The Reverend George Lange of St. Luke the Evangelist Church in Westborough, Massachusetts has been removed, at least temporarily, for opposing a ballot initiative that would ban same-sex marriage.

Lange's associate pastor was also removed. The action came after the two placed an article in the parish bulletin voicing their opposition to the proposed amendment.

"The priests of this parish do not feel that they can support this amendment. They do not see any value to it and they see it as an attack upon certain people in our parish, namely those who are gay," the item in the article said.

The state's four Catholic bishops are leading a signature drive to get the amendment on a ballot in the 2008 election.

A spokesperson for the Worcester Diocese said that neither priest would lose their job but would not say when they would be allowed to return to the church.

During last Sunday's services Worcester Bishop Robert McManus personally conducted mass.

McManus told the congregation that Lange's position about gay marriage was wrong and that Lange and Labaire mishandled the issue.

In his homily, McManus stated the church does not support gay marriage and only defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman.

Earlier this month Attorney General Tom Reilly certified the language in the ballot initiative effort - which would ban same-sex marriage and civil unions. (story) It already has the support of Republican Gov. Mitt Romney. (story)

Reilly's action allowed the Catholic Church and the Massachusetts Family Institute to begin collecting the signatures of at least 65,825 Massachusetts voters required to put the issue before voters.

The possibility of a constitutional amendment arose after the Supreme Judicial Court ruled it was illegal to prevent same-sex couples from marrying.

On September 14 a proposed amendment put forward by lawmakers was rejected by a joint session of the House and Senate. (story) That version although banning gay marriage would have permitted civil unions.

Since the Supreme Judicial Court ruling allowing gay marriage about 6,500 gay and lesbian couples have married in Massachusetts.