I can't imagine that the Church would ever create a version of PAF which would acknowledge parents of the same gender. A family as defined by the Church consists of a male father and female mother and their offspring. Obviously there are many variations on this in real life due to deaths, adoptions, etc., but in our eternal lives the ultimate goal is the Church defined family unit. PAF is the Church's software program used to submit names for temple ordinances, including the priesthood ordination for men and sealing of the families. Without a male parent, there can be no sealing of the family, either now or for eternity, so there would be no point in creating what would amount to a "false" family in PAF. Perhaps other genealogy programs which aren't concerned with temple ordinances might attempt to create some form of a parental relationship which allows for same gender parents, but I don't see that ever happening with PAF. I don't think the fact that some civil jurisdictions have legalized same gender "marriages" has any affect on whether the Church would alter its program to accommodate such liaisons. Although there are a variety of accommodations in PAF for keeping track of today's varying lifestyles, multiple marriages, blended families, etc. it does have to be boiled down finally to a child being sealed into one family only consisting of a mother (female) and father (male). In situations where the father is not known, my understanding is that the sealing is done with the grandfather as the priesthood connection, although I'm not quite sure how that is entered. But the child has to be sealed to the priesthood also, and if both parents were female that could not happen. My suggestion would be copious notes. Obviously nothing is going to happen with these types of relationships while the parties are living, as the "parents" could not maintain this relationship and be members of the Church, nor be sealed in the temple. It's unfortunate for the child. Linda ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alan Jones at home" <alanjones10@cox.net> To: <PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2005 8:30 PM Subject: [PAF-5] Acknowledging gay marriages in PAF ? > > I am not raising the moral or political issues of gay marriage, > please don't address that arena. > > BUT the fact is we have people who have family members > who are gay. > AND the fact is that some jurisditions make it legal for gays to marry. > > Currently PAF 5.2.18 forces a spouse to be of the opposite gender. > There is no way to force it to be both men or both women. > > Are there any plans to allow for these relationships in a future > edition of PAF ? > > For those using PAF, who might have had this situation, > how do you record it? Perhaps just in the notes? > > And then, what if they both adopt a child? > > Alan > > > ==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== > PAF-5-USERS Mailing List > http://www.ausbdm.org/p5uindex.php > >