orientation was absent” (p. 170), and that the “broad and generic concepts like ‘homosexuality’ did not exist in the ancient world” (p. 218). Brownson’s assumption provides the necessary foil to view Paul’s words about homosexual sex in Rom 1 (cf. 1 Cor 6:9; 1 Tim 1:10) as irrelevant for our question of whether gay and lesbian unions should be sanctioned by the church. Paul did not, and could not, have consensual, monogamous, homosexual relations in mind. There is some truth to what Brownson says