Boston Archbishop Urges Signing of Ballot Petition Against Gay Marriage

In Massachusetts, the Catholic Church is spearheading a drive to collect 66,000 signatures on a petition to get an anti-gay marriage proposal on the 2008 ballot. The Boston Globe today reported that Boston Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley has issued a letter that is to be read at masses this week end. It urges parishioners to sign the petition as a way to protect traditional marriage. The ballot proposal would ban gay marriage and would make no alternative provision for civil unions. However, Bishop O'Malley's letter also says "There is no room in the Church or in society for rejection, disregard or mistreatment of a person because of their sexual orientation." Meanwhile other religious leaders in Massachusetts, organized as the Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry, support civil marriage for gay couples.