AUGUSTA – Saying it’s too much of a progression toward gay marriage, two Christian groups are opposing a bill that would give domestic partners the same rights as spouses when a partner dies.

The Portland Catholic Diocese in Maine and the Maine Christian Civic League are opposing LD 1579, which was carried over from last year. The Maine Lesbian Gay Political Alliance is in favor.

During last year’s public hearing on the bill, Patricia Hanrahan of Richmond testified that she was in a 12-year lesbian relationship when her partner suddenly died. Shocked and saddened by her partner’s death, Hanrahan said she found herself the victim of her partner’s family.

“Our home was in Janet’s name and we did not have a will,” she said. “We had just sold the house and were buying a condominium, which was in both our names. Her family seized the assets of our home and canceled the contract with the Realtor for the condominium. That left me with no home and no place to go.”

The family gave her 10 days to get out of her home and made the funeral arrangements, Hanrahan said. When she contacted a lawyer she was told she had no legal rights, she said.

The potential dangers to the financial security of gay couples and families when they lose a partner is real, said Maggie Allen of MLGPA.

But Marc Mutty of Maine’s Catholic church said Hanrahan’s situation could have been corrected with a will, and that there’s no need to change the law.

The proposal says a domestic partner be considered the same as a spouse for probate reasons, which would mean a surviving partner would have rights to decisions involving burial, child custody, property and bank accounts.

It is too much of a progression toward gay marriage, Mutty said. And the definition of domestic partners is “loosey-goosey.” It would be difficult to prove when a relationship began or ended. Someone could claim they were the partner when they were a roommate or a border, Mutty said. “This is a lawyers’ jobs bill.”

The bill is before the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee. If a preliminary committee vote holds, the bill will receive a divided 7-6 ought-to-pass recommendation for the full House and Senate.

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