And of course that's just where the problems lie. Though people on both sides appeal to what is natural, nature unhelpfully supports both sides liking both consistency and variety in gender and sexuality. So most people are male or female, but there are some who are born with unfixed gender. Most people are heterosexual but some are not. Most parents have children but some do not. And then there are people who marry knowing they can't have children, and children conceived with donated sperm or eggs, or born through surrogates. Our society believes passionately in equality and wants everyone to have the chance of a decent and fulfilled private life. I have no problem with any of that. And yet.I don't want to lose the traditional view that marriage reflects a particular pattern in which a man and a woman unite across their obvious differences. Civil partnerships have a different pattern, and I think this could be sacramental too. I know partners who have created liturgies which celebrate their love, loyalty and commitment in the friendship of God. I'm not allowed to bless such relationships, but I think I am allowed to hope the day will come. What I don't want to happen is that the demand for equality reduces gay and straight relationships to sameness. Civil partnerships offer something new and creative to thank God for, but there is no reason why we should lose the blessing of what remains both ancient and instinctive.
但这也正是问题所在。虽然双方都为本质所吸引，双方却无法不去喜欢各自的性别上的差异。所以大部分人都是男和女。但是有些人的性征不明确。大部分都是异性恋，但有些人不是。大部分父母都生孩子，但有些不生。有些人明知无法有孩子还是结婚了，他们通过捐献的精子、卵子甚至代孕得到孩子。我们的社会坚信平等，希望每个人都能有体面充实的私生活。我对此毫无异议，至少目前没有。我想一直抱持传统婚姻中一男一女跨越差异而结合的观点。现在伙伴关系有了不同版本，我想这也可以成为一种圣礼。以上帝为友，他们创造了展示他们爱情、忠诚和承诺的圣礼。我没有福佑这种关系的资格，但是我可以期待这一天的到来。我不想看到因为要求平等而使同性和异性婚姻千篇一律。现在有了新的有创造性的伙伴关系向上帝致敬。但我们也没有理由不祝福自然天性。
