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DignityUSA
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tel: 800.877.8797
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email:
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Dignity/Pacific Region Conference
Luncheon
Address given by Patrick McArron, Vice President, DignityUSA
November 11, 2000
Aloha,
It is with much pleasure that I bring a warm heartfelt Aloha from your cousins on the mainland to our Dignity Ohana here in beautiful Hawaii.
It is fitting that we gather this weekend to celebrate our unique contributions to our Church and Society in such holy places called Unity Church & Church of the Crossroads. Fitting indeed because we in Dignity are at a crossroads in our quest for equality and justice in the Catholic Church.
We are at a point in time where we are asked to think boldly and to challenge all who would deny us our rightful place in society and the church. We are challenged daily by ignorance and complacency. We are encouraged and supported by many who seek to right the wrongs of the past and the present.
Dignity stands as the formidable voice for those who have no voice and for all wahines and kanes that are treated less than equal.
When Fr. Pat Nidorf began this incredible journey in 1969 he had no idea what lay ahead. The one thing he knew for certain as a pioneer was that all was not well within our church and society, particularly when it came to his gay brothers and lesbian sisters.
The Dignity that grew from his sincere approach to healing wounds of self-hatred and confusion now calls upon all of us to stand up and be heard.
Let it be known that we are NOT objectively disordered and our love is NOT intrinsically evil as the church would have us believe.
Yesterday some of the cousins in this room met in a place called UNITY. At the Unity Church of Honolulu representatives of chapters in the region of the Pacific met as a unified body to discuss the future of Dignity and how it can best serve the needs of our ohana. In Denver last year we embarked on a project that our president, Mary Louise Cervone, loving calls Re-imagining Dignity. It was realized that there was a need to re-examine how we as an organization can best achieve the goals as set forth in our statement of Position & Purpose.
Throughout the history of our organization Dignity has come to mean many things to our members and friends and supporters.
To some we are a haven for worship without recrimination, a sanctuary where all are welcome.
To some we are a major force in the struggle for equality and justice.
To some we are a voice that speaks for those who have no voice.
Dignity is all this and more.
Dignity is in a unique position in our Church. We are called, I am convinced, to be prophets in our Church. As a community in exile, Dignity cannot and will not be silenced!
Why is it so important for Dignity to Speak Out, to make Demands?
It is important because the Catholic Church, while being an institution that does much good it also does much harm. Our Church is hurting people, killing people every day. The Catholic Church has become an expert in "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Just Listen." A perfect example of the harm our Church does can be found in the remarks made by the Pope in his address following the World Pride Parade held in Rome this year.
I came to the conclusion some time ago that I do not need the Church, the Church needs me, needs us!
These are truly historic times that we live in and we are an integral part of making history. We have embarked on a new chapter in our growth as we consider more effective ways to reach our goals.
I am excited about the future of Dignity. Next week, in just a couple of days, Dignity will making a significant statement to the Church in a very visible way. Dignity and Soulforce and Partners in Faith will be calling upon the Catholic Church to "Open wide the doors" in this Jubilee Year to all gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender sisters and brothers. This will be a very significant event that will receive nationwide media attention. I ask all of you here today to keep all of our cousins in that event in your prayers and good thoughts. Mary Louise Cervone and Marianne Duddy will be speaking with one voice in our behalf to put an end to the damaging language in the Catechism. We are NOT objectively disordered and our love is NOT intrinsically evil.
Mahalo to all our cousins here in Hawaii for the hospitality you have shown us this weekend.
I would like to close my remarks with these words: "Dignity is here for Good" Thank God for Dignity!
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