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DignityUSA
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DignityUSA DATELINE
Volume
9, No. 9
September 2000
Gay Catholics Saddened by Pope's Comments on WorldPride 2000
Leaders of DignityUSA, the nation's leading advocate for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Catholics, have expressed deep sadness and outrage over Pope John Paul II's recent comments that the WorldPride 2000 celebration in Rome was an "insult" to the Jubilee Year and to Christians, and that homosexuals act in ways contrary to natural law.
"The Pope's remarks are extremely offensive and unnecessarily antagonistic," said Mary Louise Cervone, DignityUSA President. "As we understand it, WorldPride organizers went out of their way to accommodate legitimate concerns of the Vatican about the parade, and even extended invitations for meetings to dialogue with the Pope or other high level officials. For the Pope to respond with this kind of language is incredibly unchristian."
Marianne Duddy, DignityUSA Executive Director, added, "The Pope seems to have missed the point that many of the people who participated in WorldPride are in fact Christians, and thousands of them are Catholic. People were attracted to WorldPride 2000 precisely because it was in Rome. To celebrate being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender in this city that is so significant to Catholics offered a chance to celebrate two very significant components in many of the participants' lives, their sexuality and their spirituality."
Cervone remarked, "I wish the Pope would remember that every time he makes statements like this, he alienates hundreds of people, not only gay Catholics and their families, but others who are embarrassed to hear the leader of our Church speaking so hatefully. It's really sad. He could have invited dialogue, or used the moment to emphasize the Church's teaching that all people must be treated with respect. Instead, he chose to call us an insult, on the very day he extended his personal blessing to rapists and murderers. What kind of a message is that?"
Cervone and Duddy said that the Pope's response to WorldPride 2000 increased their commitment to advocacy on behalf of gay Catholics. "Our people need to know that there are many people in the Church who disagree with the Pope on this issue," said Duddy. "This is one instance where he does not speak for the whole Church, or for God."
WITNESS OUR WELCOME 2000
On August 3-6, 2000 there was probably the largest-ever gathering of Christians strategizing and working together across denominational boundaries for full inclusion of GLBT people. WOW 2000 was sponsored by nine Protestant welcoming, open, affirming and reconciling programs, but the laity, clergy, denominational leaders, organizations, authors, and theologians present came from 8 countries and 27 faith traditions, including Roman Catholics. Thanks are extended to members of Dignity/Chicago for all their help. The line-up of plenary and workshop speakers was long, varied, inclusive and distinguished. The conference modeled the ecumenical oneness of Christians. The presence and participation of people from Dignity and other Catholics was welcomed and easily blended into the whole.
Solidarity
Sunday™
Solidarity Sunday is Oct 8, 2000. Plan now to participate in this annual DignityUSA observance. Contact your local chapter for details and visit the DignityUSA website for additional information. A new Solidarity Sunday Brochure has been created which will further enhance this very important national observance to end violence against all people.
We Love Camping It Up!
Over the weekend of August 4-6, Dignity members from the Maine, Boston, Hartford, New Hampshire and Suffolk, NY chapters gathered in Wells, ME for the second biennial Camp Jaroco. Billed as one of the Regional fund-raisers, it also included the Regional Meeting on Friday night. 35 campers spent the weekend singing, laughing, praying, bike riding, swimming and generally having a gay old time. A special thanks to Janet and Rosemary from Dignity/Maine for being such wonderful hosts. Think about joining the fun next year!
News from the DignityUSA Board of Directors Meeting
The board of directors met in DC from July 14th to 16th. We would like to thank the Washington chapter for their gracious hospitality.
The board announced that it has approved a Defenders Club in Greater Columbus. Congratulations to The Defenders and Dignity/Greater Columbus.
Mike Hogan has been appointed as director at large for a one year term beginning October 1, 2000. The board welcomes Mike back after serving as Midwest national director, and we are honored that he has accepted the invitation to continue his outstanding service to DignityUSA.
The board passed a resolution recognizing Mark Ambrose for his years of service as listowner of the DignityUSA Discussion Lists. We are most appreciative of Mark's outstanding service.
Deb Myers will be retiring as Mountain Plains national director, and the board recognized her years of service to DignityUSA. Deb and her partner Nickie, have coordinated and will continue to maintain our Couples Ministry and Couples National Registry.
 Chris Pett, Re-Imagining Coordinator |
The primary focus of the board meeting was Re-Imagining Dignity. Chris Pett, our Re-Imagining coordinator, presented a summary of the questionnaires and guided the board through the weekend discussions. We are now ready to move into Phase 2 of the process, and are proceeding within our timeline. Chapters can expect to receive a draft report of our recommendations in mid-October, along with a timeline for feedback and recommendations.
The board of directors is excited about moving into Phase 2 of our Re-Imagining process, and we couldn't have done it without the thoughtful insights from our membership.
Catholic Organizations for Renewal
Catholic Organizations for Renewal, of which DignityUSA is a member, held its three-times a year meeting in Cleveland on July 28-29. New Ways Ministry reported on their presence at World Pride 2000 in Rome. The national elections, the courting of the Catholic vote and the efforts of progressive Catholics were discussed. Catholics Speak Out spoke on their signature ad campaign regarding an open letter to candidates for political office from Catholic voters. The group discussed the roles we might take in a proposed world-wide gathering of reform-minded Catholics. COR members discussed the June bishops meeting where the bishops received a report on the priest shortage. During the time of the meeting, public actions were held in support of widening the availability of the priesthood and in deploring the silencing of Jeannine Gramick and Robert Nugent. Future action by COR groups on these matters was discussed. A highlight of the meeting was a discussion of the new book, "The Changing Face of the Priesthood: A Reflection on the Priest's Crisis of Soul" by Rev. Donald B. Cozzens. The next COR meeting will be in Milwaukee, just before CTA in November.
CTA 2000 Conference
Plan to attend Call To Action 2000, to be held in Milwaukee, WI on November 3-5. This year, DignityUSA will sponsor a mini-conference on Friday, November 3rd, from 9 am to 3 pm. Marianne Duddy and Ron Karstetter will facilitate the event, I Called You by Name: The Spirituality of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and transgender People. This is open to all CTA attendees. Marianne will also be presenting a session on same sex marriage.
DignityUSA will once again host a reception following the opening session on Friday, November 3rd, as well as a Saturday lunchtime caucus.
CTA is offering discounted group registration of $125 per person. If you would like to take advantage of the group discount, please send your completed registration form and payment payable to Call To Action, to the DignityUSA national office. Please note that Dignity cannot process on-line registrations as part of the group discount.
The cost of the Friday mini-conference is $60, and should be included in the payment along with the registration form.
Registration and payment must be received in our office no later than September 15. We will forward all registrations to CTA.
Call To Action is the leading organization for Church renewal and reform. DignityUSA, as the leading organization for Church renewal and reform for GLBT Catholics, is proud of its prominent role in this year’s conference. Please consider attending the mini-conference as well as the other events.
The National Religious Leadership Roundtable
The National Religious Leadership Roundtable, an interfaith network of leaders from more than forty pro-GLBT faith based organizations, including DignityUSA, held its semi-annual meeting in Miami Beach on July 23-25, 2000. The gathering was highlighted by a public forum that examined the intersections of racism, sexism, and homophobia. The Roundtable members continued the discussion with a half-day panel discussion. The NRLR, which was organized in 1998, also gave a full day to strategic planning. The NRLR also gave consideration to an understanding and response to the reparative and ex-gay movements, to consideration of procedures whereby the Roundtable can make public statements in a timely manner and to receiving reports from the representatives of the major denominations when matters such as GLBT ordination and same-sex marriage are debated. Finally, the Roundtable began some serious discussion of how the group can be more adequately and evenly funded in the future. The next NRLR meeting will be in February in Washington, D.C.
A reminder: September is Couple’s Month at Dignity!
Happy Anniversary!
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PROVINCETOWN |
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