Standing together outside the Cathedral Church of St. Luke in Portland, a dozen religious leaders-Episcopal, Congregational, Lutheran and Methodist - made the case for legalizing gay marriage in Maine.
"This is about love, mutual respect," says Rev. Allen Ewing-Merrill.
Not according to the Roman Catholic Diocese or the Christian Civic League whose leaders say the Bible defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman.
"It says homosexuality is unnatural and wrong," says Rev. Bob Emrich.
For Emrich, who chairs the Christian Civic League and is the longtime pastor at the Emmanual Bible Baptist Church, marrying a gay couple would be unthinkable.
"I would never do it..could never be compelled to do it," says Emrich.
These member of the religious coalition against discrimination say that's fine, because question one affirms clergy's right to refuse to marry couples for all kinds of reasons.
"Saying yes on one does not take away religious freedom. It increases and celebrates the freedoms we share," says Rev. Ben Shambaugh.
More here-
http://www.necn.com/09/19/12/Maine-clergy-divided-over-gay-marriage/landing.html?blockID=776055&feedID=11106
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