November 18th, 2008
On Thursday, a coalition of religious leaders in Maine held new conferences to support marriage equality.
“We are speaking here today in support of civil marriages for same-sex couples because assuring full human rights for all citizens advances the common good,” said the Rev. Marvin Ellison, a Presbyterian minister and professor of ethics at Bangor Theological Seminary. Doty announced that more than 120 religious leaders from 14 different faith traditions across Maine have formed the Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry in Maine. The coalition, he said, is not a political action committee, but a group of clergy acting as individuals to raise awareness about the issue of same-sex marriage.
Today the Roman Catholic Bishop in Maine responded by ordering all churches to read a letter of opposition in Mass.
“To redefine marriage to include same-sex couples is to strip marriage of an essential component, namely the ability and obligation to procreate,” the bishop said in his letter. “To strip marriage of this essential component is to render marriage meaningless and open it up to endless revision and redefinition.”
The unmarried man without children did not specify whether he would be issuing a letter in opposition to infertile couples or elderly couples. However the Bishop did indicate that he will soon be attempting to impose Catholic doctrine by law on those ministers who spoke last week.
Malone’s letter said the church will be launching initiatives in the weeks and months ahead to preserve and support marriage as it is currently defined. It said objections to same-sex marriage are not based strictly on religious principles, but also on what is best for society.
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Buffy
November 19th, 2008
At the rate things are going New England may turn out to be the bastion of equality. Perhaps we should all move there and let the rest of the nation sink into self-imposed theocracy. As much as I loathe the cold and snow (I was born and raised there) I’ll take it over places where my rights are denied by “the will of the people”.
Yuki Choe
November 19th, 2008
A bit off topic, but a reason to celebrate. Nepal now allows same-sex marriages.
http://www.sindhtoday.net/south-asia/37158.htm
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