The official position of the Catholic church is that it's not a sin to be homosexual, but it's a sin to act on it. And that definitely affects many Catholics. (See: Jim McGreevey.) I can't see it having that effect on Stephen, though; he's too liberal/relaxed. And he drifted from his religion when he was younger, rather than clinging to it more strictly.

I grew up in a family of spiritual-and-rational people. (As I've said somewhere else around here, the way I'm writing Stephen's faith is very much influenced by how I see my dad's. They have similar sensibilities.) I don't think everyone needs faith, but for those that do, that's the kind of faith to have.

In one interview -- I think it was on radio, because I remember the audio but no video with it -- Stephen said this about speaking at his daughter's confirmation: "It gave me the opportunity to speak very simply and plainly about my faith, which is something I don't get to do very often without people saying, 'Yeah, but do you really believe all that stuff?'" So he must get it a lot.

I've seen debate about his faith on the Colboard and other forums, too. (Fortunately, there are always people ready to speak up and say, "No, the crazy bits are his character, but he's Catholic in real life.")

If you're interested in "Stephen"'s faith as well as Stephen's, view all comments and scroll up, because I did a lot of ruminating on it =)