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RETURN TO > 1999 > DATELINE
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DignityUSA DATELINE
MARCH
1999
VOL. 8, NO. 3
Dignity Supports Rights at Notre Dame
DignityUSA joined several school-related organizations in sending a public letter of support to the Progressive Student Alliance of the University of Notre Dame. The group was undertaking a hunger strike and other actions urging school administrators to include sexual orientation as a protected category in the university's nondiscrimination clauses. The revised policy, which was voted down by the Notre Dame Board of Fellows, would have prohibited discrimination in hiring and promotions, in admissions, and in access to activities and facilities. Our prayers and support remain with justice seekers in the Notre Dame community.
Religious Leadership Round Table Meets
President Bob Miailovich and Executive Director Charles Cox represented DignityUSA at the second meeting of the National Religious Leadership Round Table in late January. More than 40 leaders of Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim religious and advocacy organizations that support GLBT spirituality and equality met for two days to discuss interfaith coalition building, to share reflections on the inclusion of gay people in the full life of faith communities, and to dialogue on the inclusion of a faith based perspective in the work for GLBT justice and equality. Bob Miailovich was also named to the NRLR's Steering Committee.
Major speakers included Mary Hunt, Director of Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual (WATER); Andrew Sullivan, author and analyst; Carleton Veazey from the Religious Coalition on Reproductive Rights; and Richard Socarides, the White House Special Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor for Public Liaison. A lively presentation was made on the proposed Religious Freedom Protection Act which would attempt to chart a course in the conflict between the free exercise of religion and the need for society to adopt rules of general application (e.g., no drugs, no murder, no discrimination) which might limit the free exercise right.
Bishops Talk About Us, Not With Us
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and other Vatican officials were set to meet in February with the bishops' doctrinal commissions of North America and Oceania to discuss the reality of the religious situation on the issues of homosexuality and feminism. DignityUSA has expressed its concern that, once again "they" are meeting to talk about "us" and "we" are not present.
It is a step in the right direction that Vatican officials are attempting to learn the reality of how Church policies and positions work in the real world, but it is unfortunate that meetings such as this one do not include an opportunity for the People of God to share the reality of the lived experience of our lives. Without that sharing, the agenda for Vatican-Bishops meeting is flawed.
Board Highlights
Secretary Jerry Deas offered these highlights from Board of Directors' teleconference held on January 23, 1999:
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Treasure Joe Sinico presented the financial report;
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The Board discussed ways to generate funds for the operation of DignityUSA;
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Executive Director Charles Cox reported on efforts to generate outside funding from grant sources;
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Procedures for awards presentations were established;
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Work on a new membership brochure was finalized;
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With regret, the de-chartering of the Fall River, Massachusetts chapter was accepted.
NOVA Gift Challenges Others to Give!
DignityUSA gratefully acknowledges a donation of $500 from the Northern Virginia (NOVA) chapter. This gift is an average of $15 per chapter member. The funds were raised through a special second collection after mass and the chapter's general fund.
Will your chapter take up the challenge with an annual gift to our DignityUSA's national cause? Can your chapter, big or small, contribute like NOVA did?
To the Pope: What If We Could Talk?!
On the occasion of the Pope's January visit to St. Louis, DignityUSA issued a press statement outlining what we would say if given a chance to talk to the Pope. "Let us talk together. As the love of Christ embraces all, let the leadership of our church dialogue with all of its members in the search for truth and unity."
We would talk about the ecclesial opposition to civil antidiscrimination and equal rights legislation. We would talk about the need for the church to hear the real lived experience of GLBT people. The release echoed the call of the 1998 statement "A Pope for the Time to Come", endorsed by Dignity and many organizations worldwide.
Convention Moves to the Adam's Mark Hotel
The site of DignityUSA's 1999 Convention has been relocated to the Adam's Mark Hotel in downtown Denver, the largest hotel in Colorado. It is located on Denver's famous 16th Street Pedestrian Mall, four blocks from the State Capitol. The new Adam's Mark offers more than 125,000 square feet of extraordinary meeting and banquet space and 1,225 new and renovated spacious guest rooms. Convention activities will be centered in the hotel's tower building. The convention, originally slated for the Executive Tower Hotel, was relocated after remodeling plans were announced for the Executive Hotel.
Registration Packets on the Way!
"I just have to do a victory dance or something to celebrate!" proclaimed Mike Albi as he stood grinning on the lawn of the church. Yes, the 1999 Convention Committee had reached a major milestone: A dedicated and determined group had just finished stuffing over 4000 registration packets. They were on the way to the mailing house. "Praise the Lord! What a relief! We can't turn back now." This January day in Denver was the culmination of hours of work writing, proofreading, collating, making phone calls, arranging, negotiating, pulling hair, gnashing teeth, and sweating according to Kent Epperson.
Members of DignityUSA should receive this registration packets by the end of February. The 1999 Committee is very proud of the packet and thrilled to offer Dignitarians from across the country the opportunity to partake of a wonderful line up of speakers, a bevy of workshops, three spirit filled liturgies, and the comforts of fabulous hotel. It will be a time to renew friendships, make new friends, fill your soul, and lift your spirit.
As noted above, the new site for the convention and all of its associated activities will be the Adam's Mark Hotel. "We hope will be as impressed as we were by the hotel and that your stay will be grand. Please plan to make your hotel reservations early; don't wait until the last minute," commented Kent and Mike.
Happy Anniversary:
Cincinnati 26
