 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
DignityUSA
PO Box 376
Medford, MA
02155
tel: 800.877.8797
202.861.0017
fax: 781.397.0584
email:
info@dignityusa.org
Comments to
Web manager
RETURN TO > NEWS > HOME
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information
DignityUSA responds to Vatican statement challenging the acceptance of gays and lesbians while announcing theme for World Peace Day
Vatican communique claims the growing acceptance of gays and lesbians threatens the human desire for peaceful coexistence
Debbie Weill
Executive Director
DignityUSA
August 3, 2006
Washington, DC — While announcing the theme of the upcoming 40th World Peace Day, due to be celebrated January 1, 2007: “The Human Person: Heart of Peace,” the Vatican used some of the strongest language in years attacking gays and lesbians. Along with claiming “human dignity is contradicted by widespread incongruent lifestyles,” the Vatican continued, “Propaganda and the growing acceptance of disordered lifestyles contrary to human dignity are weakening the hearts and minds of people to the point of extinguishing the desire for ordered and peaceful coexistence. All this represents a threat to humanity, because peace is in danger when human dignity is not respected and when social coexistence does not seek the common good.”
In responding to the Vatican, DignityUSA executive director Debbie Weill commented, “DignityUSA is pleased with the Vatican’s commitment to world peace and that the upcoming World Peace Day will focus on the dignity of the human person. As the preparations for the day continue, DignityUSA urges the Vatican to note that all of the countries of the world which offer equality for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgenders are at peace, with no apparent plans whatsoever for ending their peaceful coexistence. These countries, including Canada and Spain are also ordered societies. The Holy Father’s recent trip to Spain clearly demonstrated this gay equality country continues to be quite civilized and in control.”
Weill added, “In the United States, the state with the lowest divorce rate just happens to be the only state that respects the civil rights of gays and lesbians to marriage, Massachusetts. With gay marriage rights being in place for over two years now in Massachusetts, certainly there would have been some negative impact caused by gay marriages if it were anything near the threat the Vatican claims it to be. We must continue to ask, why is the Vatican so obsessed with a no-threat matter like sexual orientation, while failing to address critical issues of human society and world peace. Such baseless Vatican statements only continue to distance Rome from many American Catholics, both straight and gay, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders, including a growing number of American Catholic church leaders.”
DignityUSA is the nation’s foremost organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Catholics, their families, friends and supporters. Founded in 1969, it is an independent nonprofit organization with members and chapters across the country. DignityUSA works for the full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in the life of the Church and Society. www.dignityusa.org
