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DignityUSA
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RETURN TO > NEWS > HOME
July 13, 2007
Contacts: |
|
Sam Sinnett |
Jeff Stone |
DignityUSA Issues New Guidelines on the Pastoral Care of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Catholics at National Convention
Washington, D.C. — DignityUSA, the nation’s largest advocacy group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Catholics, issued comprehensive new guidelines for pastoral care at its just-concluded national convention, held July 5-8 in Austin, Texas. The document was developed in response to pastoral guidelines released by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in November 2006, which Dignity views as deeply flawed and damaging.
Dignity’s guidelines address not only questions of private and personal concern, but matters of public controversy such as same-sex marriage, civil rights and legislation, the adoption and raising of children, and immigration rights for partners of LGBT people.
DignityUSA President Sam Sinnett stated: “When the U.S. Catholic bishops issued their guidelines last November, they did not bother to consult with openly LGBT people, or even with their own diocesan ministries that work directly with LGBT people. In our letter, we draw on almost forty years of ministry with LGBT Catholics, and on the lived experience of thousands of LGBT people. Our guidelines were developed through a process of broad consultation throughout our organization and beyond over the past six months.”
Spokesperson Jeff Stone said: “We hope that the release of this document will provide much-needed guidance to those who minister to LGBT Catholics and their families in parishes, diocesan ministries and elsewhere. We also hope that that it will help to inform the public conversation about issues involving LGBT people in which the Catholic bishops have taken such a visible and often negative role.”
The full text of the document can be found at www.dignityusa.org/pastoral/letter-2007.html.
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
