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RETURN TO > 1998 > DATELINE
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DIGNITY DATELINE
SEPTEMBER 1998 VOL. 7, NO. 9
"Ex-Gay" Ads Called Wrong, Destructive
In a July 15, 1998 press statement, DignityUSA found the advertising campaign supporting ex-gay ministries to be misleading and destructive, and not representative of Catholic teaching.
Full-page newspaper advertisements have appeared in several major newspapers and were paid for by conservative Christian groups say that homosexuals could change their sexual orientation by accepting God's love. The message in this ad campaign is misleading and wrong. These groups are telling lesbians and gay men that God's love is exclusive. The truth is that God's s love is inclusive and knows no bounds. Once again, we are seeing the words and spirit of Christ's message misused by the Radical Right. Their message is plain and simple: You cannot be a lesbian, a gay man, a bisexual or a transgender person and be a person of faith. Like the advertisements and the sponsors' campaign - they are wrong.
Since its founding in 1969, Dignity has reached women and men who seek to integrate their gifts of faith and sexual orientation. Our ministry has empowered an entire generation of Catholic lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender persons to respect themselves as valued, productive members of our Church and society. The ads stand in stark contrast to the spirit and message of the U.S. Catholic Bishops' 1997 letter Always Our Children: A Pastoral Message to Parents of Homosexual Children and Suggestions for Pastoral Ministers.
The letter, though imperfect, tells us: "God loves every person as a unique individual. Sexual identity helps to define the unique persons we are. One component of our sexual identity is sexual orientation. Thus, our total personhood is more encompassing than sexual orientation. Human beings see the appearance, but the Lord looks into the heart."
The Catechism of the Catholic Church says: "Everyonee . . . should acknowledge and accept his sexual identity." Always Our Children goes on to sa "it is appropriate to understand sexual orientation . . . as a deep-seated dimension of one's personality and to recognize its relative stability in a person."
Always Our Children reminds parents of homosexual persons that they should respect "a person's freedom to choose or refuse therapy directed toward changing a homosexual orientation. Given the present state of medical and psychological knowledge, there is no guarantee that such therapy will succeed. Thus there may be no obligation to undertake it, though some may find it helpful."
And that is the truth! Too many people have gone down the "change therapy" road only to experience even greater pain than when they first came out as gay or lesbian. Instead of helping people live integrated lives, the groups supporting a "change campaign" are hurting women and men who have struggled, in some cases for years, to integrate their sexual orientation with their faith. To say that lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender persons cannot have a relationship with God is misleading and destructive. To say that homosexuality is a sin is wrong.
DignityUSA accepts the challenge to be questioned on our beliefs and position. We are willing to share any podium, which the sponsors of the ad campaign or other parties may wish to make available.
Solidarity Sunday
Solidarity Sunday is less than a month away. Ribbons and cards have been sent to all chapters. If additional supplies are needed or if you have any questions please contact Bruce Jarstfer or Marianne Duddy . P.O. Box 701592 San Antonio, TX 78270-1592 tel. 210.545.9097 fax 210.545.6906 email: BruceSJ@aol.com DignityExecDir@aol.com
CTA Offers Discount
As in past years, a discounted group registration fee of $115 is available for Dignity members to attend the Call to Action (CTA) national conference set for October 30 through November 1 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dignity registrations will be processed as a group so a check and registration forms MUST be received at the DignityUSA office by September 26. Checks should be made payable to CTA. Registration materials may be obtained by calling CTA at 773-604-0400 or visiting their web site: http://www.calltoaction.org Registration forms are also available from the DignityUSA office.
Religious Leaders Respond to Right's Political Manipulation Of Religion;
Support, Affirmation of GLBT Spirituality, Equality, and Justice
More than thirty national religious leaders from many faith traditions gathered in Washington, DC July 23rd and 24th to express their support for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people in the wake of the July advertisements paid for by the Christian right. The leaders vowed to speak out together from a faith perspective to challenge the religious right'ss manipulation of religion to promote a political agenda, and to affirm the spirituality and equality of GLBT persons and supporters all across our nation. The meeting and a national press conference, held at the Washington Plaza Hotel, were televised on C-Span several times.
Key members of the group spoke out strongly."There is a growing movement of understanding and affirmation for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people of faith across this country. It is in direct response to the basic teachings of our faith communities which call for justice and a proclamation of God's unconditional love," said Bob Gibeling, Executive Director of Lutherans Concerned.
"We are here to expose the lie that religious belief and acceptance of gays, lesbians, and bisexual human beings created in the image of God stand in contradiction to each other." added Lee Walzer, Vice President of the World Congress of Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Jewish Organizations.
"Working together in an overwhelming spirit of cooperation to educate the public and the media about the broad base of religious support for gay rights is a major step in the GLBT religious movement with incredible potential to make an enormous impact for justice and equality." stated Chris Purdom, Co-coordinator of the Interfaith Working Group. Upcoming plans by members of the Roundtable include a press conference in September, 1998 and a prayer breakfast at the Capitol in January, 1999 during the Second National Religious Leadership Roundtable. Additional actions and events will be announced in the coming year.
This unprecedented National Religious Leadership Round-table, an ongoing initiative, was co-convened by the Policy Institute of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and Equal Partners In Faith. The Roundtable gathers representatives of over 30 national faith-based organizations, representing millions of people of faith who support equality for GLBT people.
Some of the organizations involved include: Unitarian Universalist Association of America; American Friends Service Committee; U.S. Urban Rural Mission; World Council of Churches; DignityUSA; World Congress of Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Jewish Organizations; United Methodist Covenant Relationships Network; Equal Partners in Faith; The Interfaith Working Group; Reconciling Congregations Program; Disciples Justice Action Network; Methodist Federation for Social Action; The Interfaith Alliance; Unity Fellowship Church; New Ways Ministry; Integrity (Episcopalian); Affirmation (United Methodist); The Brethren/Mennonite Council; Gay, Lesbian and Affirming Disciples Alliance, Inc.; Lutherans Concerned; More Light Presbyterians; Metropolitan Community Church; and AIDS National Interfaith Network.
In the Spotlight: The Church Relations Task Force
The Church Relations Task Force is conducting a survey to determine the degree to which the pastoral letter Always Our Children has been implemented across the nation. The group, chaired by Robert Lohrentz, is launching this effort as well as the publication of the survey results, to coincide with the first anniversary of the letter's rrelease in October. Surveys will be mailed to the ordinary of every diocese in the country as well as to each chapter. The cover letter to each bishop says, in part, that Dignity sees the pastoral as very important since it can "help many young Catholics struggling, as we once did, to come to terms with a homosexual orientation." Thee letter also states, "Wee would like to determine as best we can the impact that the (pastoral) letter has had on the U.S. Church and what steps have been taken to publicize its mesage."
Chapter leaders will also be asked to complete the same survey. Since some may not know the full extent to which their diocese has acted upon the pastoral, they are encouraged to seek out supportive local clergy for more accurate information.
Happy Anniversary!
West Virginia 3 Louisville 27 Grand Rapids 22 Rochester 23
Celebrate in Denver! DignityUSAs Biennial Convention, August 5-8, 1999
