Oregon’s same-sex marriage battle divides people of faith

When Jackie Yerby and a small band of devout Catholics go to the cathedral for Mass this Ash Wednesday, they will be sending an unmistakable message. Pinned to their lapels will be big white buttons that proclaim, “Catholic Oregonians for Marriage Equality.”

The newly formed group wants to show that “just because we’re Catholic doesn’t mean we don’t support same-sex marriage,” said Yerby, who served on the board of Catholic Charities of Portland for six years. “We support same-sex marriage because we are Catholic.”

Just three weeks ago, Portland Archbishop Andrew K. Sample told his staff via email that the Roman Catholic Church in the state would be joining a coalition called Protect Marriage Oregon to fight the effort to legalize same-sex marriage here.

The kickoff to one of Catholicism’s most sacred seasons is also a crucial time in the battle over legalizing same-sex marriage in the only state on the West Coast where gay and lesbian couples cannot wed.

As an increasing number of same-sex marriage bans are struck down in the courts, organizers on both sides of the issue have been working to get measures ready for the November ballot. Oregon is poised to be the only state to vote on the issue this year.

Oregon voters passed Measure 36 a decade ago, amending the state constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

Proponents of same-sex marriage have gathered enough signatures to place a measure on the ballot to overturn that definition and “recognize and protect the right to marry” for all — if the courts here don’t accomplish that end first.

At the same time, opponents of gay marriage are working on a measure — a narrower version of the one vetoed last week by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer — that would exempt florists, bakers, photographers and others from “participating in same-sex ceremonies…  TRUNews