Archbishop John Nienstedt is bringing two anti-gay heavy-hitters to Minnesota to talk about keeping same-sex marriage illegal in this state. Maggie Gallagher, president of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) and Reverend Salvatore Cordileone, the Bishop of Oakland, will speak at an April 17 event in St. Paul.

Gallagher’s NOM played a huge role in the Prop 8 battle in California and was responsible for a number of hateful and misleading ads against same-sex couples. Cordileone was one of the drafters of Prop 8. In fact, he is known as the “Father of Proposition 8,” according to the East Bay Express. Good As You has the details:

What almost no one knows is that without Bishop Sal, gay men and lesbians would almost surely still be able to get married today. As an auxiliary bishop in San Diego, Cordileone played an indispensable role in conceiving, funding, organizing, and ultimately winning the campaign to pass Proposition 8. It was Bishop Sal and a small group of Catholic leaders who decided that they had to amend the state constitution. It was Bishop Sal who found the first major donor and flushed the fledgling campaign with cash. It was Bishop Sal who personally brought in the organization that took the lead on the petition drive. And it was Bishop Sal who coordinated the Catholic effort with evangelical churches around the state. Bishop Sal even helped craft the campaign’s rhetorical strategy, sitting in on focus groups to hone the message of Proposition 8.

Is the Catholic church in Minnesota gearing up for a fight by bringing in these heavy-hitters?

Here are the details on this event:

Reclaiming the Culture of Marriage and Life Spring Forum

* Date(s):
* Saturday, April 17, 2010

* Time(s):
* 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

* Location:
* University of St. Thomas

* Cost:
* FREE

Save the Date!

Archdiocesan-wide Reclaiming the Culture of Marriage and Life Spring Forum

An archdiocesan-wide initiative, inspired by Archbishop John Nienstedt, aimed at helping the faithful “Understand the Cultural and Legal Battle” over the restoration of marriage and the respect for human life.

Please join us for this important event in support of marriage and life.

8:00am – Mass at the Saint Paul Seminary
9:00am – 12:00pm – Forum at the University of St. Thomas, Brady Education Center

Guest Presenters

* Maggie Gallagher, President of the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy
* Most Reverend Salvatore Cordileone, Bishop of Oakland, one of the creators of Proposition 8 and one of the seventeen United States Bishops to sign the Manhattan Declaration.

Admission is free, but a reservation is required. Seating is limited. Please call the Office of Marriage, Family and Life at 651.291.4488. Deadline for reservation is Monday, April 12.

Additional Resources

We also invite you to read the Manhattan Declaration:

“We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them”