DignityUSA Was There

Members of the DignityUSA leadership team and other organization members were busy representatives at three major national events during November 2003.

Catholic Organizations for Renewal (COR), Nov 5-6, Milwaukee, WI.

Catholic Organizations for Renewal (COR) is a coalition of Catholic groups, inspired by Vatican II, to further the reform and renewal of the Catholic Church, and to bring about a world of justice and peace, reflecting the sacredness of all creation. DignityUSA is one of the current twenty-two (22) groups.

The coalition is not an organization, but a forum, gathered at a table to talk and discuss matters of interest and common concern. The two day meeting was the gathering of leaders of the reform movement in our church.

DignityUSA was represented by Sam Sinnett, President, Matthew Gallagher, Executive Director and Past-Presidents Pat McArron and Bob Miailovich.

ÒIt was exciting to be sitting around the table with such powerful people in our church,Ó stated Matthew Gallagher.

During the meeting, we requested member organizations consider joining DignityUSA in support of the declaration on same-sex marriage adopted at our Convention 2003 in Las Vegas. We were greeted with enthusiastic support and a willingness to take our request back to their respective members.

For more information on COR, go to http://www.cta-usa.org/COR.html.

Call to Action USA (CTA) National Conference, Nov 7-9, Milwaukee, WI

ÒCall to Action USA (CTA) is an independent national organization of over 25,000 people and 40 local organizations who believe the Spirit of God is at work in the whole church, not just in its appointed leaders. We believe the entire Catholic church has the obligation of responding to the needs of the world and taking initiative in programs of peace and justice.Ó

Friday, November 7, DignityUSA sponsored a reception at the CTA conference. Sam Sinnett, President, welcomed everyone and asked Linda Pieczynski, a former President of CTA USA, to speak about her participation in Dignity.

Sam then introduced our new Executive Director Matthew Gallagher, to the group. Matt expressed how happy he was to be a part of DignityUSA and to meet so many wonderful supporters from CTA.

Saturday, November 8, DignityUSA sponsored presentations on the VaticanÕs recent statements about homosexual persons and same-sex marriage or unions. Marianne Duddy, former Executive Director, Sam Sinnett, President and Matthew Gallagher, current Executive Director, spoke on the documents, issues of family and the future role of Dignity. The presentations were well attended.

Throughout the conference, DignityUSA staffed an information and membership booth. It allowed us to tell visitors about the great work of Dignity and invite them to join us. More than 100 people joined.

The booth was staffed by DignityUSA Board members Sam Sinnett and Marty Grochala, Executive Director Matthew Gallagher, former DignityUSA Presidents Pat McArron and Bob Miailovich, as well as volunteers: Jim Green, Bill Diederich, Andy Masterson, Ken Smits, Dick Young, Steve Forst, Mark Vician and Rolf Roderfeld.

Our DignityUSA booth was adjacent to the Dignity/Chicago booth. We were able to direct visitors to the Chicago Tribune ad the chapter was placing November 12th.

Following the conference, Tom Fox, Publisher, National Catholic Reporter (NCR), interviewed Pat McArron, immediate past president of DignityUSA. The interview may be found online at NCRÕs daily Web column, ÒTodayÕs Take,Ó archives for November 17, 2003, ÒSupporting gay and lesbian Catholics,Ó via the link, http://www.nationalcatholicreporter.org/todaystake/tt111703.htm.

Thanks to all who helped with these successful efforts at the CTA USA national conference

For more information on CTA USA, go to http://www.cta-usa.org.

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Meeting, Nov 10-12, Washington, DC.

Executive Director Matthew Gallagher and former DignityUSA President Bob Miailovich, were present for the USCCB meeting. Matthew received press credentials. He was able to watch the proceedings on the closed-circuit TV in the press room, while Bob sat in the lobby talking with anyone willing to listen to our issues.

Matthew was able to meet some of the bishops, including Bishop Gregory, USCCB President, and offered to talk one on one with them about our issues.

As of this printing, Matthew has received no response.

As the bishops were moving from meetings to meals, a few bishops would stop and chat with Matthew and Bob. It allowed them an opportunity to ask about the then-upcoming vote on the marriage and same-sex unions document. With 6 bishops voting no or abstaining, we hope they at least heard of the pain their words cause.

For more information on the USCCB, go to http://www.usccb.org

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DignityUSA Vision Statement DignityUSA envisions and works for a time when Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Catholics are affirmed and experience dignity through the integration of their spirituality with their sexuality and, as beloved persons of God, participate fully in all aspects of life within the Church and Society.

DignityUSA Convention 2005

Pre-registration Extended to Dec 31st

Pre-register with a deposit of $100 by December 31, 2003, to receive a 10% discount on the full convention registration rate.

Convention 2005 will be held in Philadelphia, PA at the Loews Hotel, July 7 - 10, 2005. The theme, ÒThrough Truth to Freedom.Ó

Download the pre-registration form in MS Word format at the DignityUSA website.

For further info, contact conv2005@dignityusa.org.

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Happy Anniversary & Congratulations to:

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Brief Introduction to our new Executive Director

Here is a "teaser" about our new Executive Director, Matthew Gallagher. The full story - including DignityUSA connections Ð will appear in our DignityUSA Journal after the first of the year.

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Always Your Families, Always Our Church

A coalition of Chicago-area Catholics took out a full-page advertisement in the Chicago Tribune on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2003, supporting same-sex civil unions and calling for "an honest and open dialogue" on the issue within the church and at all levels of American society.

The ad is sponsored by a coalition called Always Your Families, Always Our Church which was convened earlier this fall in response to a Vatican document opposing legal recognition of same-sex civil unions and the adoption of children by gay men and lesbians. Dignity/Chicago is the founding organizer of the coalition.

The Vatican document, issued in May, states that "moral conscience requires that, in every occasion, Christians give witness to the whole moral truth." In its ad, Always Your Families, Always Our Church welcomed the opportunity to witness to the whole moral truth, stating that:

The ad also urged that "consistent with the pursuit of liberty and justice for all, same-sex couples should have full and equal access to the rights and responsibilities bestowed by civil marriage."

See http://www.dignitychicago.org/always_your_families.

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Best Wishes for a Blessed, Holy and Joyous Christmas.

May ChristÕs Life And Love Guide Us.

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