I think I recall hearing that he specifically moved up here to run for office in opposition to gay marriage. I guess it finally dawned on him that his philosophy won't fly here.http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/localReg...950&format=text
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Gay marriage opponent takes on new challenge
By Emelie Rutherford / Daily News Staff
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
BOSTON -- When a coalition of conservative groups and Catholics last week announced a new campaign to ban gay marriage and civil unions in Massachusetts, a familiar MetroWester was missing from the crowd at the State House: Ron Crews.
Crews -- who helped lead the grassroots effort to pass a constitutional ban on gay marriage in Massachusetts last year -- left the Massachusetts Family Institute in Newton, put his Ashland home on the market and moved to Kentucky earlier this month.
Crews, 56, a military chaplain with the U.S. Army Reserves, reported to Fort Campbell, Ky., to help fill in for chaplains who will be deployed with the 101st Airborne Division, he said.
"My burden and passion for years has been serving soldiers and their families as a chaplain and this will give me an opportunity to pursue that full time," Crews said in a phone interview.
"My wife and I, after praying about it and talking about it, felt like this was the next step for us," said Crews, an ordained Evangelical Presbyterian minister and 26-year member of the military. "We believe MFI has good leadership and the right direction."
Crews said he is waiting for his mobilization process to begin and expects to be in Kentucky for at least two years.
Crews, who ran unsuccessfully for the seat of U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-3rd, last November, was one of the state's most outspoken critics of gay marriage as executive director of the Massachusetts Family Institute.
A new ballot initiative that Crews helped plan to ban both gay marriage and civil unions for same-sex couples was announced last week.
"We're concerned about the state of marriage and continue to be," Crews said. "But right now we're going to be focused on ministering to these soldiers and their families here in Fort Campbell."
Last year Crews encouraged lawmakers to vote for an amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution banning gay marriage but allowing civil unions for same-sex couples.
The move was an attempt to end gay marriage in Massachusetts, which has been legal in state since May 2004 under a court ruling from November 2003.
An amendment was passed, but has to be approved again this year or next for the measure to be put on the ballot for voters to decide.
Last Thursday, though, a coalition that includes the Massachusetts Family Institute announced it will urge lawmakers to vote against the amendment this fall.
The coalition instead is pushing for another amendment banning gay marriage that does not allow for civil unions. This new amendment would be started as a citizen's initiative, so the coalition first has to gather tens of thousands of signatures from voters.
"I think it's the right thing to do," Crews said. "Last year when we encouraged legislators to vote for the amendment (allowing civil unions), many of us didn't like that amendment, but we encouraged legislators to vote for it because we thought it was the only vehicle to keep (the battle against gay marriage) alive."
By Emelie Rutherford / Daily News Staff
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
BOSTON -- When a coalition of conservative groups and Catholics last week announced a new campaign to ban gay marriage and civil unions in Massachusetts, a familiar MetroWester was missing from the crowd at the State House: Ron Crews.
Crews -- who helped lead the grassroots effort to pass a constitutional ban on gay marriage in Massachusetts last year -- left the Massachusetts Family Institute in Newton, put his Ashland home on the market and moved to Kentucky earlier this month.
Crews, 56, a military chaplain with the U.S. Army Reserves, reported to Fort Campbell, Ky., to help fill in for chaplains who will be deployed with the 101st Airborne Division, he said.
"My burden and passion for years has been serving soldiers and their families as a chaplain and this will give me an opportunity to pursue that full time," Crews said in a phone interview.
"My wife and I, after praying about it and talking about it, felt like this was the next step for us," said Crews, an ordained Evangelical Presbyterian minister and 26-year member of the military. "We believe MFI has good leadership and the right direction."
Crews said he is waiting for his mobilization process to begin and expects to be in Kentucky for at least two years.
Crews, who ran unsuccessfully for the seat of U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-3rd, last November, was one of the state's most outspoken critics of gay marriage as executive director of the Massachusetts Family Institute.
A new ballot initiative that Crews helped plan to ban both gay marriage and civil unions for same-sex couples was announced last week.
"We're concerned about the state of marriage and continue to be," Crews said. "But right now we're going to be focused on ministering to these soldiers and their families here in Fort Campbell."
Last year Crews encouraged lawmakers to vote for an amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution banning gay marriage but allowing civil unions for same-sex couples.
The move was an attempt to end gay marriage in Massachusetts, which has been legal in state since May 2004 under a court ruling from November 2003.
An amendment was passed, but has to be approved again this year or next for the measure to be put on the ballot for voters to decide.
Last Thursday, though, a coalition that includes the Massachusetts Family Institute announced it will urge lawmakers to vote against the amendment this fall.
The coalition instead is pushing for another amendment banning gay marriage that does not allow for civil unions. This new amendment would be started as a citizen's initiative, so the coalition first has to gather tens of thousands of signatures from voters.
"I think it's the right thing to do," Crews said. "Last year when we encouraged legislators to vote for the amendment (allowing civil unions), many of us didn't like that amendment, but we encouraged legislators to vote for it because we thought it was the only vehicle to keep (the battle against gay marriage) alive."
