This Sunday, Catholics in churches across Maine will be asked to contribute to a special collection. This collection will not feed the hungry or house the homeless. This collection will not help old people pay for their medications or heat through the cold winter ahead. It will not keep Catholic churches or schools open. It is not even going to pay for Bishop Richard Malone’s million-dollar mansion in Portland.

This collection is to raise money to attempt to change Maine laws and deny 3,400 Maine families their rights to legal marriage.

Catholics across the state who feel that is not right will be putting statements of their objection into the collection envelopes and leaving the service to voice their objection to the money that is being allocated to spread intolerance and discrimination.

This Sunday, Maine Catholics will stand up and voice their belief in Christ’s message of love.

Jim Shaffer, Greene