Gays, The Church And Me

[lupestripe]

An interesting dilemma has just presented itself.

I am going to Cambridge on Friday for a meal at my college with some of my university friends. One of them is a devout Catholic and, although he is a perfectly nice guy, he is somewhat intolerant of my lifestyle. He knows I am gay and prays for me apparently. He is perfectly friendly - nothing changed when I came out - but it's clear he doesn't approve of gays and the fact I am gay. He is not nasty, we have a laugh and a joke, and ultimately little has changed. He is not a bad person, I just think his views are wrong.

That's fine really, people are entitled to their views and I have no real right to proselytise. It's sad he thinks like this but before now it has been rather benign and very easy to overlook. We all have different opinions and experiences after all. However, he is now urging his friends on Facebook to sign up to Archbishop Carey's Coalition For Marriage against equal marriage laws for homosexuals. To me, this has now crossed a line as he is actively campaigning against something I believe should be an intrinsic freedom in a secular and progressive society. And of course what he is doing could and will have a direct impact on my life.

I was meant to be sharing a room with him in Cambridge on Friday but am now unsure whether I want to. I will have to make alternate arrangements in either Cambridge or London but that may be for the best. I doubt the conversation would drift on to this topic as he is respectful of alternative views but I am not sure I want to tempt fate. It's a difficult one to call.

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Comments

[alexf0x.livejournal.com]

Ramsey about 27 miles out but neither of these are concerns, I've had to collect my parents from as far out as Cambridge at that time in the past. As for the trains I wouldn't worry, I live about half hour from Huntingdon station which has a service to London kingsX every half hour (I think the fast non-stopper express is every hour). I think it's even faster and slightly cheaper than the Cambridge service as well.

As for early ups well, I've got to rise early to let the hens out anyway.

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

Are you sure it's okay hun, I don't want to be a hassle.

[alexf0x.livejournal.com]

So long as I get enough warning it's not really a problem.

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

If I could stay at yours on Friday evening, it would be appreciated. I'll probably be finished by 10pm, 10:30pm at the latest. Would this be okay?

[alexf0x.livejournal.com]

That's OK just phone me about 1 hour or 45mins before you think that you will finish and I'll drive over to collect you. I will send you my home (best to ring me on one of those) and mobile numbers in a DM tweet on twitter.

I don't know what you want to do no saturday, but if you want to stay some extra time you are welcome to, and if you need taking back to cambridge, Peterborough or Huntingdon stations I can take you there the next morning.

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

That's brilliant thanks hun. As the Portsmouth plan has been canned, I have a largely free day on Saturday. I need to be in London in the evening though. If you could DM me your number that would be great. Looking forward to seeing you :)

[alexf0x.livejournal.com]

One step ahead, now said two steps behind :P

I can get you to a station that has a London bound train (they run fairly regularly through Huntingdon to kingsX) later in the day if you want (though it curbs my ability to drink somewhat). Apart from that your welcome to the Ramsey experience.

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

The best thing to do will probably be to play it by ear. I certainly don't want to curtail your drinking so I may be able to get a taxi or bus to Huntingdon - or I could leave early - I am happy either way. I imagine the possibility for me to stay later means we can stay up later on Friday evening and drink, which is no bad thing ^^

[alexf0x.livejournal.com]

This is true you can get a bus from Ramsey to the station in huntingdon, but it is a bit plodding with a lot of stops for what is a 20 or 25 min car ride. The Bus number is 30 and runs every hour until 17:19 and takes an hour to get there, oh and you have to add and extra 20mins or so to walk to the train station.

There are a few local cab firms as well, but you will have to call them up now since there is no taxi office in town any more. The cost I would also imagine might also be somewhere in the region of £20.

Yes I have no problems with staying up a little latter as well since there is no hurry in the morning. Also cereal or cooked breakfast in the morning?

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

We'll see what happens, I guess. We certainly don't have to drink during the day on Saturday and I can head off whenever so there are no real limits.

Either type of breakfast is fine - it's up to you ^^