World News
Collection to oppose Washington's same-sex marriage law under scrutiny
Published: August 30, 2012
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A plan to ask parishioners in the Diocese of Yakima, Wash., to contribute funds for a campaign to repeal the state's same-sex marriage law is expected to move forward, said the executive director of the Washington State Catholic Conference. Dominican Sister Sharon Park told Catholic News Service Aug. 29 that the collection in the 43 parishes in the diocese "will comply with the law." Questions about the collection surfaced Aug. 27, 10 days after Yakima Bishop Joseph J. Tyson sent a letter to pastors asking them to announce a special collection on either of the first two weekends in September for Preserve Marriage Washington, a statewide group working to overturn the same-sex marriage law passed in February by the state Legislature and signed by Gov. Chris Gregoire. Voters will be asked Nov. 6 to accept or reject the law. If Referendum 74, as it is called, is approved, the same-sex marriage law will take effect Dec. 6. Sister Sharon said the Washington State Catholic Conference was coordinating the church's educational effort on marriage, but that each diocese was developing programs to teach parishioners about marriage and the church's opposition to the referendum. September has been designated as Preserve Marriage Month by the three dioceses in the state. "Each bishop is inviting people to be involved," she said.
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