By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Bishops in the state of New Jersey are instructing their priests to read or distribute a letter this weekend asking Catholics to pray that lawmakers will not allow same-sex marriage to become law in their state. The measure is aimed at countering a move by lawmakers in the state to rush through a bill permitting gay marriage before Governor-elect Chris Christie, who opposes the measures, takes office.
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Gay activists in the District of Columbia have launched a new website on which they encourage citizens to report priests who may be gay or otherwise “romantically involved,” but only if the priest has supported the Church’s position on same-sex marriage.
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
After suffering a bitter defeat at the hands of voters this month, gay activists in Maine are taking aim at the tax exempt status of churches that rallied their congregations to vote for a repeal of the state’s gay marriage law.
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
The Archdiocese of Washington says that a D.C. City Council decision to narrow the religious freedom exemption in a bill recognizing same-sex marriage will leave religious organizations and individuals at risk of lawsuits and could endanger Catholic social services.
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Proponents of traditional marriage in New Hampshire, where the state legislature enacted an unpopular same-sex marriage law last June, say they are invigorated by the People’s Veto victory in Maine and are planning a new push to repeal the legislation in their state.
by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Voters in Maine exercised their right to a People’s Veto and chose to repeal a law passed by the state legislature that would have allowed same-sex couples to marry. Gay marriage has now lost in every single state – 31 in all – where the issue has been put to a popular vote.
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
A new report based on a recent national survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life finds that while increasing numbers of Americans say they favor civil unions for same-sex couples, the majority remain opposed to same-sex marriage and homosexuality in general.
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
A group of House Democrats have introduced legislation aimed at overturning the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which denies recognition of gay marriage and gives states the right to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Catholic dioceses across the state of Maine are actively raising money and support for a November ballot initiative to reverse a law allowing same-sex marriage in the state.
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Writer
The Diocese of Portland, Maine is among several groups that successfully collected the 55,000 signatures needed to place a People’s Veto on the 2009 ballot to prevent implementation of the state’s recent ruling in favor of same-sex marriage.
