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Over the past month, Maine Catholic churches all over the state have sent out collection baskets to help fund an ad campaign against the legalization of gay marriage.
The church has grossly overstepped its boundaries as religious advisors. Churches are pressuring their parishes to get involved in a political squabble that has nothing to do with God and everything to do with the church’s political agenda. Parish members will be granted their chance to oppose gay marriage on ballots in November.
Pushing a parish one way or another on any political issue is insulting to its intelligence. Shouldn’t godly people be able to distinguish right and wrong for themselves? I see no justified reason whatsoever in the archdiocese’s request for aid from people who trust them and are inclined to do as they say.
Hypothetical scenario: I’m sitting in church. The priest gives an impassioned speech about how homosexuality is wrong in accordance with the Bible. There is no standing ovation, but it’s clear the parish majority is in agreement. A collection basket labeled “yes on Prop. 1” is passed around. As the basket travels down the pews, nearly everyone drops some bills into the basket. The basket comes to me. Though it doesn’t say “put your money in the basket because you love Jesus,” the message is clear.
Let’s pretend I’ve never really stood up for myself; I’ve drifted along in life making as few decisions as possible. I don’t want the basket to linger and the elderly woman to my left is looking at me with expectancy. I drop a $5 bill into the basket. I guess I can do without my usual Subway for lunch today. I am relieved, and the basket moves on. In 10 minutes I have forgotten the event.
My hypothetical siuation may be ludicrous. Maybe everyone who goes to church has very clearly defined self value and would never give their priest sway over their thoughts. Maybe I’m going to hell for intending to vote “no” on Proposition 1. Whatever the case, I will never allow another human being to tell me that they speak with God’s divine voice.
If the universe really is ruled by a big male animal sitting on a throne in the sky, I would venture to guess he has more prominent concerns than same-sex couples receiving the personal and political benefits of marriage.
Even if God does nothing but breathe fire and brimstone due to girls kissing girls, the Catholic Church itself has a more immediate concern: survival. More churches and Catholic schools are closing every year; priests are about as abundant as four leaf clovers and convents seem to have all slipped into Narnia. Papa Pope might want to put some money away just in case, because I think Obama’s bail bucket has been stolen by Wall Street.
I implore all churchgoers: Spend your money on something more substantial than an ad campaign designed to drive a wedge between people who love each other. Buying a Playboy magazine would be more virtuous. The last time I checked, homosexuals were still homo sapiens and are promised the same freedoms as the rest of the country. Said freedoms include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These things were first engraved in our national consciousness when we declared our independence from Britain.
To quote the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” The archdiocese would do well to remember this. Considering some of the vehement anti-Catholic sentiment during our history, they may owe their ability to exist in the U.S. to this document.
Daniel Bowman is not dropping any money in the tithe plate this Sunday.
