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Religious And Outside Money Flowing Into Anti-Marriage Equality Groups in Maine
Maine’s battle over marriage equality is shaping up to be another Prop 8 style battle. From every indication, the money is flowing into the anti-marriage groups at an alarming rate. Most Maine citizens, called Mainiacs, do not seem all that interested in donating to the cause now that the bill has been signed into law. Recently, Maine became the fifth state to legalize same-sex marriage, but Maine has a system whereby individuals can sign a petition to get a veto placed upon the ballot in the next election. In this case, that election would be 2010. Currently, those opposed to marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples stands at around $350,000 while those supporting marriage rights have raised just under $140,000.
The question is largely where this money is coming from. Where it does not seem to be coming from is within the broader Maine citizenry. The bulk of the donations appear to be coming from within the Catholic Church and from outside the state itself. The largest single chunk of money comes from the National Organization for Marriage, the much lampooned group which recently enjoyed much publicity for what they did wrong. They have, so far, donated $160,000 directly and another $9,000 in the form of in kind donations. Focus on the Family has donated $50,000.
The only Maine based organization listed is Maine Family Policy Council, which has donated $650. Other than that, the bulk of the rest of the money is coming from the Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic Diocese in Portland, Maine has already donated $100,000 and another $10,000 from in kind donations. The Knights of Columbus has donated $50,000. Diocese outside of Maine also donated $2,000.
The problem with these numbers is not just where the money is coming from. It is not surprising that the outside money is flowing in. After all, the idea of a state determining its own fate seems to be lost on people who are afraid of losing the right to lord over someone else. Instead, the problem is that the Catholic Church is very cash strapped right now. Catholic schools are shuttering across the country. According to one Church official via Pam’s House Blend, the money is coming from donations intended to defend the dogma of the Church. Of course, this particular official did not have any information regarding the origins of the donations. A number of parishioners are finding the donations to be unsettling in the extreme.
One of the questions that should be asked is why the Roman Catholic Church has the money to donate to such causes, but does not have the money to pay taxes. Indeed, the Diocese should have its tax exempt status revoked over such obvious and blatant interference in political affairs. At a time when the states are hurting for money, it should be obvious that the government should revoke those exemption statuses for religious groups which are getting directly involved in the political discourse.
There is, however, a more realistic problem with this. While that money may have been donated to defend the Catholic dogma, the reality is the Church is hurting, and so many others are too. There have been a flood of people who are in need of charity in the last several months as the economy has turned downward. People are being turned out of their homes, and are relying more and more upon charity. It seems wasteful that the Catholic Church would put money to “protecting marriage” rather than feeding the needy. This seems to be the center of discontent among Maine’s Catholic parishioners.
Much of New England tends to be very opposed to having outsiders determining the policies and laws that they put into place. With sentiment mildly against the Roman Catholic Church in New England, and solidly against outsiders having a huge say in the process, this may be more of a backfire than a success.
Addendum: It has been brought to the attention of the author that this may be going to the voters in 2009. That is unclear given that most of the sites visited have stated 2010. I will attempt to verify further.
Pam’s House Blend also provided the information regarding the donation numbers.
Image of the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul via Wikipedia
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9 Responses to Religious And Outside Money Flowing Into Anti-Marriage Equality Groups in Maine
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Paul Kendrick
July 21, 2009 at 10:12 am
According to Marc Mutty, CEO of Stand for Marriage Maine, the $100,000 donation was resurrected from the diocese pool of restricted donations. Mutty said he only had limited details regarding the origins of the donation. “It’s my understanding the money was left to the Portland diocese for defending church dogma or policy, that sort of thing. It wasn’t specific to this particular issue.” It’s a wonder the money was even available as it is also “church dogma” (or at the very least the purpose of Jesus’ ministry) to care for our neighbors by assisting the poor and needy. Listen, anyone who has observed Bishop Richard Malone of Maine knows that winning the same sex marriage battle is all about his career plans. In plain and simple language, Malone wants to be archbishop of a large east coast diocese. It’s no secret he hates it here in Maine. He is more than aware that the eyes of the Church hierarchy are upon him at this very moment. Malone’s leading cheerleader is and has been Cardinal Bernard Law. Law remains influential in the appointments of US bishops (don’t forget it is Cardinal Law who appointed Malone as auxiliary bishop in Boston and, behind the scenes from Rome, facilitated Malone’s promotion to Maine). Malone has taken extraordinary steps to ensure victory. Recently, he dispatched his public affairs director, Marc Mutty, to be CEO of SMM. Mutty’s on a “leave of absence” from his responsibilities at the diocese. Malone instructed his parish priests to announce from the pulpit that referendum petitions are available in every Catholic Church in Maine. “By signing the referendum, you will be helping Bishop Malone,” the priests tell parishioners. This type of direct action in a parish by a Catholic bishop is unprecedented in Maine. Like puppets on a string, these ordained priests sing and dance to whatever tune the bishop plays. Here’s the bottom line. If recently enacted same sex marriage legislation is allowed to become the law of the land in Maine, Bishop Malone will take a significant career hit. He will be looked upon by church power brokers and insiders as a guy who didn’t have what it takes to get people in line so that the legislation is defeated. If he can’t get the job done in this small diocese, there would be little to no chance that he would be promoted to a larger diocese in which the legalization of same sex marriage has yet to be tested. You see, creating programs and services that care for the poor and needy are not included in a Catholic bishop’s resume. These things are simply not important qualifications for an individual to become a bishop in the US Catholic Church. Don’t believe me? Take a look at Malone’s resume on the diocese web site. There’s nothing included in his service record that addresses any of the things that Jesus considered fundamental to his own ministry: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.”
Instead Bishop Malone provides us with a list of his undergraduate and graduate degrees. Malone is in his early sixties. He’s most likely on a short list to become archbishop of a much larger diocese (or, at the very least, he hopes so). There is nothing, and I mean nothing, more important to a Catholic bishop than career advancement opportunities. The bishops spend a great deal of their time with their ears to the ground, listening for the rumblings of the retirements and ill health of other, more senior, bishops. For the bishops, a promotion means more power, more stature, more influence, more comforts – all the things that Jesus cared nothing about. A promotion for a Catholic bishop has nothing to do with greater opportunities and greater challenges to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, to clothe the naked, to greet the stranger, to care for those who are ill and to visit those in prison. For Bishop Malone, defeating this important civil rights legislation is about one thing and one thing only — it’s all about him.