The article should be: LOCAL CHURCHES OPPOSE GAY MARRIAGE, as many local churches are fighting to keep traditional marriage. Those in support of gay marriage are coming from out of state. I will vote against gay marriage. It is immoral and against God.
City
Local churches gather in support of gay marriage
Oct 19, 2009 12:00 am
Daryn Slover/Sun Journal
Sara Karam, left, and her partner Eileen Badich, both of Lewiston, sing along with an interfaith clergy during a marriage equality service at the First Universalist Church in Auburn on Sunday evening. Clergy from left are: Rita Moran of Earth Center Community, Ethelind Wright, the senior deacon at High Street Congregational Church, Rev. Casey Collins of the Calvary Methodist Church, Rabbi Hillel Katzir of Temple Shalom, the Rev. Rich Cullen of the United Methodist Church, father Steve Crowson of Trinity Episcopal Church, the Rev. Dr. Bill Blaine-Wallace, the multi-faith chaplain at Bates College, Emily Wright-Timko, associate multi-faith chaplain at Bates, and Rev. Dr. Jodi Cohen Hayashida of the First Universalist Church.
- dslover/Sun JournalSara Karam, left, and her partner Eileen Badich, both of Lewiston, sing along with an interfaith clergy during a marriage equality service at the First Universalist Church in Auburn on Sunday evening. Clergy from left are: Rita Moran of Earth Center Community, Ethelind Wright, the senior deacon at High Street Congregational Church, Rev. Casey Collins of the Calvary Methodist Church, Rabbi Hillel Katzir of Temple Shalom, the Rev. Rich Cullen of the United Methodist Church, father Steve Crowson of Trinity Episcopal Church, the Rev. Dr. Bill Blaine-Wallace, the multi-faith chaplain at Bates College, Emily Wright-Timko, associate multi-faith chaplain at Bates, and Rev. Dr. Jodi Cohen Hayashida of the First Universalist Church.
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Daryn Slover/Sun Journal
Karen Ferguson, of Auburn, ties a colored ribbon to a fabric representing diversity during an interfaith marriage equality service at the First Universalist Church in Auburn on Sunday evening. Rabbi Hillel Katzir of Temple Shalom and Rev. Dr. Jodi Cohen Hayashida of the First Universalist Church hold the display while Rev. Dr. Bill Blaine-Wallace, multi-faith chaplain at Bates College, stands at left.
- dslover/Sun JournalKaren Ferguson, of Auburn, ties a colored ribbon to a fabric representing diversity during an interfaith marriage equality service at the First Universalist Church in Auburn on Sunday evening. Rabbi Hillel Katzir of Temple Shalom and Rev. Dr. Jodi Cohen Hayashida of the First Universalist Church hold the display while Rev. Dr. Bill Blaine-Wallace, multi-faith chaplain at Bates College, stands at left.
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Daryn Slover/Sun Journal
Interfaith clergy celebrate a marriage equality service at the First Universalist Church in Auburn on Sunday evening. From left are: Rita Moran of Earth Center Community, Ethelind Wright, the senior deacon at High Street Congregational Church, Rev. Casey Collins of the Calvary Methodist Church, Rabbi Hillel Katzir of Temple Shalom, Rev. Rich Cullen of the United Methodist Church, father Steve Crowson of Trinity Episcopal Church, Rev. Dr. Bill Blaine-Wallace, the multi-faith chaplain at Bates College, Emily Wright-Timko, associate multi-faith chaplain at Bates and Rev. Dr. Jodi Cohen Hayashida of the First Universalist Church.
- dslover/Sun JournalInterfaith clergy celebrate a marriage equality service at the First Universalist Church in Auburn on Sunday evening. From left are: Rita Moran of Earth Center Community, Ethelind Wright, the senior deacon at High Street Congregational Church, Rev. Casey Collins of the Calvary Methodist Church, Rabbi Hillel Katzir of Temple Shalom, Rev. Rich Cullen of the United Methodist Church, father Steve Crowson of Trinity Episcopal Church, Rev. Dr. Bill Blaine-Wallace, the multi-faith chaplain at Bates College, Emily Wright-Timko, associate multi-faith chaplain at Bates and Rev. Dr. Jodi Cohen Hayashida of the First Universalist Church.
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Daryn Slover/Sun Journal
Bonnie Ross of Auburn helps a couple friends tie colored ribbon to a fabric hanging that represents diversity during an interfaith marriage equality service at the First Universalist Church in Auburn on Sunday evening.
- dslover/Sun JournalBonnie Ross of Auburn helps a couple friends tie colored ribbon to a fabric hanging that represents diversity during an interfaith marriage equality service at the First Universalist Church in Auburn on Sunday evening.
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Editor's note: Only a portion of this story ran in Monday's edition. This is the complete version
AUBURN — More than 200 people stood in support of gay rights, and against the hot-button ballot question putting Maine voters in the spotlight, during the Interfaith Celebration of Marriage Equality held at the First Universalist Church in Auburn on Sunday.
Some stood as traditional couples, some stood as same-sex couples and some stood alone. But they stood united to protect the rights of gays and lesbians across the state and equality for all under God.
"I'm not a prophet, but I suggest to you that the question before the people of the state of Maine is no great mystery," said Rabbi Hillel Katzir, of Temple Shalom. "We know what God requires of us . . .we know what is expected of us — only justice, kindness and humility."
Katzir was one of 10 representatives from various faiths and places of worship in the Twin Cities who participated in the hour-long service. Like his fellow religious leaders, he encouraged the crowd to vote "no" on Question 1 in order to preserve the right of all Maine couples — regardless of sexual orientation — to marry.
The issue is shining a national spotlight on Maine as people from both sides wage a battle over whether or not to repeal the law granting marriage equality signed by Gov. John Baldacci this past spring.
"As a citizen, I'm here because our country is one in which civil liberties are to be assured. As a person of faith, I'm here because my God is one of mercy and love," said Klara Tammany, a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Lewiston, who works with the church's Urban Ministry. "As both a citizen and a person of faith, I must hope and pray that we err on the side of equal rights and compassion."
In addition to religious leaders addressing equal rights for all Mainers and urging the crowd to vote down Question 1, the service also featured several hymns supporting gay rights and calling on the community to stand together in strength as one unified voice.
A call and response reading led by Ethelind Wright, senior deacon of High Street Congregational Church in Auburn, summed up the theme of the evening. Following Wright's prompts about subjects such as peace, justice and equality in race, ethnicity and sexual orientation, the crowd answered "What does the Lord require of you? To do justice, and love kindness, and walk humbly with your God."
The Rev. Dr. Jodi Cohen Hayashida of First Universalist Church said that the church opened its doors to host the interfaith service because of its founding principals support the inherent worth and dignity of every person and call for justice, equality and compassion for all.
"Support for equality of all the people of the state of Maine is clearly in line with our teachings — and to not support marriage equality flies in the face of that," Hayashida said.
Everyone attending the service was given a strip of ribbon in varying colors that they were asked to tie to a banner during a ritual of celebration and support. According to Emily Wright-Timko, associate multi-faith chaplain at Bates College, the ribbons symbolize the ties of marriage, the binding of laws and the knots of commitment to equality.
"It's a lot like what I saw back in the '60s," said Dave Dawn, 69, a member of First Universalist Church, talking about how interracial marriage was once against the law. "It just makes me mad when I see people treated that way, you know? I prefer a society based on love, not fear."
Comments
I will repeat my comment
Submitted by candiceanne on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 19:16.
I will repeat my comment from previous pages and discussions. The Catholic Church has become a political action committee bankrolling campaigns to the point they are closing and have closed parishes including two in Lewiston/Auburn this month alone.
The Universalists are doing what churches are supposed to do, opening their doores and declaring everyone welcome no campaign funds involved.
I find the hypocrisy
Submitted by DonaldR on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 15:25.
I find the hypocrisy palpable. On one hand the folks haranguing the Catholic church for stepping up to the plate for their belief system, are on the other hand, embracing other churches for expressing theirs (solely because it fits their agenda).
The pendulum swings both ways. If it is true equality that's the issue here, then the outrage against all religious ideals should be the same. Funny how that works...
Everything she posts is a
Submitted by Lil on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 18:25.
Everything she posts is a flat out lie drawn from some whacked out faux researcher in Colorado. The lead researcher was thrown out of his professional society for just making things up and calling it research.
______________________
Franklin D. Roosevelt
The American Psychological
Submitted by Lil on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 18:29.
The American Psychological Association (APA) launched an investigation into (Dr Paul) Cameron after receiving complaints about his work from members .An APA spokesperson told The Boston Globe in 2005, "We are concerned about Dr. Cameron because we do believe that his methodology is weak."
______________________
Franklin D. Roosevelt
You include the "what" but
Submitted by Rinoblast on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 18:33.
You include the "what" but leave out the "why" as if to just say that homosexuality is wrong and causes these things. It's shoddy politics, but the again that's all I've really seen from the Yes on 1 side. Forget that a lack of education on sexually transmitted diseases and using protection for homosexuals up until fifteen years ago easily explains your "facts." The "consequences" are no different than those who have unprotected sex in hetero relationships.
What does all that bull have
Submitted by John 28 on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 15:07.
What does all that bull have to do with equal rights for ALL? And how come, if I was suppose to die at 46, like you say, I'm still around at 83 and my friend passed last year at 93! So there, your made up stories again!!
I thought that since your
Submitted by Robert F. on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 20:09.
I thought that since your personal information said that you are a 28 year old male, that meant that you are 28 and not 83! which one is true?
The second ANY teacher even
Submitted by K0NPHL1C7 on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 12:49.
The second ANY teacher even IMPLIES to my children that it is acceptable for people to engage in homosexual activity the school, the city and the STATE will be SLAPPED with the biggest lawsuit they have seen in years.
Keep the perversions in your bedroom teach.
Why make up all those so
Submitted by John 28 on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 13:16.
Why make up all those so untrue stories up?
You know that this is not true!!
"Honest and intelligent"
Submitted by Lil on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 18:33.
"Honest and intelligent" leaves you out.
______________________
Franklin D. Roosevelt
you sure need to ZIP it,
Submitted by John 28 on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 15:10.
you sure need to ZIP it, loud mouth stupid idiot that you are!!!
Brooktrout, I don't think
Submitted by jalbrecht1 on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 12:11.
Brooktrout, I don't think anyone has said that gay marriage CAN'T be taught in the schools. What they've said is that it isn't now. Nothing in LD 1020 allows it or denies it. Therefore it is irrelevent to the issue at hand.
Could someone put together a different law, or add it to learning results and then go to each of the 218 school districts promoting the teaching of gay marriage. Of course. Is anyone? No. Will LD 1020 help them in their efforts if they ever do take it into mind to make this change? No.
Jon Albrecht Dixfield
For all of those who have
Submitted by candiceanne on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 11:21.
For all of those who have been finding such joy and satisfaction in thumping their bibles these past monthes,
1) there are more people who are not and claim not to be Christian in the United States than claim to be christian, so what made you think we were going to church and christian churches at that?
2) As Mutty so ellequntly put it at the Lewiston Library "marriage was created to stop Christian men from spreading their seed all over" might I add, IT DOES NOT WORK, just gave them a new role for a woman, mistress. Christian men are the best at adultery.
3) As for sexually transmitted diseasesz, married Christian men are the best at spreading theses. Ask any woman who has ever been married to one.
4) the problem with the Catholic churches tax status in this is not that thet took a stand and welcomed the people as in this article, but that they bankrolled the campaign.
candiceanne: you said:
Submitted by Robert F. on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 19:33.
candiceanne: you said: "Christian men are the best at adultery.
3) As for sexually transmitted diseasesz (sic), married Christian men are the best at spreading theses. Ask any woman who has ever been married to one."
This may be nothing more than your hatred for the Catholic church. If these statements are in deed fact, please direct us to your credible source of this information. And, "any woman" is not a credible source.
Oh and here's a side note
Submitted by Scotty_O on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 10:37.
Oh and here's a side note for you people that compare this to the civil rights plight of the 60's. During the recent presidential election, 7 in 10 African Americans who went to the polls in California voted yes on Proposition 8 to support the Gay marriage ban. Just some fodder to throw out there...........
Nope, never said that they
Submitted by Scotty_O on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 14:05.
Nope, never said that they couldn't (even though in the liberal world they never do). Looks like Obama on the ballot was a double edge sword. So if your're anti-catholic, guess who else you don't like...........Wow, I just used liberal philosophy and it felt great!!!!
This isn't California. Just
Submitted by LewistonNative... on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 15:21.
This isn't California. Just saying.
if this passes and they get
Submitted by 1adam12 on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 09:36.
if this passes and they get to marry, where will this end, it says if they love each other and they are happy then it's ok?, hell if I want two wives (no thanks) 'cause it makes me happy, then that's ok? and so on and so on. it will never end. Nip it in the bud, NOW.
if this passes and they get
Submitted by 1adam12 on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 09:36.
if this passes and they get to marry, where will this end, it says if they love each other and they are happy then it's ok?, hell if I want two wives (no thanks) 'cause it makes me happy, then that's ok? and so on and so on. it will never end. Nip it in the bud, NOW.
this is NOT an anti gay law,
Submitted by 1adam12 on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 09:33.
this is NOT an anti gay law, this is preserving the marriage to what it is supposed to be, one man & one woman, I wish those opposed to this question would stop saying this is an anti gay question, because it is not.
I've yet to see Gays oppose
Submitted by John 28 on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 10:27.
I've yet to see Gays oppose straights getting married!! So why should you oppose EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL??
vink80 IT IS ABOUT TIME
Submitted by Virgil Sampson on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 09:29.
vink80
IT IS ABOUT TIME FOR THE MAJORITY TO WAKE UP AND VOTE ---- ENOUGH OF MINORITY RULE IN THIS AREA !!!!!!!!!!!
vink80 IT IS ABOUT TIME
Submitted by Virgil Sampson on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 09:28.
vink80
IT IS ABOUT TIME FOR THE MAJORITY TO WAKE UP AND VOTE ---- ENOUGH OF MINORITY RULE IN THIS AREA !!!!!!!!!!!
I am for gay marriage but a
Submitted by LewistonNative... on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 10:50.
I am for gay marriage but a teacher can't make your child do anything. If I was you I would either excuse them from school that day and/or talk to the principle of that school. Also is this in high school or a lower grade level?
So, he wants to do it? If it
Submitted by LewistonNative... on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 15:14.
So, he wants to do it? If it is not during school hours it's not considered a school activity. Unless a school Admins give their okay. By the sounds of everything it sounds like your child may have misunderstood the teacher.
Yes, this is why I don not
Submitted by Scotty_O on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 10:20.
Yes, this is why I don not use the "marry the dog" argument. But I do use the sister/brother marrying argument. And yes there are cases out there, just google it. And don't spout off about how incest is illegal, so was sodomy in some states as early as 8 years ago. And don't start the argument about deformed babies, because there's genetic testing and that it's easier to get an abortion than a sub at Quiznos. Heck, I may want to marry my sister because she has killer bennies at work........
The Bangor Daily News this
Submitted by jalbrecht1 on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 08:31.
The Bangor Daily News this morning endorsed NO on 1. The reasons are obvious and have been written in this blog endlessly.
1. Yes on 1 has provided not a single reason to vote yes. Their campaign is completely false. Not surprising since its lead by Rev. Bob Emrich who couldn't find honesty with a stick. I could go to my local school board and ask that gay marriage, gay sex, anything be included in the curriculum. The decision is entirely theirs. LD 1020 doesn't matter one way or the other.
2. Religious institutions are entirely protected by LD 1020. No religion must preform or acknowledge gay marriages. So religious comments are immaterial.
Gil, taxpoor, and Sammie add nothing to the conversation. They are just wrong.
Jon Albrecht Dixfield
Vote NO on #1!!! These
Submitted by Henssis1 on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 08:26.
Vote NO on #1!!! These people should have rights too. They are God's children too. No one has the right to tell someone else who they can love and want to spend the rest of their lives with. They aren't perverts either. They are good people who just want to protect themselves.
Give the perverts their
Submitted by K0NPHL1C7 on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 08:09.
Give the perverts their candy, they won't stop crying until we do. Let them answer to god.
Tax-exempt groups like the
Submitted by rstonge on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 07:47.
Tax-exempt groups like the Church can take a position on an issue. They are not allowed to support a candidate.
Ray, thanks for clarifying
Submitted by nikita80 on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 09:17.
Ray, thanks for clarifying this. I had seen posts saying the Catholics should have to pay taxes now because they took a position against gay marriage. But, until I saw your post, I never thought about checking the legality of it.
You honestly don't think
Submitted by Mrs. McG on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 12:04.
You honestly don't think Church administrators knew the facts before going forward? Are you that naive?
I didn't say that I didn't
Submitted by nikita80 on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 19:19.
I didn't say that I didn't think the Church administrators knew the facts before going forward. I had just not thought about it from the leagal standpoint that Ray pointed out. And I'm glad he clarified it because his post probably enlightened quite a few people.
Jami, Catholics do pay
Submitted by Robert F. on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 11:47.
Jami, Catholics do pay taxes, just like you and me!
Excuse me, Robert, I meant
Submitted by nikita80 on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 19:00.
Excuse me, Robert, I meant to say Catholic churches.
Sammie, I'm voting for you
Submitted by armorin on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 07:44.
Sammie, I'm voting for you for worst post of the week and it's only Monday morning. Congratulations!
And you think your rant
Submitted by LewistonNative... on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 10:40.
And you think your rant isn't full of ignorance?
But I thought that if a
Submitted by Gil on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 06:59.
But I thought that if a church openly advocated for or against a political ideal that they should lose their tax exempt status! Where are all the cries of indignation and the shouts for separation of church and state? Is that only applicable when the church in question disagrees with the liberal mindset? That wouldn't be another shining example of liberal hypocrisy would it? I'm sure that there will be a follow up article on how the First Universalist is being audited by the IRS to re-determine their tax status. I'll just hold my breath and wait.
"There are a lot of bad republicans; there are no good democrats." Ann Coulter
Why do you have the pictue
Submitted by candiceanne on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 10:56.
Why do you have the pictue of an Indonesian National who is Muslim for your icon?
The service was beautiful!
Submitted by Traylblaze on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 05:18.
The service was beautiful!
Hey Dr Dosh, what happened
Submitted by Nancy on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 05:17.
Hey Dr Dosh, what happened to your little hula girl pic
MORAL DECAY The Churches
Submitted by Taxpoor on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 04:28.
MORAL DECAY The Churches are going against the bibles teachings. I have heard it said the churches are full of hypocrites and this proves it to me. All you people that agree with same sex marriage are wasting your time attending church. You only believe the parts of the bible that you want to and then twist the other parts of it to fit how you think it should be. Yes I know I'm a bigot, I'm full of hate, I'm not for Equal rights and the more I hear about gays and lesbians makes me dislike them more.
What makes you so sure we
Submitted by candiceanne on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 10:44.
What makes you so sure we are going to churches and that those churches are Christian? What makes you so sure we belive your bible has any crediblity or validity? News flash--There are more people who state they are not christian in the Unitied States than who claim to be christian.
You desperately need love in
Submitted by John 28 on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 08:29.
You desperately need love in your life, as you are so deeply full of hate in your heart.
Taxpoor, look at it this
Submitted by nikita80 on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 08:20.
Taxpoor, look at it this way. This book, that so many people pick apart and twist to fit themselves, correctly prophesied thousands of years ago exactly how the world would be today. So, look up, Taxpoor, because you know what's coming!
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Regarding the comment on
Regarding the comment on Catholic priests who have offended. Actually the majority of those crimes were homosexual in nature and not against children. And given the percentage of clergy involved, it is below or equal to the percentage in the general population of offenders. In other words, the statistics are not higher than average but the media has made it look as if it is because it is a sensational story which attracts attention.