In a rare move, the state board that oversees campaign contributions will allow a campaign donor to remain confidential because he fears losing his employment with the Catholic Church.
John Doe, as the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board called him in its report (PDF) released Friday, pledged $600 to a campaign fighting the proposed amendment that would define marriage as between one man and one woman in the Minnesota Constitution.
The Catholic Church has been a leading proponent of the amendment, and has sunk hundreds of thousands of dollars into the fight.
Doe told the board that he believes revealing his identity could lead to termination of his unspecified job with a church organization.
The report, however, did reveal that Doe’s job requires him to represent the views of the Catholic church to others. Doe contributed to Minnesotans United for All Families, which opposes the amendment. ”
Typically, when people contribute to a political campaign or candidate, a name, occupation and address appear on finance reports.
But, in making his case, Doe referenced the case of Trish Cameron, a Catholic schoolteacher from Moorhead. Cameron was asked to resign, MPR reported, after privately voicing her disagreement with the church’s position on gay marriage.
As a result of his petition, the board concluded, Doe established his case by clear and convincing evidence.
Any of his future contributions to the organization also would be listed anonymously.