The United Methodist Church, for example, officially considers marriage an act between a man and a woman and forbids same-sex ceremonies.<\/p>\n
But as a United Methodist minister, the Rev. Vivian R. Waltz doesn’t see the fairness in the prohibition.<\/p>\n
“Gay people,” she said, also “are God’s children.”<\/p>\n
Nor would she dismiss the possibility of presiding over a gay wedding.<\/p>\n
“I would have to pray on that,” said Waltz, minister of discipleship at Hamburg United Methodist Church. “I’m fully cognizant that such an act could jeopardize my credentials in the church. At the same time, I serve a God of justice, and the church’s position is unjust.”<\/p>\n
The state’s Roman Catholic bishops, including Bishop Edward U. Kmiec of the Diocese of Buffalo, have staunchly opposed the same-sex marriage legislation. And while the majority of Catholics also were opposed, a significant number of Catholics in New York \u201d\u201d 39 percent \u201d\u201d expressed support for legal gay marriage, according to a Quinnipiac College poll in May.<\/p>\n