Scores of Maine churches will pass the collection plate a second time at Sunday services on Father's Day to kick off a fundraising campaign for the lead opposition group to a November referendum to legalize same-sex marriages.

Carroll Conley Jr. of the Christian Civic League of Maine expects 150 to 200 churches to have special collection offerings June 17 to raise money for the Protect Marriage Maine political action committee. Conley's also trying to drum up support for the campaign from evangelical leaders around the country.

Supporters of the gay marriage ballot question say numerous other Maine churches are on their side. They say those churches have held phone banks, training sessions and educational forums in favor of the legalization of same-sex marriage.

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