A growing number of Seattle’s Catholic parishes are saying “no” to Archbishop J. Peter Sartain’s offer that churches become signature gathering points for Referendum 74, the ballot measure to roll back Washington’s recently passed same-sex marriage law.

St. Mary’s Parish in the Central Area, and the new, growing Christ Our Hope parish in downtown Seattle, are the latest to decide petitions won’t be circulated on their premises.

The decision at St. Mary’s was announced by pastoral life coordinator Tricia Wittman-Todd in a “Dear People of St. Mary’s” letter. She wrote.

“After much prayer and reflection, I have decided we will not collect signatures at the parish. I am certain you will find ample opportunity elsewhere to sign whatever petitions you choose.

“This decision is based on two primary considerations. St. Mary’s mission is ‘House of God, Home for Everyone.’ One of our highest values is inclusion and welcome. I fear that the collection of signatures would be hurtful and divisive to our parish. I am particularly concerned about our youth who may be questioning their own sexual identity and need our support at this time in their lives.

“The second consideration is that as Catholics, each of us is asked to form our conscience and decide how to vote on this and other issues, i.e. tax policies, services to the poor, environmental laws, capital punishment, etc.”









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Photo: TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP/Getty Images Image 1 of / 18 Caption Close Image 2 of 18 Ex-Sen. Rick Santorum came to the fore as critique of 2003 Supreme Court ruling that tossed out Texas’ anti-sodomy statute, and continues to equate gay marriage with polygamy and bigamy as 2012 presidential candidate. On Monday he railed against gay adoption as “robbing children of something they need, they deserve, they have a right to.” less Ex-Sen. Rick Santorum came to the fore as critique of 2003 Supreme Court ruling that tossed out Texas’ anti-sodomy statute, and continues to equate gay marriage with polygamy and bigamy as 2012 presidential ... more Photo: T.J. Kirkpatrick / Getty Images Image 3 of 18 U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin “Nino” Scalia warned darkly that the Supremes were enacting the “homosexual agenda” in the Texas ruling, and argues that the Constitution cannot be used to justify rights for sexual minorities. less U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin “Nino” Scalia warned darkly that the Supremes were enacting the “homosexual agenda” in the Texas ruling, and argues that the Constitution cannot be used to justify ... more Photo: JIM WATSON / AFP/Getty Images Image 4 of 18 Senator Mary Margaret Haugen, the key 25th Senate vote for same-sex marriage. Senator Mary Margaret Haugen, the key 25th Senate vote for same-sex marriage. Photo: Meryl Schenker Image 5 of 18 Image 6 of 18 President Barack Obama announced that he supports same-sex marriage on May 9, 2012, becoming the first U.S. president to do so. President Barack Obama announced that he supports same-sex marriage on May 9, 2012, becoming the first U.S. president to do so. Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS Image 7 of 18 Dan Savage writes a sex advice column for The Stranger, appears on liberal Cable TV shows, lectures at colleges around the country, is renowned for his foul mouth and has seen his critiques of monogamy used as basis for a New York Times Magazine piece. He has mercilessly baited anti-gay politicians, from religious-right presidential candidate Gary Bauer more than a decade ago to ex-Sen. Rick Santorum in 2012. less Dan Savage writes a sex advice column for The Stranger, appears on liberal Cable TV shows, lectures at colleges around the country, is renowned for his foul mouth and has seen his critiques of monogamy used as ... more Photo: Jamie McCarthy / 2011 Getty Images Image 8 of 18 "As I’ve thought about gay marriage, I know a lot of friends who are individually gay but in partnership with loved ones,” Retired Gen. Colin Powell told CNN. “And they are as stable a family as my family is. And they raise children. And so I don’t see any reason not to say they should be able to get married.” less "As I’ve thought about gay marriage, I know a lot of friends who are individually gay but in partnership with loved ones,” Retired Gen. Colin Powell told CNN. “And they are as stable a family as my ... more Photo: AFP/Getty Images Image 9 of 18 Vice President Joe Biden says he is "absolutely comfortable" with same-sex and heterosexual married couples both having "the same exact rights." Vice President Joe Biden says he is "absolutely comfortable" with same-sex and heterosexual married couples both having "the same exact rights." Photo: Win McNamee / Getty Images Image 10 of 18 Image 11 of 18 Gov. Chris Gregoire went through “my own personal journey” in coming to support same-sex marriage. The journey has reinvigorated a two-term governor who confessed last fall to being tired and disheartened. “I feel better than I have in seven years,” she says. less Gov. Chris Gregoire went through “my own personal journey” in coming to support same-sex marriage. The journey has reinvigorated a two-term governor who confessed last fall to being tired and ... more Photo: Ethan Miller / Getty Images Image 12 of 18 Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York, like Gregoire a practicing Catholic, pushed legalization same-sex marriage through the Empire State’s fractious Legislature last spring. It became signature issue for the newly elected governor, a top Democratic presidential prospect for 2016 (and Al Pacino lookalike). less Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York, like Gregoire a practicing Catholic, pushed legalization same-sex marriage through the Empire State’s fractious Legislature last spring. It became signature issue for the ... more Photo: Spencer Platt / Getty Images Image 13 of 18 Ex-U.S. Solicitor General Ted Olson was lead counsel for George W. Bush in 2000 election fight, the conservatives’ “go-to” lawyer in Washington, D.C., and is now co-counsel in legal fight to overturn California’s Prop. 8 – the measure that outlawed same-sex marriage. The other co-counsel – David Boies, chief lawyer for Al Gore in Bush v. Gore. less Ex-U.S. Solicitor General Ted Olson was lead counsel for George W. Bush in 2000 election fight, the conservatives’ “go-to” lawyer in Washington, D.C., and is now co-counsel in legal fight to overturn ... more Photo: Jason Kempin / Getty Images Image 14 of 18 Retired Lt. Col. Grethe Cammermeyer is a best-selling, Whidbey-based author (“Serving in Silence”) who fought 20-year battle against exclusion of gays and lesbians from the military. She is tall, regal, a community leader and canny organizer who helped turn out big crowd who urged State Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano, to support marriage equality. less Retired Lt. Col. Grethe Cammermeyer is a best-selling, Whidbey-based author (“Serving in Silence”) who fought 20-year battle against exclusion of gays and lesbians from the military. She is tall, regal, ... more Photo: Associated Press Image 15 of 18 Image 16 of 18 Ex-Gov. Mitt Romney, front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, tried to run to the left of Sen. Ted Kennedy in 1994, arguing he could be a more effective defender/advocate of gay rights, but now declares opposition to marriage equality. “I oppose same-sex marriage and that has been my view,” he said the other day in New Hampshire. less Ex-Gov. Mitt Romney, front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, tried to run to the left of Sen. Ted Kennedy in 1994, arguing he could be a more effective defender/advocate of gay rights, but now ... more Photo: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images Image 17 of 18 Pastor Ken Hutcherson of Antioch Bible Church, an ex-NFLer, has opposed everything-but-marriage statutes passed by the Washington Legislature, and carried on a long-running feud with The Stranger. Pastor Ken Hutcherson of Antioch Bible Church, an ex-NFLer, has opposed everything-but-marriage statutes passed by the Washington Legislature, and carried on a long-running feud with The Stranger. Photo: SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER Image 18 of 18 Two more Catholic parishes say no to Ref. 74 signature drive 1 / 18 Back to Gallery

St. James Cathedral, seat of the Seattle Archdiocese, told its parishoners Wednesday that it would not serve as a gathering point for anti-marriage equality petitions. St. Joseph Parish has said no petitions will be permitted on the church campus.

The spreading dissent — although couched in respectful terms — comes at a time when the Catholic hierarchy is asserting its authority.

Pope Benedict XVI, in a Holy Thursday sermon, took to task clergy who are advocating married priests and ordination of women, and called on priests to embrace the “radicalism of obedience.”

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in a proclamation this Thursday, called on priests, laypersons and parishes to join in a “great national campaign” to defend religious liberty, claiming it is “under attack, both at home and abroad.”

“Dioceses and parishes around the country could choose a date . . . for special events that would constitute a great national campaign of teaching and witness for religious liberty,” the bishops wrote. They charged:

“In an unprecedented way, the federal government will force religious institutions to facilitate and fund a product contrary to their own moral teaching and purport to define which religious institutions are ‘religious enough’ to merit protection of their religious liberty.”

In Seattle, it would appear, parishes are asserting liberty from instructions (or at least strong suggestions) by the hierarchy, and in a season when the Seattle Archdiocese is asking for support in its Annual Catholic Appeal fundraising drive.

Archbishop Sartain and Auxiliary Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, in a letter earlier this month, endorsed Referendum 74. Opponents of same-sex marriage have until June 6 to collect 120,577 valid voter signatures to put the issue on November’s ballot.

The bishops, picking their words carefully, said they “have approved the gathering of signatures in our parishes over the next few months. Your pastors have received from us information regarding the signature drive . . .”

In the St. Mary’s letter, Wittman-Todd recognized an option to opt out of the marriage equality rollback campaign. She attached the Sartain-Elizondo letter, but then wrote:

“He (Sartain) has given permission to parishes to collect signatures for the Referendum and encouraged us to do so. He has also expressed that each parish leader must decide how best to proceed, given the pastoral considerations within the parish.”

The news of St. Mary’s saying no broke Thursday afternoon in The Stranger, which is finally discovering happenings in the Catholic Church of which it approves.