As a practicing Roman Catholic, it is personally painful to publicly take issue with my church. However, when my church takes a position that is so contrary to notions of fairness and justice, I must speak out.

At this weekend’s masses, Catholics will be asked to contribute monetarily to defeat Question 1, Maine’s Marriage Equality Act.

I urge all thinking, open-minded Catholics not to give in to what will surely amount to be an atmosphere of peer pressure as some of their neighbors in the pews respond to the bishop’s appeal.

There are many Catholics who will not lend financial support to this wrongheaded cause and who wholeheartedly support Maine’s marriage equality law (and the bishop is fully aware of that).

Janice David, Farmington