A man has asked for his donation to a
group opposed to Minnesota's marriage amendment to remain anonymous
because he fears retribution from his Catholic employer.
The man gave $600 to Minnesota United
for All Families.
The Minnesota campaign finance board
believed that the man, now known as John Doe, could be fired if his
contribution became public knowledge and on August 7 granted him
anonymity, the Star-Tribune
reported.
“Mr. Doe argues that because his job
requires him to represent the Catholic organization's positions to
others from time to time, if his opposition to the marriage amendment
was known, it would cause immense strain in his working
relationships. Mr. Doe believes that this strain may be enough that
his employment would be terminated,” the agency wrote in its
decision.
The Church has strongly supported the
amendment, raising funds for the campaign to support it. In January,
Johh C. Nienstedt, the archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis,
ordered
priests to get behind the proposed ban or remain silent.
(Related: Catholics
premiere song opposed to Minnesota gay marriage ban.)