Catholic Churches To Raise Money Against R-74
Archbishop Joseph Tyson
The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Yakima is under close watch tonight -- for asking dozens of churches to collect money to fight Washington's gay marriage law -- during church services.
Yakima Archdiocese Bishop Joseph Tyson has asked priests at 41 Central Washington churches to raise money in church to fight Washington's gay marriage law.
"Our church, along with many other churches and many other folks are upholding the understanding that marriage is between a man and a woman," said Tyson.
Tyson's actions are being watched by the state Public Disclosure Commission -- which says churches cannot directly ask for money during services for political purposes.
Gay marriage supporter Pastor William Poores do not think religious organizations should be involved at all
"it is a civil law, it is not a religious law, so therefore it is a civil rights law that brings people in to equality," said Poores, the Rainbow Cathedral Pastor.
If churches collect money for Referedum 74 in church -- they must be careful how they do so-- to avoid breaking state law.
The public disclosure commission says churches either have their parishioners send in the envelopes themselves or have volunteers from Preserve Marriage Washington come and pick them up; which the church says they intend to do.
"It's our intent, we wanna follow state law, and we're gonna do everything we can to make sure that we're following the law," said Tyson.
But Poores and his camp simply want the church to follow a law which has already passed.
"People who are not allowed to be with the one they love, and have all of the same rights as other people, are not able to pursue happiness -- so it's a direct violation of the constitution, unconstitutional and discriminatory," said Poores.
Tyson says the Catholic churches will begin collecting donations on September 8th and 9th.