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From: samet@sfmag.UUCP (A.I.Samet)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Clarification
Message-ID: <612@sfmag.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 20-Jun-85 16:20:29 EDT
Article-I.D.: sfmag.612
Posted: Thu Jun 20 16:20:29 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 21-Jun-85 05:33:03 EDT
References: <277@ucdavis.UUCP> <329@mhuxi.UUCP> <611@sfmag.UUCP>
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>  Is unmarried straight sex any more permissable than Gay sex?

   To answer succinctly from the halachic viewpoint:
   
   1) The sin of male homosexuality is punishable by death  by skila
   (stoning).  Of  the  4  methods   of execution, skila is the most
   severe.  The only other sexual offenses punishable by  skila  are
   certain  types  of  incest, and  having  sex  with  an animal. By
   contrast, adultery is punishable by lesser forms of execution.
   
   2) The major sin typically entailed in extramarital  sex  between
   Jewish  partners  is  the prohibition of niddah. This carries the
   penalty of kares (a punishment to the soul from  heaven)  and  is
   also punishable by lashes by a rabbinical court.
   
   3) This prohibition  of  niddah  is  applicable  to  married  and
   unmarried  people  alike.   A  woman is not permissible until she
   immerses in a mikveh (at the proper time). If the partners aren't
   married, that may be a sin,  but  one of far lesser severity than 
   the prohibition of niddah.
   

   CONCLUSION:  Male homosexuality  is punishable by the most severe
   death  penalty and is  therefore much worse than (non-incestuous)
   extra-marital sex.