly 650,000,000 people. Do you really think God would have made 650,000,000 mistakes? \nSome people obviously still do. Eight days ago, a group from the Old Paths Baptist Church gathered on IU grounds to protest same-sex marriage, holding signs as cold and dark as the weather on that muggy Tuesday afternoon; "GOD HATES GAYS." "AIDS CURES FAGS." \nThey waved pure hatred made with white poster board, white glue and black hearts. \nTry as they might to mask ignorance and homophobia, we have to learn to see past their religious façades. People are people. Love is love. And if two people can expressly communicate their love together, no power on earth should be able to thwart their happiness. \nFurthermore, the seventh commandment expressly forbids adultery. So why not allow these couples to unify, to solidify a life of faithfulness and faith?\nThus, I implore you, I entreat you and I challenge you to combat this bigotry. It's time for us to forget the Old Paths and begin to take a new path, one of acceptance and compassion. Only then will we have solved this crossword puzzle and filled in the final blank: \nEleven Down. Four letters. Begins with "L" ... not "H"