Beginning this weekend, Catholics in North Dakota will be asked to support a state constitutional amendment that defines marriage as only a union between a man and woman.

The North Dakota Catholic Conference, which represents the state's two dioceses on public policy matters, asked parishes to collect petition signatures at least one weekend in July.

The Catholic Church isn't the only religious group actively supporting the petition drive that could amend the state's constitution.

Many of the 25,685 signatures needed for the initiative to appear on the November ballot are being gathered in places of worship across the state.

Members of First Assembly of God in Fargo can sign a petition on their way to or from worship services.

John Trombley, chairman of the state's Family Alliance and a member of First Assembly, said churches are a perfect place to pursue signatures.

"It's where people gather, and it makes sense," he said. "People of faith tend to understand the value of family, and they understand the importance of marriage being defined as between a man and a woman."

In a June 29 letter to priests in the Catholic Diocese of Fargo, Bishop Samuel Aquila directed priests to preach on the sanctity of marriage.

"All Catholics have a moral obligation to defend marriage and oppose efforts to legalize same-sex unions as equivalent to marriage," he wrote. "I want you through your parishioners to obtain signatures in your parish or parishes for this initiative.

"I also ask that you preach on this matter during the next month in your parishes and present clearly the teaching of the Church to our people."

Aquila also encouraged Catholics to contact the state's U.S. senators about an amendment to the federal Constitution that would ban gay marriages. Debate on the is sue began Friday.

Christopher Dodson, executive director of the state's Catholic Conference, said the church has a responsibility to participate in the political process. There are about 180,000 Catholics in North Dakota.

"In Catholic understanding, institutions, such as marriage, are necessary for the preservation of the common good," he said. "We have a right and a responsibility to protect it."

North Dakota Family Alliance, which proposed the marriage amendment, has mailed more than 350 packets to churches, said Kathy Rodin of Bismarck, the alliance's church and community contact. The packets include questions and answers about the initiative, copies of the petition and suggestions on how to gather signatures.

Signatures must be submitted to the secretary of state by Aug. 3. About 5,500 signatures had been collected as of Friday.

Rodin said a handful of denominations requested information for every church in their body, including Assembly of God, Catholic, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Nazarene and United Pentecostal.

Although churches can't support specific candidates or political parties, they can legally offer guidance on public policy issues. That's one reason churches often become heavily involved in initiatives or ballot propositions, especially those that address moral issues, said Paul Djupe, assistant professor of political science at Denison University in Ohio.

"Today people in the pew expect clergy to talk about politics from the pulpit," he said.

In some ways, church involvement in politics can benefit society, Djupe said. The core of democracy always has been people organizing and presenting their opinions, he said.

But while public expression may be healthy for democracy, there are times churches may want to curb their desire to promote specific social values.

"Churches are not united groups of like-minded people. There is tremendous diversity even within small community churches," Djupe said. "Churches that take strong public stances on certain issues may risk alienating people."

The chairman of Equality North Dakota, which advocates equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, said he is disappointed some churches are publicly advocating for the marriage amendment.

Supporting the amendment, which would ban same-sex marriage, violates human rights, said Bob Uebel of Fargo.

He also thinks it gives the false impression that Christians who don't support the amendment are unfaithful.

"There is certainly more than one Christian position on this issue," he said. "There are many churches and pastors and people of faith who support gay and lesbian people."

Readers can reach Forum reporter Erin Hemme Froslie at (701) 241-5534