Marriage Amendment Efforts Ramping Up On Both Sides

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO/AP) -- People on both sides of the marriage amendment debate are stepping up efforts to get more votes as we get closer to the November ballot.

Minnesota's Roman Catholic bishops are now sending out letters, asking church members for donations in support of the amendment. It would define marriage as between one man and one woman.

On the other side, the parents of a gay Minnesota soldier killed in Afghanistan publically declared their opposition to the amendment yesterday. Jeff and Lori Wilfarht said they believe a no vote honors all military veterans.

The group protesting the amendment to ban same-sex marriage in Minnesota, Minnesotans United for All Families, released its financial reporting Tuesday. Officials said more than 44,000 individual donors have contributed financial efforts in an attempt to defeat the amendment.

The group reported it has raised more than $2.5 million since its last report in July, which cmae from more than 25,000 donors. Officials said 98 percent of those donors are from within Minnesota.

Officials also said they've raised $5.96 million so far this yer, bringing the campaign total to more than $8 million. About 92 percent of donors for that amount are from within Minnesota.

Minnesota for Marriage, which favors the constitutional ban, has almost $484,000 in cash. Minnesota for Marriage brought in about $560,000. A large share of the group's money has come from the Minnesota Catholic Conference, which this year has chipped in about $600,000 in support of the gay marriage ban.

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