Maine Gay Marriage Campaign Disappoints Catholic Church

[Catholic_Press]

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland says Maine voters should not be put through “another divisive drawn-out campaign” to legalize gay marriage.

More…

 

[antonivs]

Recent polling shows a slim margin in favor of same-sex marriage in Maine. It looks like “another divisive drawn-out campaign” is inevitable in the Pine Tree State.

In November 2009, Maine voters rejected the state’s then new law legalizing same-sex marriage, but more than a year removed from that vote, voters are now narrowly in favor of legalizing these unions once again. 47% want gay marriage to be the law, and 45% oppose it being legal. The quarter of voters who claim to be independents overwhelmingly support same-sex unions, 56-37, along with 71% of Democrats, but 21% of Democrats and 77% of Republicans prefer the status quo, keeping the margin close.

source: publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2011/03/maine-narrowly-favors-gay-marriage.html

 

[Cojuanco]

Recent polling shows a slim margin in favor of same-sex marriage in Maine. It looks like “another divisive drawn-out campaign” is inevitable in the Pine Tree State.

source: publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2011/03/maine-narrowly-favors-gay-marriage.html

Of course, as California shows us, that margin can go either way. Either way, it’s going to be a long slog for either side.

Out of interest, though, what is the percentage of Latinos, African-Americans and Mormons in Maine? Probably not encouraging.

 

[CMatt25]

Recent polling shows a slim margin in favor of same-sex marriage in Maine. It looks like “another divisive drawn-out campaign” is inevitable in the Pine Tree State.

source: publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2011/03/maine-narrowly-favors-gay-marriage.html

Interesting that same sex unions has overwhelming support not only of Democrats but of Independents as well. And support across every age group with only a majority of the age group 65 and over opposing. Bodes well for homosexuals someday having the same rights as the rest of us living in the United States. And if the Catholic Church or any other faith does not then wish to perform such ceremonies, that’s fine. And if the United Church of Christ or another faith does, then they can. And if the state of Maine issues civil marriage licenses someday and 2 men or 2 women are united by a justice of the peace, then they would be legally under civil law. If God wants to deal with any of them later, then He will. In the meantime doesn’t affect a Catholic heterosexual marriage nor any other heterosexual couple’s marriage.

 

[Dale_M]

To refresh people’s memories, the Diocese of Portland had a major role in the 2009 campaign to overturn the legislature’s decision to legalize gay marriage. Bishop Malone required his homilies on the subject to be read in all churches of the diocese, and spoke publicly about it many times, including giving testimony at the legislature. And the diocesan director of public affairs, Marc Mutty, took a leave of absence so he could head the political action committee which was leading the repeal effort.

The impact of the message was strong enough that a vocal organization of Catholics in favor of gay marriage was formed to oppose the bishop’s message. Speaking after the success of the repeal, Bishop Malone acknowledged that it had been a hard fight.

“This has been brutal, yet I experienced the great grace of my vocation as a bishop,” said Bishop Malone. The most difficult moments of the campaign came when he confronted “a terrible onslaught by dissenting Catholics who twice put a statement in local papers challenging my leadership.”

ncregister.com/blog/marriage_victory_in_maine/