Catholic churches lead signature drive to ban same-sex marriage in Massachusetts

The campaign to end same-sex marriage in Massachusetts has found traction in the state's churches, with thousands of Catholics and other worshippers lending their signatures to a petition drive seeking to abolish same-sex unions in the state. With the backing of the state's four Roman Catholic bishops, opponents of marriage equality set up shop at more than 200 churches across this heavily Catholic state, and some Protestant churches have also joined in the effort.

"It just seems so strange for me to stand here today and preach what I think is so obvious: Marriage is between a man and a woman," said the Reverend Walter Waldron, pastor of St. Patrick Church in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood, who used his Sunday homily to rally support for the ballot initiative. "It's not just our faith," he said. "It's for the good of society."

Organizers said they had collected about 25,000 signatures since September 21, The Boston Globe reported Monday, including thousands gathered at churches over the weekend. They must collect more than 65,000 signatures before November 23 for the question to qualify for the 2008 ballot, but sponsors hope to gather double that number to protect against a challenge.

Supporters of same-sex marriage, led by the MassEquality advocacy group, gathered outside many churches on Sunday to protest the signature drive. "We completely respect people's right to worship," said Marc Solomon, the group's political director. "However, we are very concerned that the church hierarchy has made taking away marriage equality—and replacing it with nothing else—such a high priority."

Saying Mass Sunday at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston archbishop Sean O'Malley also urged parishioners to sign the petition. Massachusetts is the only state that allows gay and lesbian couples to marry following a 2003 ruling by the state's highest court. Vermont and Connecticut recognize civil unions.

Opponents have rallied around the ballot initiative after lawmakers last month defeated a proposed constitutional amendment that would have banned same-sex marriage but created civil unions. The proposed question would ban both, but the earliest it can go up for a statewide vote is November 2008. After collecting the signatures, supporters must then win the support of 50 lawmakers in two successive legislative sessions before it can go on the ballot.

At St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood, gay couples approached parishioners and urged them not to sign the petition. "I want them to see the face of someone who is married so they can see how benign and human we are," said Elizabeth Anker, 51, who married Aina Allen, her partner of 20 years, last year.

Wendy Loveland, 41, and her spouse, Margaret Williams, handed out copies of a letter they wrote explaining their support for same-sex marriage. Some parishioners appeared to be confused by why the protesters were there. "So where do I sign the petition?" one elderly woman asked Loveland.

"Oh, we're against that," Loveland responded.

"I won't even read the letter," the parishioner said. "I want to sign the petition."

At St. Patrick, more than half of the roughly 50 people who attended Waldron's Mass signed the petition. Earlier, at least 30 parishioners signed the petition following a Mass said in Cape Verdean. "I don't believe two men or two women should marry. That's not what God intended," said Connie Fidalgo, who collected signatures at a table outside the church.

Some St. Patrick parishioners said they wouldn't sign the petition. "It's 2005. Times have changed," said Ilduce Brandao, of Boston. "It's time to accept people for who they are." (AP)