Northland priest quietly donates money to group against marriage amendment

Campaign finance records show Rev. Peter Lambert of St. Louis Catholic Church, about 45 miles west of Duluth, donated $1,000 about six months ago to Minnesotans United for All Families -- the primary group fighting the controversial ballot measure to essentially ban same-sex marriage in Minnesota. The News Tribune reports no other Minnesota priest in a recognized diocese has contributed to any group trying to defeat the constitutional amendment.

Author:: BMTN Staff
Publish date:: Sep 2, 2012

Campaign finance records show Rev. Peter Lambert of St. Louis Catholic Church, about 45 miles west of Duluth, donated $1,000 about six months ago to Minnesotans United for All Families -- the primary group fighting the controversial ballot measure to essentially ban same-sex marriage in Minnesota. The News Tribune reports no other Minnesota priest in a recognized diocese has contributed to any group trying to defeat the constitutional amendment.

Minnesota’s Catholic dioceses have contributed hundreds of thousands in financial support of the Marriage Amendment that would define marriage as between a man and a woman.

Last week, faculty members at St.Olaf College formally voted in opposition of the proposed measure. Minnesotans will vote on whether to limit the freedom of marriage to only opposite sex couples in November.

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The state campaign finance board ruled Friday that a man who contributed $600 to a group opposing the Minnesota marriage amendment can remain anonymous. The man feared he would be fired from his Catholic employer if word of his contribution became public since the Catholic Church is in favor of the amendment, which would effectively ban same-sex marriages.

Former Roman Catholic priest Jim Smith left the church about 10 years ago. He told CNN his main concern was with the church's stance against same-sex marriage. Smith says he is still a Catholic despite actively campaigning against Minnesota's constitutional amendment that would define marriage as only between one man and one woman. He has also formed a group to persuade other Catholics to vote against the measure this fall.

The group Minnesotans United for All Families, the leading opponent of a ballot measure that would ban gay marriage, has released its first TV ad in the Twin Cities and Duluth. It features a Catholic, Republican couple from Savage who opposes the measure.

Musicians with the Minnesota Orchestra are the latest group to oppose the constitutional marriage amendment, WCCO reports. It seeks to define marriage solely between one man and one woman in Minnesota. Voters will decide during the general election this fall.

The Golden Valley-based company came out Thursday to voice its opposition to the proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in Minnesota. "We do not believe the proposed constitutional amendment is in the best interests of our employees or our state economy -- and as a Minnesota-based company we oppose it," General Mills said in a statement. The Pioneer Press notes General Mills and Little Canada-based St. Jude Medical are the only two major corporations in Minnesota to publicly oppose the marriage amendment.

Flying in the face of the beliefs of the archdiocese, a small group representing more than 80 former Catholic priests from throughout Minnesota gathered Thursday to encourage a "no" on a proposed state amendment that would legally define marriage between a man and a woman. The group said the anti-gay marriage measure would violate the principles of justice and love.

The total reported by Minnesota For Marriage - combined with last week's report from a group fighting the amendment - means the fight over whether Minnesota should ban same-sex marriage has already generated more than $2 million in contributions.

The $1.2 million raised by Minnesotans United for All Families suggests the battle over the marriage amendment could be the most expensive campaign in the state this year. The leading group campaigning for the amendment will release its financial report Tuesday.