New ad backing same-sex ‘marriage’ in Maine misrepresents Catholicism, group charges

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Comments: 17

Yolande Dumont appearing in the Protect Maine Equality ad

Portland, Maine, Oct 13, 2009 / 04:22 pm (CNA).- A new Maine television ad by opponents of a marriage restoration amendment has been criticized for using a self-identified Catholic mother to promote homosexual “marriage.” Catholicvoteaction.org says the ad is “lying” about the Catholic Church.

In an ad produced by the group Protect Maine Equality, Yolande Dumont of Lewiston is shown talking about her son, his homosexual partner and her grandson, who are also shown in the ad.

“I’ve been a Catholic all my life, my faith means a lot to me,” she tells viewers. “Marriage to me is a great institution that works and that’s what I want for my children too.”

The Chicago-based organization CatholicVoteAction.org characterized the ad as “shameless.”

The group’s president, Brian Burch, charged that homosexual groups have lost the battle to make the Catholic Church accept “skewed views” on human sexuality and marriage. However, he said, they are now making a “desperate and despicable attempt” to sway Catholics by pretending that the Catholic faith supports their agenda.

“Gay marriage groups have lost virtually every ballot question put before the people for a vote, including a major defeat in California last November,” Burch added. “They are no longer content to defend their radical beliefs on their own, and instead have stooped to lying about the Catholic Church and its teachings, proof that gay activists will stop at nothing to promote their agenda.”

He characterized the ad as suggesting that the Catholic Church does not support the traditionally recognized nature of marriage, calling it “disingenuous, dishonest, and an insult to the intelligence of Catholic voters in Maine.”

“Everybody knows the Catholic Church is opposed to counterfeit marriages,” Burch continued. “The Church defends marriage as a civic institution believing marriage and family to be the fundamental unit of society.”

Burch called on Protect Maine Equality to pull the ad from the airwaves and from YouTube.

This November’s Maine ballot will include Question 1, which would repeal the state legislature’s recent bill that would recognize registered homosexual unions as marriages.

Commenting just after the state legislature approved the recognition of same-sex “marriages” last May, Bishop of Portland Richard Malone said, “Same-sex marriage is a dangerous sociological experiment that I believe will have negative consequences for society as a whole.

“Children will be taught in schools that same-sex marriage and traditional marriage are simply different expressions of the same thing, and that the logical and consistent understanding that marriage and reproduction are intrinsically linked is no longer valid. These are profound changes that will reverberate throughout society with tragic consequences,” he warned.

Question 1 is backed by Stand for Marriage Maine, whose website is at http://www.standformarriagemaine.com.

Comments: 17

Subscriber comments:

Published by: psalm
Detroit/MI 10/19/2009 09:20 PM EST

Typo corrections from my previous post. "so called same sex marriage has an effect on faithful Christians" "And where does that slippery slope take us?"

Published by: psalm
Detroit/MI 10/19/2009 10:18 AM EST

MauraHennessey "I am half of a same sex maarried couple,..my ability to get married does not affect either you or your faith." I disagree. We aren't talking about just YOUR ability to get married. Your "ability to get married" involves a radical redefining of marriage. This affects everybody. This would involve changing the whole moral climate of the country by force. That affects everybody. Normalizing of so called same sex marriages opens the door to what is acceptable to teach our kids in school.This affects everybody. Normalizing so called same sex marriage has an effect of faithful Christians. Suddenly Catholics or anyone who opposes same-sex mariage are necessarily doing something wrong by opposing behavior we deem as sinful but has been normalized and given blessings by the state. And where does that slippery slop take us? Ask our Canadian friends. The 'my ability to get married' argument is fallacious. We wouldn't base a sociological study based on one example and form a conclusion from that one example. If my neighbor wants be a polygamist and his actions don't affect me that's one thing. If polygamy is legalized and declared acceptable behavior then you better believe that it will affect me and everyone else.

Published by: George Tibbetts
Cincinnati, OH 10/18/2009 07:42 AM EST

Welcome to the New World Order .Its not like we did not know it was coming.

Published by: Dan OGrady
Omaha, ne 10/15/2009 10:40 PM EST

Dr. Guy Di - that would be fine to call marriage anything you want as long as every legally recognized relationship is called the same thing with the same responsibilities and rights. However, your church won't even support the term "Civil Union" for all. As long as marriage is a civil, secular institution and it's legal for two people of the same sex to be in a relationship, your church doesn't have the authority to force your dogma on others. Seperate but Equal is anything but...

Published by: Dr. Guy Di
Chicago, Illinois 10/15/2009 09:50 AM EST

The LDS Church (Mormons) had to renounce their beleif in polagomy to be admitted to the Union. Some of the "fundemantalists" mormons support gay marriage to further their cause which does have some history in the Old Testament. For those so concerned that "homosexual" is negative and rater use the term gay, why not just pick a word or term that embraces civil rights in a secular society without using the term marriage. For Catholics marriage is a sacrament of the Church however, for other Christians, Jews and Muslems the very term marriage is a religious as well as secular institution. What about their rights of religious freedom?

Published by: In Defense of Holy Matrimony
U.S.A. 10/15/2009 12:54 AM EST

Homosexual unions serve no benefit to society. When a man and a woman are united in marriage and are open to life, society benefits. It's an investment in the future. Homosexual "marriages" serve no larger purpose. They just fulfill the selfish desires of two people. Perhaps next year, marrying three people will become the en vogue "civil rights" issue.

Published by: Dan O'Grady
Omaha, NE 10/14/2009 10:40 PM EST

Excommunicate her! Differing opinions about this issue must not be tolerated

Published by: MauraHennessey
NYC/NY/USA 10/14/2009 03:23 PM EST

Mr Burch is more than a bit disingenuous when he accuses No on 1 people of lying in the ad that he references. This is a Catholic woman, expressing, according to her conscience, hew own views. No claims of doctrinal orthodoxy are made. As for "counterfeit marriage," well, I was married in Spain, I am half of a same sex maarried couple, and the State of New York, where I live, recognises the validity. I am an attorney, my ability to get married does not affect either you or your faith. In a secular republic, all religious viewpoints are supposedly equal and my own faith permits same-sex marriages and blesses them. As far as putting rights to a vote, one of the reasons for the First Amendment in the US was to prevent then Supreme Court Justice John Jay's efforts to remove the Right of Catholics to Vote on the grounds that they served and in fact their votes were determined by the wishes of the Catholic Bishops, as the representatives of a foreign nation. It was a good thing that Catholic suffrage was not put to a vote in the 1780's.......

Published by: Mary
California 10/14/2009 02:08 PM EST

There will always be people who call themselves Catholic when, in fact, their lives are a contradiction between beliefs and actions. A Catholic can question the Church's teachings, but to openly defy those teachings separates us from the faith. Remember that Jesus our Lord spoke this truth in Matthew 28:20 when he said "teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you." (this is only one example of many) To disagree with all that Christ commanded is to contradict Him. Yet, there are many baptized into the faith that don't believe all that the Church teaches, therefore, they are not in full communion with the faith — and that’s a problem. To proclaim to believe only in what we can think of ourselves is to cut the connection to Jesus Christ. And we love to think our own conclusions are completely correct and even sacred. People may say this indicates that Catholics don't think for themselves. Nothing is further from the truth. Going to a church that does not claim to have answers is like going to a restaurant that does not claim to have food. The table settings and the ambiance may be lovely, but the main ingredient—indeed, its reason for being — is missing.

Published by: Tom
USA 10/14/2009 10:57 AM EST

Rate: Regular

Ask yourselves this: If two people want to make a lifelong commitment to love and care for each other, who are you to tell them they can't? How can the Diocese of Portland reconcile its donation of over $200,000.00 to support Question 1's agenda of discrimination, while simultaneously planning the closure of no less than five parishes across Maine, with the Church's mission to serve its parishioners, nevermind Her mandate from Christ to aid the sick and the poor? This campaign is an example of hypocrisy at its most base and deplorable.

Published by: Helen
Philippines 10/14/2009 03:53 AM EST

Rate: Good

Chansen Stone, no one is forced to become a Catholic, but everyone who chooses to become Catholic MUST ACCEPT ALL THE CHURCH'S TEACHINGS. One doctrine denied or rejected makes that person automatically NON-CATHOLIC.

Published by: Elliott
Portland, ME 10/13/2009 09:38 PM EST

Ms. Dumont is only stating her position. She represents lots of Catholics that disagree with the church's teachings. They can't argue on one hand that the ad is attempting to claim it represents the church's position, then state that "everybody knows" they are against marriage equality.

Published by: JohnVIsser
Hartford, CT 10/13/2009 07:21 PM EST

Why must this news agency insist on using the term homosexual which is considered as offensive? And why must they but the word marriage in scare quotes? Here's an example in reverse: The Catholic church is known to be full of "priests" who are pedophiles in disguise.

Published by: Teressa Spencer
San Jose, CA 10/13/2009 06:53 PM EST

If folks can't tell the difference between civil marriage (courthouse) and holy matrimony (churches) they are indeed obtuse. Keep your religion off my laws!

Published by: T. Arden
SF, CA 10/13/2009 05:52 PM EST

Nice try, Chansen Stone. Your spin just doesn't work anymore. I agree about one thing. People of faith should not just accept Church teaching. They should dig for the truth. And therein lies the strength of the Catholic faith.

Published by: Maria Trujillo
Plantation, FL., USA 10/13/2009 04:59 PM EST

Rate: Good

A little late in her life to be "dissing" her Maker. Iniquity piled on iniquity. Sudden death is always to be feared. God may have handed them over to impurity...but we can still pray for the Grace of Repentance.

Published by: Chansen Stone
Bango, Maine 10/13/2009 04:52 PM EST

Rate: Regular

The ad doesn't represent the Catholic Church's teaching, and doesn't purport to do any such thing. It represents one woman's view of her life. All people of religion should not accept the church's teachings without question. They should consider the issue and make their own determination on what is right and just. I doubt anyone would feel that denying rights to fellow Americans makes much sense.

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