The opponents of marriage equality in Maine are claiming they've got the signatures to put a referendum repealing the new law on the ballot in November:
The group that wants to repeal Maine's new gay marriage law with a referendum vote says it has gathered enough signatures to put it on the ballot in November.We can win this one, but it won't be easy.
Stand for Maine Marriage is a coalition of several groups that includes Maine's Catholic diocese.
Spokesman Marc Mutty says, in just four weeks, the group has collected more than the 55,000 signatures needed to put the measure on the ballot. Those signatures still have to be validated by the Secretary of State's office. Mutty says Stand for Maine Marriage will continue to gather signatures to make sure there are enough valid ones on the petitions.
Maine Freedom to Marry, the campaign to save the marriage law, has put together a top-notch political operation. (In other words, this won't be a repeat of the disastrous effort in California last fall.) Of course, our side needs financial help. Compared to California, Maine is an inexpensive state to run a campaign. So, everything and anything you contribute will help.
And, just to reinforce how aggressively the Catholic Church in Maine is engaging in this battle, check out the website of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland. This church is on the peninsula of Portland, one of the most liberal neighborhoods in the country:
Maine Marriage InitiativeMr. Mutty, from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Maine, is also the spokesman for the anti-marriage campaign. The Catholic Church in Maine doesn't have much money. There's a dearth of priests and the diocese has been shutting down parishes. We've heard rumors of a $2 million commitment from the Catholics. So, one wonders, where will the money for the anti-marriage come from? Has the bishop of Maine called Salt Lake City yet. That's what the Archbishop of San Francisco did last year on Prop 8.
We are pleased to announce the launching of a new web site devoted exclusively to the issue of same-sex marriage. Go to Maine Marriage Initiatives today to learn more about same-sex marriage legislation to be introduced in Maine this year, learn the facts and hear about the myths, click to contact your representative in Augusta, and see what the various faith groups have to say about this issue, including our own Bishop Malone.
Pastors and lay leaders please inform the faithful about this valuable resource by mentioning it from the pulpit and/or putting this announcement in your weekly bulletin.
For more information contact:
Marc R. Mutty
Office of Public Affairs
Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland
The National Organization for Marriage (NOM), led by the ever painful Maggie Gallagher, will be pumping money into Maine. Where will NOM get its money? I'm thinking all roads lead to Salt Lake City. NOM did name an extremist from the Mormon Church to its board. That guy is Orson Scott Card:
Orson Scott Card, a Mormon leader of the religious right's top anti-gay marriage organization, National Organization for Marriage, advocated the criminalization of homosexuality, labeled the US government "our mortal enemy," talked about the "insane Constitution" dying, and then appeared to advocate the overthrow of the US government "by whatever means is made possible or necessary."If we've learned one thing over the past few months, we've learned that the Mormons really don't like publicity. They don't want people talking about their practice of baptizing dead people, which is what they did to Obama's mother last year. This time, the Mormons will be pushing money through front groups like NOM. I know a lot of Catholics in Maine. I don't think a lot of them would appreciate their bishop sidling up to the Mormon church, which wants to baptize their dead relatives. That doesn't sit well with Catholics...or at least the ones I know.
So, the game is on. We can win on a marriage equality referendum, which will have national implications. Help make that happen by donating to the campaign.
