Maine Bishop Fights Marriage Equality

The Roman Catholic Church in Maine continued to collect donations for the campaign against marriage equality over the weekend, aided by a recorded message from the Bishop of Portland that played during a Sunday service at at least one church.

Bishop Richard J. Malone prepared a recorded message heard by parishioners at St. Matthew's Church in Hampden. He asked parishioners to do "four things," according to the Bangor Daily News, including to pray for "marriage as we know it," financially support the anti-equality campaign, volunteer for it, and vote yes on Question 1, the November ballot initiative to repeal the new marriage equality law.

"Same-sex marriage is a dangerous sociological experiment that many of us believe will have negative consequences for society as a whole," said Malone in the message, according to the Bangor Daily News. "Children need the love of a mother and a father."

The church has asked parishioners statewide to donate to second collections for the campaign throughout the month of September. It has not been made public how much has been raised through the Catholic fund-raising drive.