Ballot effort to restore marriage in Maine collects more than 55,000 signatures

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Comments: 13

Maine Gov. John Baldacci

Portland, Maine, Jul 8, 2009 / 11:26 pm (CNA).- The group Stand for Marriage Maine has announced it has collected more than the 55,087 signatures required to place on the 2009 ballot a People’s Veto of a state law implementing same-sex “marriage.”

“In just four weeks, we've gathered more than 55,000 signatures from Mainers who believe they, not the legislature and governor, should have the final say on the definition of marriage," said Marc Mutty, chairman of the coalition supporting the ballot proposal and Public Affairs Director for the Catholic Diocese of Portland.

“There has been an extraordinary outpouring of support from voters across the state. This response gives us momentum that will lift us over the first hurdle of putting the issue before the people and, ultimately, carry us to victory in November.”

Bob Embrich, an executive committee member of Stand for Marriage Maine and founder of the Maine Jeremiah Project, said the speed with which the signatures were gathered suggested that Maine citizens want to restore marriage “to its historical and time-honored definition as between a man and a woman.”

“We look forward to submitting the measure for certification and engaging Mainers in a vigorous defense of marriage. Traditional marriage has never lost on the ballot in any state. We expect it to prevail in Maine.”

Stand for Marriage Maine is now collecting additional signatures as insurance for when the Secretary of State certifies their validity.

The coalition was formed after Maine Gov. John Baldacci signed legislation in May approving same-sex “marriages.” It is comprised of the Maine Jeremiah Project, the National Organization for Marriage, the Catholic Diocese of Portland and a number of other organizations and individuals.

Its website is located at http://www.standformarriagemaine.com

Comments: 13

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Rose Haven
Wa State, USA 07/15/2009 01:34 PM EST

I think our country is outraged by the number of children born to people who don't marry and those who do and divorce, both of which present special problems for children. There is also a segment of society that don't want their children or are unable to take care of them alone. It's often seen that a man will have children by several women and not marry any of them. One man here had four children & left his wife to raise then with his parents. Now he has two more in another place & provides no support; he's fled the state and lives with another woman. Also many children are removed from unfit people on drugs and abusive homes. Praise God for loving parents who raise their children. A same sex union is different than a marriage.

Published by: MTB
New Haven 07/13/2009 02:05 PM EST

One comment spoke of Homosexuality as being "un-natural", yet biologist have identified homosexuality in more than 1,500 species of animals.

God created all men, and Christ who shook the faith to it's core by challenging the Religous Leaders of the Time, broke things into two primary objectives, "Love God above all others" and "Love one another as I have loved you".

He's given me one life, and I met the love of my life, together we have watched my brother marry 3 times. As a gay couple, I was forced out of the church, have been attacked by church going folks, had property vandalized, and watched people wave bibles in my face like a weapon.

I've been given one life on earth, and God made me who I am, I honestly believe no one in the church has the right to judge me for the person God intended me to be.

Published by: Just the Facts
Columbus Ohio USA 07/10/2009 07:52 AM EST

Sexual Orientation may not be a choice, but then neither is aggression uncontrolled, dishonesty uncontrolled, gambling addiction, alcohol addiction, compulsive lying, etc.

To be human is to master negative human wants and tendencies. To be an animal is to submit to nature without restaint! We are better than other created beings.

Marriage is between One man and One woman. The Catholic Church is correct and should be supported and applauded for their strong stance.

Published by: Matthew Pici
Richmond, TX 07/10/2009 06:43 AM EST

Many homosexuals argue that they have not chosen their condition, but that they were born that way, making homosexual behavior natural for them. But because something was not chosen does not mean it was inborn. Some desires are acquired or strengthened by habituation and conditioning instead of by conscious choice. For example, no one chooses to be an alcoholic, but one can become habituated to alcohol. Just as one can acquire alcoholic desires (by repeatedly becoming intoxicated) without consciously choosing them, so one may acquire homosexual desires (by engaging in homosexual fantasies or behavior) without consciously choosing them. Since sexual desire is subject to a high degree of cognitive conditioning in humans (there is no biological reason why we find certain scents, forms of dress, or forms of underwear sexually stimulating), it would be most unusual if homosexual desires were not subject to a similar degree of cognitive conditioning. Even if there is a genetic predisposition toward homosexuality (and studies on this point are inconclusive), the behavior remains unnatural because homosexuality is still not part of the natural design of humanity. It does not make homosexual behavior acceptable; other behaviors are not rendered acceptable simply because there may be a genetic predisposition toward them. For example, scientific studies suggest some people are born with a hereditary disposition to alcoholism, but no one would argue someone ought to fulfill these

Published by: Matthew Pici
Richmond, TX 07/10/2009 06:41 AM EST

People have a basic, ethical intuition that certain behaviors are wrong because they are unnatural. We perceive intuitively that the natural sex partner of a human is another human, not an animal. The same reasoning applies to the case of homosexual behavior. The natural sex partner for a man is a woman, and the natural sex partner for a woman is a man. Thus, people have the corresponding intuition concerning homosexuality that they do about bestiality—that it is wrong because it is unnatural.

Natural law reasoning is the basis for almost all standard moral intuitions. For example, it is the dignity and value that each human being naturally possesses that makes the needless destruction of human life or infliction of physical and emotional pain immoral. This gives rise to a host of specific moral principles, such as the unacceptability of murder, kidnapping, mutilation, physical and emotional abuse, and so forth.

Published by: Explanation of the initiative in Maine
Brunswick, Maine 07/09/2009 10:32 PM EST

The initiative underway in Maine is to place repeal of gay marriage on the next state ballot. If sufficient certified voter signatures are gathered, which it appears that they will be, then gay marriage will not become effective in Maine unless the repeal initiative is voted down on the next state ballot. However after their loss in California, the proponents of gay marriage seem even more determined to crush any attempts to stand in their way. Also the proponents of gay marriage include the Maine Civil Liberties Union, an affiliate of the ACLU.

Published by: TN
Bangor, ME 07/09/2009 10:05 PM EST

overwhelming scientific evidence? Where??? I haven't heard of any scientific evidence. Second, what do we need vatican 3 for (Female priest, clown masses, married priesthood, abortion, divorces)? Third, "major psychological and medical experts?" What if they come to a consensus 30 years from now with the complete opposite? And even if they do agree, would that negate God's law because some group of psychatrist said it's ok?

Published by: Gibbons in SF
San Francisco California 07/09/2009 09:01 PM EST

Shadow_man: What does the question of how homosexuality is determined have to do with marriage?

citybythebay: To say nothing changes because we allow counterfeit marriages is like saying nothing changes when somebody passes a counterfeit $20 bill. The one devalues the institution of marriage, the other devalues the currency.

Published by: Constance
CT, USA 07/09/2009 08:57 PM EST

Dear shadow-man, if a person can CHOOSE a man or a woman, it is a CHOICE. People use the word bisexual to label it. Heterosexuals in history have chosen to practice homosexuality at one time or another.

And, believe it or not, some people have chosen to leave the homosexual orientation through their religious faith and are now living as heterosexuals with families.

There is no overwhelming evidence that homosexuality is biological. I will pray for you, but marriage will always be one man and one woman with the possibility of having children in the natural way. The way the Catholic Church has believed for over 2,000 years.

I will not let my niece believe "same-sex" marriage is OK because it is against my sincere religious beliefs.

Published by: steve abril
TAMARAC 07/09/2009 06:54 PM EST

While one cannot deny that there's some degree of genetic influence in nearly all human behavior...there is more robust body of literature that shows environmental/phycological factors have greater influnece over human behavior. self-control is the issue here not 'no choice' I have a puerto rican temper just like my dad (genetic?Maybe.) But that does not give me the right to fly-off-the-handle and be violent towards someone-does it?

Published by: guyinportland
portland 07/09/2009 04:30 PM EST

My favorite part about this was this was at the Old Port Festival in Portland Maine when they approved and said "if you aren't registered to vote sign here"... upon further reading I noticed it was for this. Don't we Catholics have better things to spend time and money on than this? Can someone please put this money and resources towards a Vatican 3?

Published by: shadow_man
Fullerton 07/09/2009 01:28 PM EST

Rate: Regular

Homosexuality is not a choice. Just like you don't choose the color of your skin, you cannot choose whom you are sexually attracted to. If you can, sorry, but you are not heterosexual, you are bi-sexual. Virtually all major psychological and medical experts agree that sexual orientation is NOT a choice. Most gay people will tell you its not a choice. Common sense will tell you its not a choice. While science is relatively new to studying homosexuality, studies tend to indicate that its biological.

There is overwhelming scientific evidence that homosexuality is not a choice. Sexual orientation is generally a biological trait that is determined pre-natally, although there is no one certain thing that explains all of the cases. "Nurture" may have some effect, but for the most part it is biological.

Published by: citybythebay
san francisco/ca 07/09/2009 10:15 AM EST

Restore? Nothing about marriage needs "restoring" because nothing about marriage has changed for heterosexual couples. Give us a break on the biased title.

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