Posted on 03/14/2004 5:36:25 AM PST by fight_truth_decay
Michael Heath must step down as head of the Christian Civic League of Maine for one month for his attempt to solicit information about which state lawmakers and officials might be homosexual.
The board of directors of the conservative Christian organization made that decision after a meeting Saturday.
"The board determined that in making a call for personal information about the sexual orientation of public officials, Mr. Heath crossed a line of ethical behavior into a realm of sinful gossip," the board said in a statement posted on its Web site.
"The board believes that in the heat of a difficult political battle, Mike responded to pressure in a manner unbecoming to our Lord's call to love our enemies and forgive those who offend us."
Heath will be on administrative leave for one month starting immediately, the Rev. Dallas Henry, chairman of the league's 11-member board, said Saturday. Henry said the board decided not to reveal whether Heath will be paid during that time.
Henry said the board prayed before its unanimous vote. "We asked God for guidance and we felt like God gave us this guidance," he said.
The purpose of the leave is for Heath "to reflect on what he has learned from this experience and what needs to be changed to ensure that it does not happen in the future," the board's statement said.
Heath could not be reached for comment Saturday, but Henry said he "received (the decision) well."
Henry said that while Heath is gone, the league's new lobbyist, Tim Russell, who began working for the organization a few months ago, will continue to work in Augusta to promote "our efforts to preserve traditional marriage and lobby for family values."
In his March 5 e-mail newsletter, Heath asked for "tips, rumors, speculation and facts" about the sexual orientation of legislators and other politicians, saying the league wanted the information to create a list of policy makers' sexual orientations.
The newsletter ignited a firestorm of criticism from Gov. John Baldacci and lawmakers. Heath, the league's executive director since 1994, issued a public apology.
The board said Saturday that it is "convinced that Mike is truly sorrowful for his actions and the damage that he has done."
The board also praised Heath for his service. Henry called him "a man of integrity" and said he expects him to return to his job when the month is up.
Betsy Smith of the Maine Lesbian Gay Political Alliance said Saturday she welcomed news of the suspension.
"It's validating, to be honest with you," she said. "His behavior feels really unethical to us, in addition to being really offensive.
"I would love to see it more than a month," she added. "Personally, I don't think Mr. Heath is appropriate to run that organization . . . he does some very un-Christian-like things."
State Rep. Brian Duprey, R-Hampden, who wants to amend Maine's constitution to ban same-sex marriages, an idea supported by the league, said he could not comment Saturday because he was unaware of the development. Duprey previously said Heath's action was wrong.
State Rep. Glenn Cummings, D-Portland, who helped pass out pink triangle badges that many legislators wore last week to show solidarity in the face of Heath's action, praised the decision. "The league is wise to separate itself from that kind of behavior," he said.
The month's suspension was not enough given the seriousness of the offense, Cummings said, but "it's a step in the right direction."
House Majority Leader John Richardson, D-Brunswick, said he hopes that "Michael takes this month to reflect on how he can be more inclusive than divisive."
Richardson said it is the league's right to determine the length of the suspension but predicted that when Heath returns, "there will be a certain amount of distrust for some time to come."
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