Scottish Catholic Observer

Maine, Maryland and Washington became the first states to approve same-sex ‘marriage’ by popular vote, breaking a 32-state streak—dating back to 1998—in which same-sex ‘marriage’ had been rebuffed by every state that voted on it. There are now nine  states in the country where traditional marriage has been undermined in law.

Defenders of traditional marriage were also dealt a blow by the re-election of President Obama (above) by a narrow margin in the popular vote. Earlier this year he became the first US president to support gay ‘marriage,’ and his campaign endorsed the same-sex ‘marriage’ measures in the three states.

President Obama defeated Republican challenger Mitt Romney, who is opposed to same-sex ‘marriage.’

The US bishops, who have been vehement in their opposition to Mr Obama’s same-sex ‘marriage’ support—and his policy of forcing contraception on Catholic institutions—could now be penalised through taxation for their principled stance.

Public watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, is now pushing the Inland Revenue Service to revoke the US Conference of Catholic Bishops tax exemption status. It claims the bishops were openly canvassing on behalf of Mr Romney. Tax emption for religious groups in the US is constitutionally dependant on their non-involvement in party politics.

Exit polls suggest US Catholics, who make up 24 per cent of the US electorate, were torn between the two presidential candidates voting 52 per cent for Mr Obama to 45 per cent for Mr Romney.