WASHINGTON: State Tells Catholic Church Anti-Gay Collection Is Illegal

Election officials in Washington state have told the local Catholic Church that their plan to take up a collection against gay marriage during mass would be a violation of campaign finance laws.

Lori Anderson, a spokeswoman for the state’s Public Disclosure Commission, told LGBTQ Nation on Wednesday that the request is illegal under the terms of Initiative 134, which Washington voters passed ten years ago to regulate political contributions and campaign spending. Anderson noted that state law specifically states that no organization, including churches, may act as an intermediary for contributions. She said that churches are allowed hand out envelopes, but that either a member of Preserve Marriage Washington has to be on hand to collect them or parishioners must send them in individually. Anderson said that the church has been notified by the commission.

Help! They're being oppressssssed!