Editors note:  The following statement was delivered by League board President Rev. Dallas Henry at an 11 a.m. Press Conference on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 in the League's conference room at 70 Sewall Street in Augusta.

 

Christians must ever be mindful of Christ's solemn injunction to render unto Caesar what is Caesar's.  Our Lord taught us by example that each individual must always strive to be subject, humble, and obedient to civil authority.  In that same spirit, the Christian Civic League has endeavored, for over one-hundred years, to be a faithful partner in state government, and has shared in the public discussion of laws we hoped would both edify the citizens of our state, and make our society stronger.  Yet the same spirit which compels us to be dutiful citizens and loyal partners in state government also compels us to speak out against laws which have the potential to harm the people of Maine.  In the past, the Christian Civic League has taken every opportunity to participate in government according to our third founding purpose which is, and I quote; "To enact laws and provide for their impartial enforcement."  We participated with state government in trying to prevent the introduction of the state lottery system, the imposition of onerous fees and taxes, the decriminalization of gambling, the heinous practice of partial birth abortion, and the introduction of socialized medicine. Thus it is with deep regret that for the first time in our century-old history we are forced to announce that we cannot in good conscience work with our state government in its effort to pass homosexual legislation.

 

This decision of the Christian Civic League is based on two reasons.  First, the proposed legislation, which purports to be about civil rights, is contrary to God's laws as revealed to us in his Holy Word to an extent never before seen in any legislation in Maine.   Although other laws -- those pertaining to the subjects mentioned above -- that is, gambling, alcohol, abortion and the like, have done much to harm the people of Maine, no other legislation has had the potential to destroy the entire social fabric of our state, and our nation.  Because we recognize the Governor's proposed legislation for what it is, the first step in a dangerous, hidden agenda which has as its ultimate goal the legalization of same-sex marriages, we object to the proposed legislation in the strongest possible terms.

 

Second, and equally important, by reintroducing this bill after similar legislation has been rejected twice by the people of Maine, the Governor and the Legislature, in their eagerness to cater to special interest groups from outside our state, are willfully undermining our democratic institution.  It has often been remarked that when legislatures are misled by special interests, they are often not willing to repair the damage until the proposed legislation rises to the level of a national calamity.  The Governor's proposed legislation threatens to become exactly that.

 

We also reject the strange notion put forth by the Governor and other supporters of homosexual legislation that society must be led by a few enlightened individuals.  Such sentiments are contrary to the basic principles of democracy.  In a democracy, the majority opinion must guide government, not the reverse.  It is shocking to hear the Governor and some members of the Legislature say otherwise.  It is the position of the League that to participate in a hearing on a bill which seeks to overthrow God's laws, and which makes a mockery of the principles of our form of government, is not being a good citizen.  It is participating in a travesty of government.  The Christian Civic League cannot in good conscience participate in a process which amounts to the abuse of our democratic institutions by outside special interests.  Nor are we willing to participate in the public discussion of a bill which is part of a dangerous hidden agenda to destroy marriage and the family.  To attend the hearing would make the League complicit in a process which is both a mockery of our democratic institutions, and a dangerous and deceptive effort to portray the sin of sodomy as "progressive social policy."   For these reasons the Christian Civic League of Maine will not participate in tomorrow's public hearing.