Maine's Bishop Malone Has The Sadz

"I am deeply disappointed that a majority of Maine voters have redefined marriage from what we have understood it to be for millennia by civilizations and religions around the world. I trust that those who voted for such a radical change did so out of concern for our brothers and sisters who struggle with same-sex attraction. Respect and acceptance of all people regardless of sexual orientation is not a point of controversy. It is a teaching of the Church, but so is the authentic meaning and definition of marriage. That is why the Catholic Church will continue its commitment to work for the basic human rights to which all people are entitled, while remaining devoted to preserving and strengthening the precious gift of marriage." - Bishop Richard Malone,  writing on the official site of the Diocese of Portland.

MAINE: Bishop Richard Malone Vows He Has Not "Backed Down" On Marriage

Maine's Bishop Richard Malone has penned a letter to the New York Times in which he denies reports that the Catholic Church plans to stay out of the marriage battle this time.

I have not backed down in the church’s defense of marriage. Although not a member of the current political action committee, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland is playing a crucial role in November’s vote, launching a communication and educational effort based on my pastoral letter. This document is intended to educate all people of good will about the truth and beauty of marriage as it has been preserved for millenniums by society and various religions. Objectively, the essence of marriage can only be the union of one man and one woman open to the new life of children, whom they nurture in their irreplaceable roles as father and mother. Faithful Catholics will continue to defend God’s plan for marriage through its preaching and teaching and in the public square.

MAINE: Catholic Diocese Says It Won't Campaign Against Gay Marriage Bill

In a stunning turnaround, Maine's Catholic diocese says it will not campaign publicly against this November's vote on the same-sex marriage.

Bishop Richard Malone on Friday unveiled a "pastoral letter" he wrote explaining the church's position on marriage. The document will be discussed at Catholic churches and schools, through the diocese's magazine and on radio stations devoted to Catholic issues. Malone said the letter will be the heart of the church's response to gay-marriage supporters. The church in 2009 took up special collections and asked for contributions from other dioceses to fund a campaign against an effort to legalize gay marriage. The Legislature that year legalized same-sex marriage, but voters later overturned the law.

For the first time for any state, Maine's gay marriage item was placed on the ballot by gay activists themselves. (Tipped by JMG reader Matt)

Maine Bishop Launches "Ex-Gay" Group

Conveniently timed to coincide with the renewed marriage equality battle, Maine's Bishop Richard Malone is launching an "ex-gay" group.

Malone announced in a press release the establishment of a local chapter of Courage, a worldwide spiritual support group based in Norwalk, Conn. The Rev. Kevin Martin, who serves St. Michael Parish in Augusta, has been appointed the chaplain for the ministry. “This service is being initiated in response to requests from people who desire the church’s assistance,” Sue Bernard, spokeswoman for the diocese, said in the press release. Courage was founded in 1980 in the Archdiocese of New York. The organization now has has more than 100 chapters and more than 1,500 people on its electronic mailing list worldwide, according to information on its website. The program is patterned after 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous.

(Tipped by JMG reader Seth)

Catholic Church Defunds Portland Homeless Charity Over Marriage Support

Another homeless charity is suffering the wrath of the Catholic Church for having the audacity to support equal rights for gays. This time it's in Portland, Maine.

A social service agency's support for same-sex marriage has cost it local and national funding from the Catholic Church's anti-poverty program. Preble Street's Homeless Voices for Justice program has lost $17,400 this year and will lose $33,000 that it expected for its next fiscal year. Officials with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland and the Washington-based Catholic Campaign for Human Development say that Preble Street violated its grant agreement by supporting Maine's "No on 1" campaign last fall. No on 1 opposed a ballot proposal to overturn the new state law legalizing gay marriage. Voters approved Question 1 on Nov. 3. Homeless Voices for Justice, a statewide advocacy group, is led by people who have been homeless. It works on issues that affect the homeless, such as supporting affordable housing and preventing violence against the homeless. Portland-based Preble Street, which runs a dozen programs to provide housing and other services for the poor and the homeless, provides staff support for Homeless Voices for Justice.

The cut was ordered by Bishop Richard Malone, whom you may remember for his infamous "second collection" of Mass offerings which were donated to the successful effort to repeal marriage equality in Maine.

Maine's Catholics Fast For Marriage

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, Maine is encouraging the state's Catholics to take part in a 40-day "prayer and fasting" campaign to convince God to stop gay marriage. I guess they don't really believe that God so adamantly hates queers and needs a little nudge.

Maine's Catholic Churches Raise Money To Fight Same-Sex Marriage

As called for by Bishop Richard Malone, yesterday Catholic churches across Maine conducted a special collection to be donated to Stand For Marriage Maine's ballot referendum. Not all of Maine's Catholics agree and a few churches saw pro-gay demonstrators outside.

Not all Catholics agree with the church on this issue, and just this week over one hundred people joined a new group called Catholics for Marriage Equality. "My model is Jesus and Jesus preached and practices love and inclusion. That's what I hope our church would do," Elaine McGillicuddy said. This was not the first time Maine's Catholic Church has done a special collection to raise money to fight a controversial referendum question. It was also done to fight partial birth abortions and physician assisted suicide. Stand for Marriage campaign manager Marc Mutty said for the church, this is not a political issue -- it is a moral one. And that asking parishioners to fund this cause was something the bishop felt compelled to do. "It was crystal clear: it was his responsibility, his duty to do this," Mutty said. Not all Catholics agree, but Stand for Marriage hopes it can count on enough parishioners to use the power of prayer and the pocketbook to defeat same-sex marriage in Maine.

Maine's Bishop Malone Explains It To You

"Our opposition to same-sex marriage is not an instance of unjust discrimination or animosity towards homosexual persons. In fact, the Catholic Church teaches emphatically that individuals and society must respect the basic human dignity of all persons, including those with a homosexual orientation." (Of course, we will still be taking a special collection at Mass this Sunday to give to Maine's anti-gay group who is working to enshrine "unjust discrimination" in state law. What, ya gotta problem with that? Say ten Hail Marys and meet me in the little box with the hole.)

(Via - Good As You)

Maine Bishop Orders Special Mass Collection To Fight Gay Marriage

Bishop Richard Malone of the Maine Archdiocese has ordered all of the state's Catholic churches to make a special second collection during mass next Sunday. The money taken during that second collection will go to the anti-gay Stand For Marriage Maine, who will be staging a rally this Sunday at the statehouse in Augusta.

I suggest making your own counter-donation to No On 1/Protect Maine Equality.

PhoboQuotable -Bishop Richard Malone

"I am deeply disappointed in the Maine Legislature and the Governor for making same sex-marriage legal in our state. We believe that the vast majority of Maine's people believe that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, and that calling same-sex relationships marriage doesn't make them so. Marriage as we have known it for millennia has served as the cornerstone of society.

"The family, consisting of mother, father and children, has served throughout the ages as the natural place for the healthy development of children into well adjusted and productive citizens. Same-sex marriage is a dangerous sociological experiment that I believe will have negative consequences for society as a whole. Children will be taught in schools that same-sex marriage and traditional marriage are simply different expressions of the same thing, and that the logical and consistent understanding that marriage and reproduction are intrinsically linked is no longer valid. These are profound changes that will reverberate throughout society with tragic consequences." - Maine's Bishop Richard Malone.

The Portland Diocese has vowed to "play a lead role" in organizing the "people's veto" petition drive in Maine.