He jokingly apologised to his LGBT guests that he had not brought US President Barack Obama back home with him, which prompted one lady to shout: "What about Michelle?"

The Prime Minister then commented on the passing of Proposition 8 in California last November.

Prop 8 overturned a state Supreme Court ruling in May 2008 that legalised gay marriage in California.

The court heard legal arguments about the validity of the ballot measure earlier today.

* -- Does Proposition 8 violate the separation of powers provisions of the constitution because it should have been approved by the Legislature first?

* -- If the Proposition 8 is constitutional, what is to become of the estimated 19,000 same-sex marriages performed between June 16 and the passage of the measure on Nov. 4?

On the other hand, sign me up as an opponent of any prayer that is vetted by any government official or agency. For reasons having less to do with the Constitution and more to do with the nature of prayer, I cannot imagine that a Christian minister could in good conscience allow the government to edit or approve a prayer.

Gilgoff's report contains some shocking details:

For Caron, however, supporting the church's rule, instituted long ago, makes sense. If a priest has a family, he said, how can he dedicate himself wholly to God and his ministry?

"I think it's so important to be able to give to the church; and if you are a priest, I think you need to devote all of that time," he said.

Catholicism is a way of life for Caron. He says he was born in the church and it has been good to him.

"My strength comes from God," he said.