"I went to my prom with my best friend, a girl. Lots of people went in groups. Why didn't Marc just take his friend as his guest and not make such a big production?''
-Sara Hart, Toronto, April 12

"My understanding of the Catholic Church is that God loves all people - including gay men - providing they do not engage in homosexual acts. Is dancing with someone of the same gender one of these acts?''
-Jimmy Steele, Toronto, April 12

"One note to all the politicians out there: if you decide to take Mr. Hall's side on this for fear of being seen as anti-homosexual, you run the risk of appearing to be anti-Catholic and there are a lot more Catholics than there are homosexuals out there on the voters list.
-Greg Reider, Toronto, April 12

"People should never be afraid of an openly gay person, it's the ones that hide behind their robes that we should fear.''
-Nancy Gilbert, Campbellton, N.B., April 12

"Does anyone see the irony here? A young man who wants to take a partner (who I assume is committed in a healthy relationship) is battling an institution that we are finding out hides pedophiles and moves them from church to church.''
Marc Battle, Terrace, B.C.

"They use public funds to promote discriminatory behaviour is sickening and retrograde, and cannot continue.''
-Patrick Simon, London, U.K., April 12

"There are many comments that state Marc should never have 'chosen' a Catholic school if he wanted to do things that went against the Catholic style of living. Chances are he was enrolled by his parents before he realized he was gay.''
-Kira Evans, Toronto, April 12

"Find a makeup artist to volunteer time and supplies and dress the boyfriend up in drag. The school will never notice and the couple will have pulled one over on the school and the religion.''
-Allison Lindon, Toronto, April 12

"The minute the Catholic School board pressured the provincial government to start funding Catholic education above Grade 10, they gave up their right to carry out discriminatory practices in the name of religion.''
-Shaun Perry, Owen Sound, April 12

"It is my understanding that Catholics are only against the sexual act between same-sex partners. I didn't realize that having dinner, dancing and celebrating high school achievements was considered as such.''
-Beth Buchanan, Oakville, April 12

"If the Durham Catholic board is going to accept full funding from the Ontario government then it must abide by the laws of the province, including full respect for the human rights of all Ontarians.''
-Derek Pearce, Toronto, April 12

"Since the board is so adamant on endorsing the rules of the Church, I hope that none of the board members or employees of the district are divorced or break any of the Commandments!''
-Tyler Gschaid, Medicine Hat, Alta., April 12

"Would you walk into a mosque and ask all the women to take off their shawls and expose themselves? No. Would you go to a Hebrew school and ask them to eat pork? No. Then you shouldn't go to a Catholic School and ask what Marc is asking.''
-Anna White, Mississauga, April 12

"The last I checked, all religions in Canada must still adhere to the laws of this country. Could you imagine the uproar if a church claimed that their belief was that no black people were allowed?''
-Michael Whelan, Toronto, April 12

"Will the Durham board now review all the gay and lesbian teachers or all those single unwed mothers who are working in Catholic classrooms? Or will they be selective on that part of Catholicism?''
-John Kuigan, Toronto, April 12

"Nobody wants to see two guys dancing together at a prom. This should never be allowed!''
-Joe Crupi, Toronto, April 12

"It's okay for a gay person to sit in class every day and participate in other school-sponsored events, but it's not okay to dance?''
-Mary McCabe, Kitchener, April 12

"I applaud Marc Hall for his courage and determination. We live in a homophobic world and Marc's bravery to confront this issue makes him a hero.''
-Paul Delaney, Toronto, April 12

"This young man is nothing but a troublemaker. If he had wanted to bring a same sex partner to his prom, he should have attended a secular school that allows this. He was not ignorant of the regulations of the Catholic church and its schools.''
-Mark Legend, Markham, April 12

"Of course Marc Hall should be allowed to take his date to the prom. Discrimination is always wrong! Jesus never said `Love they neighbour, if he's straight.' ''
-Jo Vansteenkiste, Belgium, April 12

"If I enroll my sons in a Hebrew school would it be correct for me to demand ham and cheese sandwiches on the lunch menu or New Testament teachings during the school day?''
-Anita Kivi Nippak, Toronto, April 12

"The Catholic Church says no sex is permitted outside marriage. Will there be people at the door asking all the prom-goers if they are virgins? Contraception is banned by the Roman Catholic Church. Will all prom-goers be checked to see if any boy or girl is carrying a condom?''
-Rita Mignacca, Albany, N.Y., April 12

"He knew it was a Catholic school when he applied to attend, and he knew the Catholic view of homosexuality, yet he chose to attend that particular school anyway. If he didn't want to abide by those rules, he should have gone to a public school instead.''
-Jay Swain, Mississauga, April 12

"He chose to be in a Catholic environment. So he should abide by the rules, or switch schools.''
-Peter Jed, Toronto, April 12

"If more guys were allowed to take their male dates to proms there wouldn't be so many priests in the closet.''
-Warren Staley, Kingston, April 12

"Homosexuality is ungodly behaviour and no amount of lawmaking will ever make it acceptable in the eyes of a true Christian or God's' eyes either.''
-Steve Scrivens, Brampton, April 12

"If he is Catholic then he should be living as one. The Church teaches that homosexuality is not natural, and if you are homosexual God will save you. In the meantime don't have sex!''
-Paul DelGrosso, Toronto, April 12

"This young man is just an attention seeker. If he is a Roman Catholic then he should not expect to change a religion to suit his sexual lifestyle.''
-Marion Naccarato, Newmarket, April 12

"I believe Hall has the right to bring his boyfriend to the prom because his school is a publicly-funded school.''
-Derek Tse, Toronto, April 12

"I do not think that he should be allowed to bring his partner to the prom -not because I am homophobic, as i have friends who are gay, but because you should respect people's religious beliefs.''
-Michelle Lawrence, Caledon, April 12

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