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DignityUSA DATELINE

Volume 11, No. 12
December 2002

Keeping you informed TABLE OF CONTENTS HIV/AIDS Chair Invited to United Nations' Dinner Royalty Rules at the Alexis Park Resort Hotel in Las Vegas STOP BLAMING GAY PRIESTS! Call to Action Conference Coalition of Catholic Reform Happy Anniversary

HIV/AIDS Chair Invited to United Nations' Dinner

By Pat McArron, President, DignityUSA

Fr. Tom, Chair of DignityUSA's National HIV/AIDS project, was recently invited to join H.E. Kofi Annan and the UN Development Program's (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador, Danny Glover, for the annual UN Development Fund's Poverty Eradication Awards dinner.  The dinner was held in the U. N. delegates' dining room in New York on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2002.

The UNDP is the UN's global development network, advocating change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.

The poverty eradication awards are an attempt to call attention to urgent need to eradicate poverty by 2015 through the UN's cooperative efforts.  This year's focus is taking action to sustain the Earth's  future.

Fr. Tom indicated that "It was a tremendous honor for Dignity to be invited.  It highlighted in a small way the UN's recognition of communities of faith and the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities as partners with the UN in eradicating poverty and HIV/AIDS which has caused tremendous poverty throughout the world."

Cited in this year's award is John Dempsey, President of M-A-C Cosmetics for its leadership in the fight against poverty through their AIDS fund.

McArron noted, "To be able to share in the UNDP's goal and mission of eradicating poverty especially as it shows itself in the face of those living with HIV/AIDS is an honor indeed for our Dignity family.  This is a well deserved recognition of the scope of our mission & ministry as well."

As members of Dignity, we are all encouraged to remember those living with HIV/AIDS and to respond by providing pastoral care, support and friendship whenever possible.

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Royalty Rules at the Alexis Park Resort Hotel in Las Vegas

DignityUSA Convention 2003 Factoid

By Gabino Cabanilla

Where would a real king or queen stay while in Las Vegas? Perhaps in a suite called Regal, Majestic, Crown or Monarch. Well, while at DignityUSA's 16th Biennial Convention in Las Vegas, from August 7-10, 2003, the Alexis Park Resort Hotel, an all suites hotel, is where you'll find the suite of your dreams.

The Alexis Park Resort Hotel is DignityUSA Convention 2003 Central. It is the premier non-gaming, all suite hotel in Las Vegas. The hotel is located two blocks from the hustle and bustle of the Las Vegas Strip and four blocks from the Gay Quarter on Paradise Road and across the street from the Hard Rock Cafe.

Room rates for the all suite hotel begin at $89/night (single or double occupancy) to a 1,275 square foot suite at $315/night. Rooms are taxed at the Clark County current rate of 9%. Additional guests are $20 each per night and children 12-years of age and under stay free. DignityUSA has also negotiated the same rates for you to arrive two days earlier and stay one day later at the same convention rates. Plan ahead now by calling 800-582-2228 (in the Continental US) or 702-796-3322 (outside the continental US) to make your reservation today. When making reservations, ask for the DignityUSA Convention 2003 rates. If you are physically handicapped, ask for a room on the first floor.

Remember, whether or not you're a Regal Monarch who wears a Crown to be Majestic, the Alexis Park Resort Hotel is fit for all types of kings and queens.

For more information on the convention or DignityUSA, log on to our Web site or give the national office a call at 1-800-877-8797.

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STOP BLAMING GAY PRIESTS!

By Marianne Duddy, Executive Director, DignityUSA

"Stop Blaming Gay Priests" will be the theme of DignityUSA's witness at the US Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) meeting in Washington, DC, November 10-13, 2002.

Similar to the USCCB recent meeting in Dallas, Texas, we will join other groups in sponsoring events in support of the survivors/victims of clergy sexual abuse, as well as holding a Mass that is open to all. In addition, DignityUSA has printed buttons that boldly proclaim STOP BLAMING GAY PRIESTS that will be distributed to people rallying outside the bishops' hotel.

The focus of DignityUSA's witness will be a Liturgy of Healing and Celebration of Ministries, cosponsored by Dignity/Northern Virginia, DignityUSA and Dignity/Washington, DC.  The liturgy will be Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2002, at 7:30 PM at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church.

Other events DignityUSA will cosponsor include:

Please check the DignityUSA website http://www.dignityusa.org and the DignityUSA News Service for additional details.

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Call to Action Conference

by Pat McArron, President, DignityUSA

Call to Action (CTA) held a national conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, November 1-3, 2002. This was my first national CTA conference. As I expected, it was overwhelming in its magnitude, impressive in its content and motivating in its spiritual dimension.

For me, the Conference began with a daytime workshop given by our own Jimmy Bussen and James Cappleman of Dignity/Chicago. They challenged us to COME OUT.

Earlier, on Friday, was a Peace Rally attended by hundreds of the conference attendees braving the cold weather outside of the convention center.

Friday evening's beautiful opening ceremony was followed by one of the most incredible speeches I have ever heard. Picture (if you can) a Korean Presbyterian woman dynamo. That is who we listened to, cried and laughed with for an hour. Hyun Kyung's topic: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow: Diversity, the Lifeline of all Earthlings and Beyond - a Salimist Manifesto". She guided us through a journey of spirituality and questioning. As an "outsider" looking in, she gave us all a fresh perspective on how our church might look if we all made it so.

Friday evening was closed with a DignityUSA hosted reception which was extremely well attended by a variety of people.

Saturday was spent in numerous workshops and more plenary sessions, some of which are cited below.

Another convention highlight for me was participating in a Critical Mass (Women Celebrating Eucharist). I will never participate in Mass in the same way as a result of this experience.

Of course, I could not allow myself to pass up the opportunity to hear our own Executive Director, Marianne Duddy's presentation "Impact of the Sex Abuse Scandal on Gay Catholics and our Families".  She articulated the effects and events brilliantly.

Saturday evening, John Allen, National Catholic Reporter (NCR) correspondent in Rome gave an excellent presentation on the politics of the Church.

Sunday we gathered for a special award presentation, one final speech and a closing liturgy. The award to the Erie Benedictine Sisters was a very emotional moment. Their prioress, Sister Christine Vladimiroff, was inspiring in her acceptance speech.

The final speaker on Sunday was the passionate Dr. James Cohn who delivered an excellent talk on racism in America.

See you in Milwaukee in 2003!!! Be there or be square.

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Coalition of Catholic Reform

By Pat McArron, President, DignityUSA

For many of you, the Coalition Organizations for Renewal (COR) is a group of which you know little but should know much.

 There are no less than 25 groups represented at this table, including such groups as CORPUS (married priests), New Ways Ministry, Women's Ordination Conference (WOC), Call To Action (CTA). DignityUSA is a founding member of this coalition, and our opinions count. The number of members will likely increase, adding even more voices to our collective work towards Church reform.

During the course of this semi-annual national meeting, a wide range of topics were discussed. Chief among them was the current sexual abuse and abuse of power scandal. It was an honor for me to sit at the table for the first time representing you in the name of DignityUSA.

Our deliberations began Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 30, 2002, in Milwaukee, prior to the CTA conference, and continued throughout the day on Thursday. It was agreed that a document from the coalition concerning the abuse problems in the church would be appropriate and warranted at this time.

Following a first draft of the document, there was much discussion about its contents and changes that needed to be made to it. At the end of the day, a new draft was made available. The document is entitled "Healing and Hope: Analysis of a Crisis". It is compassionate in its tone, forthright in its admonition to honor the rights of all concerned, and a call for justice being served. It will be made available soon for all to read.

COR member organizations were asked to sign on as soon as possible so that it could be released in time for the Bishops Conference November meeting in Washington, DC. As president of DignityUSA, with consultation of the members of our national board, I have added my signature to this document.

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Happy Anniversary & Congratulations to:

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