Apparently our friends at NOM (National Organization of Marriage) and the Catholic Church are funding the ballot initiative this coming November to defeat the ability for same-sex couples to get married in Maine. Dabble Post reports that:
The anti-gay ballot initiative in Maine is being launched, funded, and run by the National Organization for Marriage and the Catholic Church. Recently released campaign finance reports show that these two organizations and their affiliates contributed more than 90% of Stand for Marriage Maine’s funds (NOM: 47%, Catholic Church: 44%). Stand for Marriage Maine is the shell organization formed to run the ballot campaign. Additionally, the Catholic Church, more specifically the Diocese of Portland and its Bishop, paid salaries, provided meals and lodging, printed materials, and even supplied office furniture. And you’ll never guess who’s running the Stand for Marriage Maine operation… why, it’s none other than Mr. Marc R. Mutty, Public Affairs Director for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland.
From NOM: $160,000 plus $9,066.43 in staff time and travel (TOTAL: $169,066.43).
From Catholic Church: $152,000 plus $10,339.73 in salaries, meals/lodging, printing and miscellaneous, and office furniture (TOTAL: $162,339.73).
Note that the Catholic Church includes the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland ($100,000 plus $9,439.73 in in-kind contributions), the Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland ($900 in in-kind contributions), the Knights of Columbus ($50,000), Catholic Charities, Diocese of Evansville, IN ($1,000), and the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, NM ($1,000).
Hmmm. Santa Fe, New Mexico Archdiocese fighting gay marriage in Maine? They sure hate the thought of same-sex marriage there, now, don’t they?
To all my friends in Maine – get out and fight these groups. Our future depends on it.
