Maine has a complex relationship between religion and politics. Faith-based advocacy has mixed into debates about issues such as same-sex marriage, abortion and education policy.

At first Maine’s religious denominations seem to have focused on charitable work rather than political campaigns but, over time, groups like the Christian Civic League of Maine (CCLM) emerged. Until recently under the direction of Carroll Conley, the CCLM has campaigned against same-sex marriage, tried to get it repealed, campaigned against reproductive rights and pushed for Christian-centered values in public schools.

Religious groups have increasingly attempted to influence elections by endorsing candidates according to issues such as these. While not always aligned with Maine’s moderate majority, these endorsements have mobilized some conservatives.

That mobilization may be why Sen. Susan Collins accepted the endorsement of the CCLM in 2020. It appeared to some as a politician grasping at support in what appeared to be a very tight race. Her expression of being “truly grateful” for their support drew criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates, who argued that this signaled tolerance of discrimination.

The CCLM has a history of opposing reproductive freedom and LGBTQ+ equality. The group led two referendum campaigns against the legalization of same-sex marriage and lobbied against legislation to ban conversion therapy for minors.

The group has called LGBTQ+ advocacy a “harmful agenda.” In a 2021 statement reported by the Sun Journal, the CCLM said Christians should avoid alliances with groups promoting “dangerous, anti-faith and anti-family ideas,” adding, “This means that caring for the LGBTQ community means we must denounce their harmful agenda.”

Carroll Conley was also a vocal anti-abortion advocate. In 2021, he attended Supreme Court oral arguments in the case that led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Conley said he was “encouraged” by the justices’ questions and noted they appeared willing to reconsider the very existence of a constitutional right to abortion.

In 2024, Conley likened abortion to slavery while criticizing the Republican Party’s updated platform for not taking a stronger anti-abortion stance. “I’m thankful that whoever is responsible for the change in this platform was not in charge” of the GOP in 1860, Conley said, referencing the GOP’s historical position against slavery.

A U.S. senator’s time is a limited resource. Even with a staff replying to emails and generating form letters for autopen, 24 hours per day isn’t enough. Then there’s fundraising and campaigning. It sends a message if a U.S. senator spends some of that precious time at a particular public event.

Sen. Collins recently posted on Facebook: “Last night in Bangor, I joined Carroll Conley, his wife Terri, and hundreds of attendees to mark Carroll’s retirement as Executive Director of the Christian Civic League of Maine, and to recognize Nick Adolphsen as he prepares to fill some very big shoes in taking on the position. Thank you, Carroll, for your years of dedicated service.”

Throughout her career, Sen. Collins has positioned herself as a moderate. Her attendance may have been old-school politics — that is, show respect and be sociable with everybody. There’s no question that civility is important, and the two of them have always shown respect for each other.

But.

CCLM advocates for various conservative Christian policies in government. It is affiliated with Focus on the Family, and it has worked toward the goals mentioned above as well as to support LGBT employment discrimination and to support conversion therapy. It is also part of the Church Ambassador Network, which, among other things, holds the belief that government is an institution of God’s. Furthermore, “Jesus is not only the head of the church, He is the head of government.”

The Constitution says otherwise. I hope that Sen. Collins agrees with the Constitution.