The following letter appears in the February 2, 2007 edition of the National Catholic Reporter:

Gay parents

I am a 13-year-old Catholic girl who was adopted by two gay women at the age of 7. They have raised me as a Catholic, taking me to church, getting me baptized, receiving my first Communion and confirmation. Before I met them, I was not Catholic; now I am a well-formed Catholic. It has recently been brought to my attention that some of our bishops believe that gay people should be allowed to “participate” in Mass as long as they don’t “reveal” themselves to other church members. I was also informed that if you are gay it is sinful to take Communion. I don’t see any of this in the Bible or in the teaching of Jesus. Do you?

If we are all equal in the eyes of God, then we should all be able to go to Mass and be treated equally. People are people. We are the same: black or white, gay or straight. God created every one of us and we are who we are. Like the song says, “We are one in the spirit; we are one in the Lord.” If we are one in the Lord, it should not matter if you are gay. If it were not for my moms, I would probably still be in foster care or, even worse, in a group home. Before they came into my life I had been in seven different foster homes. I think women like my moms should be able to receive Communion like any other moms.

MORIAH FORD-GOWAN
Chico, Calif.