Marriage Restored in Maine

Voters Rebuke Governor, Legislature
Same-Sex "Marriage" Rejected

AUGUSTA, ME, November 2, 2009 – Tonight was a great victory for the people of Maine as Question One, the ballot measure to restore the definition of traditional marriage, passed with a comfortable margin. With 87% of precincts reporting, the measure was passing 52.7% to 47.3%.

This was a strong rebuke by the voters of the state legislature and the Governor that legalized same-sex “marriage” in May 2009. Citizens quickly rallied to launch a referendum campaign to reverse this action culminating in tonight’s victory.

Same-sex “marriage” has been forced on Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa by judicial mandate and in New Hampshire by the legislature. None of those states have a process for direct remedy by the voters. Every time same-sex “marriage” has been presented to the voters, it has been soundly rejected. The California Supreme Court tried to force the redefinition of marriage on California in May 2008. The action of the Court was reversed by the passage of Proposition 8 that defined marriage between a man and a woman in the state constitution. Prop 8 is still being challenged by opponents in Federal District Court. A trial is scheduled to begin on January 11, 2010.

The problem with same-sex “marriage” is its consequences for society. It enshrines a redefinition of marriage in the law that makes marriage purely adult centric, separating it from the interest of children and families. It would be taught in the schools and make it discriminatory to promote the common interest of every child without exception in the marriage of their parents. It would also threaten religious liberty and isolate citizens, churches and organizations that refuse to cooperate with same-sex “marriage” as a matter of conscience.

Congratulations go to all of the good people of Maine who worked so hard to pass Question One and people who supported them with phone calls, donations and prayers across the country.

We give thanks for the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the many people who joined us in praying a novena that ended today for the marriage and the people of Maine. We are grateful to the many CCG volunteers who made get-out-the-vote phone calls to Maine voters over the last two weeks. Those calls contributed greatly to the entire effort and were appreciated by the leadership of the campaign.

We also thank forty-three contemplative communities across the country that joined us in prayer for this effort. CCG Co-chair Cathy Norman worked tirelessly to apprise them of the dire situation in Maine.

The battle continues with the CCG marriage advocacy effort, Stand with Children, with which so many of you are participating. There will be one more marriage advocate retreat in Southern California this year, and we will resume trainings and practical tools workshops right after the first of the year.