Once again the Catholic Church is using the political process to deny the rights of others. Historically, the church has randomly used the Bible to attack people. The church chooses only those biblical passages which meet their goals. Throughout history, the church has attempted to hide their sins rather than live up to the standards it demands: the documented brutal physical abuse of children in orphanages, sexual abuse of boys and the discrimination of women by not allowing them to serve equally as men in the Church.

The Catholic Church has moved criminal priests from one parish to another in an effort to hide offenders of crimes against the weakest members of our society, our children.

Question 1 is not a religious question. It is a question of giving gay and lesbian couples the same state and federal benefits as heterosexual couples. Domestic partnerships do not provide these benefits.

The church’s role in marriage is a religious blessing which they will continue to do. Marriage has evolved throughout history. Religious history teaches us that marriage was not intended for love but rather the ownership of women by men, multiple wives, the transfer of property and procreation regardless of a woman’s desire.

Marriage has evolved to represent the joining of two adults who wish to share their lives. Voting No on Question 1 will allow for the full evolution of the state and federal definition of marriage by allowing all of our citizens to legally marry in our state.

Raymond Gagnon, West Gardiner