There's a "disturbing lack" of truth in email from Maine Bishop's spokesman about Maine marriage law -- and the Bishop is funding the lies

This weekend, Maine's Catholic Bishop, Richard Malone, has ordered a second collection in parishes around the state (the ones that haven't been closed down yet) to fund the anti-marriage referendum. The Bishop's p.r. guy, Marc Mutty, is running the campaign. So, what is the Bishop funding?: Lies. That's the strategy the Bishop's consultant, Schubert-Flint, utilized to pass Prop. 8 in California as Karen Ocamb documents in a post at DirigoBlue.

Today, Bill Nemitz at the Portland Press Herald, in a column titled, "Gay marriage critic's e-mail fails the test," deconstructs Mutty's recent fundraising letter for the anti-gay campaign. (Louise posted the text of Mutty's letter over at Pam's House Blend.) Nemitz walked through of all Mutty's claims and found they could not be substantiated -- by anyone. Nemitz concludes:

Which brings us back to the truth – or disturbing lack thereof – in Mutty's misguided fundraising appeal.

In a statement issued via e-mail Thursday, Jesse Connolly, campaign manager of No on 1/Protect Maine Equality, predicted that Maine voters will "see through these cynical campaign tactics" by Mutty & Co. as the debate heats up in the coming weeks.

"This is an attempt to divert attention and raise unfounded issues," said Connolly. "Question 1 has nothing to do with schools and no one is voting on curriculum in November."

Connolly is right – and anyone who's taken the time to carefully read Maine's same-sex marriage law knows it.

Including, of all people, Marc Mutty.

Marc Mutty and Bishop Malone. They lie. Of course, as we know, "lying for the lord" is a tenet of the Mormon faith. In their obsessive quest to fight gay equality, the Catholic Bishop and his minions have adopted that strategy and are lying, too.

We need to take up our own second collection for the Maine campaign. If the Catholic Church is going to collect money for lies, we'll need more money to overcome those lies. Donate to No on 1/Protect Maine Equality here via ActBlue. It's safe, secure and the campaign gets all the money. We can win in Maine. We have to win. But, we have to counter the lies. Thanks to everyone who has donated already (but think about that second collection...)