This is potentially a real game changer in the epic multi-year battle to bring marriage equality to the great state of Maine. Project manager at
Marriage Equality USA Ned Flaherty
posted at Bilerico Project:
Catholic Church Withdraws from Maine Marriage Equality Fight
The Roman Catholic church is taking no active roles in fundraising, staffing, advertising, or campaigning against marriage equality in Maine.
Bishop Richard Malone, the sect's top-ranking official in Maine, said on Friday, March 2 that his goal now is only to re-train the wayward 25% of Maine's 187,306 Catholics. He said that the church "doesn't want to impose a law or belief on anyone," especially non-Catholic citizens, who comprise 86% of Maine residents, and 77% of all Americans. Maine voters will decide by ballot in November whether to write same-gender marriage into state law.
This is really encouraging news. The Church's opposition was a formidable force in 2009:
Historically, Roman Catholic officials have opposed virtually every regulation, policy, and law proposed to protect LGBT people nationwide. Toward that end, the church spent $1.9 million to repeal Maine's new marriage equality statute in 2009, after the legislature and governor had already enacted it.
Friday's historic retreat is the first of its kind for this religious sect, and is profound.
The electoral loss in 2009 was relatively slim. Losing a nearly $2M benefactor, with a substantial "grassroots network" that arrives every Sunday, is a seismic realignment of the playing field for the equality-minded activists. If true, this is the loss of a very major player in the battle to block marriage equality in Maine.
I'll admit, I have a little skepticism surrounding this declaration, and fear it merely represents an attempt by the Church hierarchy to move efforts under the radar. But this is an amazing quote coming from a Catholic bishop: "[T]he church 'doesn't want to impose a law or belief on anyone,' especially non-Catholic citizens." Is the Vatican holding on line 3 for the bishop?
Regardless flying under the radar will be hard for anyone to accomplish in Maine this cycle. Secret donors are not likely to be tolerated this time around.
There is also the result of National Organization for Marriage's failed lawsuit to consider. NOM desperately tried to hide their donors in the 2009 Maine fight, challenging campaign finance disclosure laws in federal court under the U.S. Constitution. They lost in trial court, lost on appeal and when the Supreme Court refused to hear their appeal last month the question was finally settled. They were required under Maine law to disclose who was funding them, and the law requiring them to do so is unquestioningly constitutional.
Equality-minded activists may have their hands full in Maine getting their Republican tea party attorney general to hold the conservative's feet to the fire on campaign finance disclosure. But they can try, and they'll be in the right side of the law when they do.
Whatever the reasons for the turnaround, this is very big news, and anyone who supports the building momentum of the marriage equality initiative in Maine has good reason to cheer. I fully support the Catholic Church's right run their own dominion as they see fit, and marry—or not marry—whoever they wish. Just as I wish they'd allow the secular governments to do the same. May this be a bellwether of a new guiding policy.
More information on the ballot battle coming to the Pine Tree state is available here.
Updated to include reaction from National Organization for Marriage President, Brian Brown:
Not really,
he was snapped weeping in the New York Senate gallery the evening marriage equality passed there. But I bet he's doing the same today.