Montana church may shield donations to gay marriage ban

02/26/09 Los Angeles Times:

"The Canyon Ferry Road Baptist Church of East Helena isn't obliged to make campaign finance disclosures, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday, because its support for the Montana Marriage Protection Amendment -- use of some printer ink and a foyer table -- was 'extremely minimal.' The 2004 state ballot initiative passed by a 2-to-1 margin."

"This is a very important precedent, and I think it will have far-ranging consequences as it validates that churches play a fundamental role in shaping our democracy and speaking out on important social issues like marriage," said Dale Schowengerdt, an Alliance Defense Fund attorney who represented the Church. Montana State Solicitor Anthony Johnstone doubts that the ruling will have such broad consequences.

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