Yeah. I am mindful that we're all sinners
-- President George Bush, when asked about his views on gay marriage.

Letters to the New York Times in response to Bush's statement:

Re "Bush Backs Bid to Block Gays From Marrying" (front page, July 31):

When President Bush was asked on Wednesday to describe his view on homosexuality, his response was: "Yeah. I am mindful that we're all sinners." The implication, that Mr. Bush considers homosexuality to be a sin, is inappropriate.

My religion allows me to marry another man, and it does not consider me a sinner simply because I am gay. If Mr. Bush really does believe in "the sanctity of marriage," then allowing homosexuals to sanctify relationships through legally recognized marriages does not require him to "compromise" on anything.

On the other hand, codifying marriage to exclude same-sex unions — even ones performed according to the practices of several religions — would compromise the First Amendment and the foundation of equality and religious freedom on which the United States rests.
JON D. MORROW
New York, July 31, 2003
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To the Editor:

So now President Bush, who campaigned in 2000 as "a uniter, not a divider," has labeled as sinners my wonderful gay son and millions of other Americans merely for being who they are (front page, July 31).

To me, this divisive and hurtful comment is truly sinful.
JUDITH TULLER
New York, July 31, 2003

To the Editor:

Re "Bush Backs Bid to Block Gays From Marrying" (front page, July 31): In a world too full of hatred and violence, it is a blessing when people fall in love and want to get married. Why does the president want to prevent this?
LEE NEWBERG
Albany, July 31, 2003
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To the Editor:

Far be it from me to deny President Bush his right to a religious belief that "we're all sinners" (front page, July 31). What I find objectionable is his attempt to impose that belief on the rest of us as the basis for public policy.
ELLEN ARLINSKY
Grand Rapids, Mich., July 31, 2003