From: BoiseBear@aol.com
Date: Fri, 08 Jul 94 10:04:36 EDT

Reprinted from the [Boise] Idaho Statesman, Friday,
July 8, 1994 -- Front Page (but under the fold).

IDAHO CATHOLIC BISHOP SAYS CHURCH WILL
OPPOSE ANTI-GAY INITIATIVE

By Kim Eckart
The Idaho Statesman

The Catholic Church in Idaho opposes the anti-gay
initiative sponsored by the Idaho Citizens Alliance.

Bishop Tod Brown, head of the Roman Catholic
Diocese of Boise, said Thursday the initiative
"would contribute to attitudes of intolerance and
hostility in Idaho directed at homosexual citizens
and is potentially discriminatory."

On the other hand, he said, "neither can I support
any future legislative effort to create a new protected
class based on sexual orientation."

The measure, soon to be named Proposition 1 for
the November general election ballot, would prevent
the state from granting civil rights protections based
on sexual orientation.

"The church considers only homosexual activity or
conduct, not orientation, morally wrong," Brown said.
"At the same time, the church teaches that homosexuals,
like everyone else, hafve a right to respect, friendship
and justice."

Brian Bergquist, head of the initiative's chief opposition
group, welcomed the church's statement.

"It's going to be real significant," he said.  "I think it's great
when people perceived as conservative religious leaders
speak out against discrimination."

Kelly Walton, chairman of the Idaho Citizens Alliance,
couldn't be reached for comment Thursday.

Boise Catholic John Keenan said he was surprised at
the leader's opposition to the intitiative.

"The initiative in and of itself will not promote hostility
or intolerance," Keenan said.  "Homosexuals should
not have any additional rights beyond those already
enjoyed by the community at large."

The Catholic Diocese joins other mainline churches --
including the Episcopal Diocese and the Oregon-
Idaho Conference of the United Methodist Church --
and the local synagogue, Congregation Ahavath-Beth
Israel, in opposing the intitiative.

With an estimated 107,000 members, the Catholic
Church is the second largest denomination in the
state; more than 15,000 Catholics live in Ada [Boise]
County.  Only the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints [Mormons] is larger, with 250,000 members
in Idaho.

The LDS [Mormon] Chruch has not yet taken a
position on the initiative.

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