I am a committed Catholic and have been a Maryknoll sister for more than 60 years.

A lifetime of teaching and working with people of all ages has taught me that we are all unique children of God. Being gay is simply another part of the diversity of life. You cannot make yourself or unmake yourself gay. It is the way God has chosen to make you.

And as a social justice advocate, I believe whole-heartedly that it is wrong to discriminate against any person for something that is an unchangeable part of who they are and how God has made them. That is why I believe it is time for Hawaii to allow marriage for gay and lesbian couples.

Life is the greatest gift that God has given us — and we should not judge the packaging this gift comes in. All of us have different packaging — tall or short, straight hair or curly hair, gay or straight. What unites us is our humanity. We have a responsibility to embrace each other’s humanity and accept one another the way God made us.

Many people have the mistaken belief that all people of faith are united against marriage for gays and lesbians, but that is simply not so. Within communities of faith and even within the Catholic Church, there are many opinions. Even His Holiness, Pope Francis, is taking a more progressive approach on social issues.

At 81 years of age, I know that church positions change over time, and I applaud the fact that our new pope is trying to open the tent to more believers.

While church positions may change, the basic tenets of our faith remain the same: Love thy neighbor. Judge not lest you be judged. Do unto others as you would wish done unto you.

I have rooted my life’s work in these basic tenets, which is why I believe that treating others as you wish to be treated includes allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry. We are all created equal in God’s eyes; the love we commit to one another should be equal in our laws as well.

Love is love. When you find the person who you want to commit to spending your life with, your community should celebrate that and stand with you. Your church, your family and your neighbors should support you without judgment.

It is especially important to embrace marriage equality here in Hawaii. I have lived here for more than 50 years and I know how close-knit island communities can be. We owe it to one another to accept each other in our beautiful diversity and not discriminate against people for who they are or whom they love.

Hawaii’s marriage legislation also supports religious freedom. It allows churches and clergy who wish to perform same-sex marriages to do so, and protects the rights of churches and clergy who do not.

I urge the Hawaii Legislature to not stand in the way of caring and committed couples who wish to commit to spend their lives together in marriage.