Posted on 08/30/2012 6:58:36 AM PDT by marshmallow
OLYMPIA, Wash. — The state of Washington has advised the Catholic diocese in Yakima, Wash., that its plans to conduct a special collection to benefit the campaign to defeat the state’s marriage equality law is illegal under the state’s campaign finance laws.
Last week, Yakima Bishop Joseph Tyson sent a letter to pastors in 41 parishes of the Yakima Diocese asking them to announce a special collection that would go to “Preserve Marriage Washington,” the coalition fighting the same-sex marriage law that was passed earlier this year.
Opponents of the law have successfully targeted the measure with a voter referendum in November.
But Lori Anderson, a spokeswoman for the state’s Public Disclosure Commission, told LGBTQ Nation on Wednesday that the request is illegal under the terms of Initiative 134, which Washington voters passed ten years ago to regulate political contributions and campaign spending.
Anderson noted that state law specifically states that no organization, including churches, may act as an intermediary for contributions.
She said that churches are allowed hand out envelopes, but that either a member of Preserve Washington has to be on hand to collect them or parishioners must send them in individually.
Anderson said that the church has been notified by the commission.
Although the diocesan offices refused comment on the collection, planned for Sept. 8-9, a spokesperson did acknowledge that the Bishop also alerted parish priests that he has a “Pastoral Letter on Marriage” that he would like read in every parish.
Washington’s same-sex marriage law came under fire even before it was signed into law by Gov. Chris Gregoire in February when a group of bishops banded together and published a letter voicing their opposition to the bill. They argued that marriage should remain between a man and a woman because it is “related to bringing....
(Excerpt) Read more at lgbtqnation.com ...
“Marriage equality”? Guess the misleading phrase polled well.
see my tagline please.
These homosexuals are so desperate to get a win by the voters and hopefully they do not.
Hope all the states say no to this but I ave a feeling that up in Wa there is gong to be a hell of a lot of fraud and illegal money.
I heard that the turd pokers and butch strap on wearers are trying to confuse the voters by the language of the ballot question and their AD’s.
Just like they tried that crap here in FL but we still got over 62% to vote against it.
Only one county went for sham marriage and that was key west and that only just won, every other county said no een the liberal counties.
At the federal level and in most states, non-profits are allowed to campaign for or against issues, even when on the ballot. It's normally only when campaigning for or against people up for election that there are problems. Unless, of course, a liberal church campaigns for a liberal politician.
Church’s response should be: Bring it on. Then send out the Knights of Columbus to take care of the oppostion.
Make that “Knights of Columbus with drawn swords”. I really want to see the photos.
Saw a polygamy story yesterday. “Marriage” was performed because the official said nothing in the law preceded it.
Gays will give polygamy. Anything that destroys traditional family.
Where are he adultery laws on “gay marriage”? Those relationships are inherently non monogamous.
If true, it would seem to me that law is very questionable under First Amendment grounds. Is there a constitutional issue here?
You would sure think so. First - it’s a religious organization asking. That seems to be right in the thick of the First Amendment. Then we can move over to “free speech” as an afterthought. Here is an organization that says “Our religious beliefs agree with this organizations goal. We want to encourage it by donating money to them.”
Seems to be an unconstitutional limit to me!
Just do what the left does: rename it.
How about The Spiritual Support of Husbands and Wives collection.
Sometimes you have to use the enemies tactics.
What is anyone willing to bet that the fake “churches” of the liberals are collecting money hand-over-fist to send to the opposition campaign for this initiative?
I think you can bet on that.
Had the collection been for pro-gay-marriage, on the other hand...
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