DISQUS

Jophus · 5 months ago

I don't like the gay issues being separated from the rest of the posts. Can't you just post all the gay news on there too, guys? This is national American news. I know it would probably mean less page views and I'm sure that having this as a new page transfers into more dollars, but I think it blows..... I know you have been sitting there wondering what I think. I'm just sayin'.

I miss the high number of comments we used to get on the gay issues.

howie · 5 months ago

Separate but equal

Jophus · 5 months ago

That's a bit severe. I understand why they did it. I thought the gay issues should have been a single floating post, like huffpo did Iran. Its nice cuz there are more posts, but sucks because I rarely come over here and it looks like it is the same for other people.

I know they weren't embarrassed by the issue of gayness. It is an awkward situation. I hope it didn't sound like I was calling them oppressors.

howie · 5 months ago

don't think you're calling them oppressors, think i am. its nice to have a separate area like this but the posts should be part of the main area also. and because of the web site address i can't access this area when i'm at work.

Jophus · 5 months ago

Is your icon a red griffin lighting a cigarette? That may be by far the most interesting user pic I've ever seen.

If things don't change I would suggest getting something like google reader and putting the rss feed into it. That way the IT guys will only see google reader showing up.

Are you not out at work? Surely you can't get in trouble for looking at gay news if you can look at american news in general.

howie · 5 months ago

Well, when i'm at work i'm not really supposed to be cruising the internet though i don't think they would make an exception for me for the one or two times that i check the internet. 'They' just do blanket restrictions and i think the word gay tends to show up under the porn filter. i can't view towelroad through work either. i'll try the google reader and see what happens with that

offspring · 5 months ago

so to get this straight people are following a group of business men who hide behind religion, in a group that has in the past abused, raped, murdered, stolen from many, and hide the people that raped children, ok they are to be followed while we the gay people that PAY taxes, are to be demonized? WTF

psychodrew · 5 months ago

It's great that the Catholic Church finally realizes that Jesus was just joking around about the whole feeding the poor thing.

Mike_in_the_Tundra · 5 months ago

It's really amazing how these groups have there priorities so mixed up. Besides feeding the poor, I can't imagine winter nights in Maine are very pleasant for the homeless.

psychodrew · 5 months ago

At least the homeless won't have to worry about gays trying to force them into marriage while they are freezing at night.

Chris From Maine · 5 months ago

If the pro-gay movement wants to attack these guys, I sugges they go with the "these out of staters should leave Maine business to Mainers".

That line of attack will work here.

That being said, the anti-gay movement have a lot of money behind them, and unfortunately a lot of people here too.

There is lots of time, but lots of work to be done.

tomtallis · 5 months ago

How do you spell M-O-N-E-Y L-A-U-N-D-E-R-I-N-G?

JustAGuy · 5 months ago

That was my initial thought as well. Anybody on this board familiar with the relevant State and Federal campaign finance laws?

Also, if the money was transferred electronically, does that constitute wire-fraud?

-S

terjeanderson · 5 months ago

So the Catholic Church in Maine is now in the business of laundering campaign contributions? This certainly goes against the spirit and probably the letter of Maine's campaign finance and disclosure laws. Further investigation (by the media, by advocates, and by lawyers) is certainly called for and could put some real heat on the diocese and the repeal campaign.

Knowing Maine, I suspect that this is the sort of thing that, if played right, could become at least a bit of an issue to undermine the homophobes' campaign. It raises all the issues of out of state involvement (potentially), secrecy vs. openness, and church/state separation.

SteveW · 5 months ago

Wait a minute. You can donate money to a church and get a tax deduction and still direct the church to contribute the money for political advertising?

Malcolm · 5 months ago

Good point; someone with tax expertise should get onto it. Of course, we don't know that the donor claimed a deduction.

Homer_J · 5 months ago

Anyone know the specifics of how to get ahold of the petition that was signed to put the law on the ballet? I believe once the secretary of state approves it becomes public record. I'd love to get a copy of it and post it online, full names and all.

Stupid bigots.

Malcolm · 5 months ago

Thanks for this post and the link; I've sent a donation.

postdamnit · 5 months ago

I would think that someone would have access to this donation and be able to publish it. As I have commented before, we should when possible "out" the sources of donations where ever we can.

The problem with the Prop 8 issue in California was that the Mormon church was not outed prior to the elections for contributing a large chunk of the monies raised to pass that odious amendment. I believe that had the electorate understood that the Mormon groups were behind the whole thing that it might have been a different outcome. Many people, even religious ones do not like the church dictating their morals. Of course, the idiots running the No On 8 campaign were really at fault for taking on something that they knew nothing about. Total amateurs and fuck ups.

underbear1 · 5 months ago

I'd check with the billionaire hag who's son owns Blackwater, she gave several hundred thousand to Yes on prop 8.
or the LDS church...the sneaky SOBs.

offspring · 5 months ago

actually I think it hillarious that a non tax paying group, who gets donations that can be used at tax ride offs which is a joke, can spend that much money on something that IN no way effects them, not in any way does a gay man effect their lives at all, think about it, you dont have gay storming into churchs, you dont have gays straight bashing, you dont have gays, trying to deny rights of catholics but for some reason they are threatened or needing money via donations they have to attack us, but this group is proven fact proven to have a large problem with abuse of childeren yet they are protecting kids from us? People who listen to the catholic church are blinded by ritual, and dogma. It is a business a tax exempt business without an enemy to scare people they will not have money, and right now they need the latinos and more money paying off all the victims cost them alot, and we are the great evil to use for fundraising, we need to send money to maine, we need to counter them and have irs get involved to check the money trail. And maybe point out to these people that follow them, that instead of providing services to their people, they choose instead to waste it discriminating against people that have nothing to do with them.

Bluemole · 5 months ago

As an escaped Catholic friend of mine once said - it's a cult that caught on.

sonofloud · 5 months ago

It is unacceptable that any organization which receives our tax revenue be allowed to support ANY political issue in ANY way.

yezbok · 5 months ago

What is more hateful; informing the IRS of church electioneering politicians OR hiring Kenneth Starr to keep other$ from "equal" privilege? My god IS NOT a polygamist with many brides rendering "divine authority" to Caesar and upholding veils to shelter their whoredom$. This is the agency paid hundreds of thousands of dollars by tax-exempt "non-profit" oppressors - Schubert Flint Public Affairs.

samiinh · 5 months ago

My letter to the Portland Press Herald:

Here's a story for you: How does the Diocese of Maine contriube $100,000.00 to the anti-gay marriage group, Stand For Marriage Maine? How can tax deductible donations be used for political action committees? Is this legal activity for a church to engage in? Some investigative reporting is in order. Do your job.

Sincerely,

terjeanderson · 5 months ago

Unfortunately, it is legal for a church or other religious organization to take a position and spend money on a referendum issue -- while they are not allowed to endorse candidates, the tax code does allow them to do this. (As it also allows other, non-religious non-profit tax exempt organizations to do -- although in all cases there are limitations on how much of an organization's budget can be used for these kinds of things and still retain tax-exempt status).

The legal issue here (if there is one) is if it constitutes political money laundering under Maine state election finance laws (as a state referendum, there is no relevant federal law).

If, as a spokesperson for the diocese originally stated, the money was donated by an individual with the intent of passing it on to a political committee (and thus avoid identification of the original donor), then there are numerous potential violations. (And that is, clearly, why the church spokesman is carefully backtracking, now claiming that it was given in general for the Maine Diocese to defend Church dogma, not specifically for this referendum -- an effort to defend against potential legal problems...)

samiinh · 5 months ago

Response to my letter to the Portland, ME newspaper:

501 nonprofits like the church are allowed to spend up to 20% of their budget on political expenditures - $100K doesn't come close to 20% of the diocese's annual budget.