Love Always Wins Fundraising Campaign

Families With Dignity Group Offers Help to Those Fired From Catholic Institutions for Being Who They Are 

     DETROIT (Sept. 28, 2021) --  Families With Dignity (FWD), formerly Fortunate Families Detroit, is beginning a program of solace and financial help for employees of Catholic institutions in the Archdiocese of Detroit who have been fired for entering into same-sex marriages, for being LGBTQ+, or for openly showing support for those who are. 

    In announcing the program, called “Love Always Wins,” FWD president Linda Karle-Nelson cited the group's formal mission statement, which includes an account of the day – March 14, 2020 – when the Archdiocese of Detroit “fired” the group by stating it was forbidden to meet in any church, chapel, or institution of the archdiocese – and indeed to meet anywhere at all within the boundaries of the archdiocese. 

     “We’ll never forget the outpouring of love, support, and good wishes that came our way from all directions in the U.S. but also from Catholics in Europe and elsewhere who read about our situation,” Karle-Nelson says. “It meant so much. We couldn’t stay depressed long, and we didn’t. We rewrote our Mission Statement to express our love for the church while rejecting its treatment of LGBTQ people and the language it uses to describe their lives. 

“Our new program,”  Karle-Nelson says, “is intended to pass on the love we received to those who are dismissed from Catholic employment for being who they are. This will include a gift of money, and also any additional assistance we are asked for and in a position to provide or suggest. I’m sure the program will evolve over time. 

     “We’re thrilled that the leaders of Dignity USA and Dignity Detroit with whom we’re formally affiliated, have not only approved “Love Always Wins” but have offered to collaborate with us. Together we are stronger!”  

    Karle-Nelson said that FWD’s initial goal is to raise $5,000. “That isn’t a huge sum these days,” she said, “but it will enable us to begin approaching several folks who have undergone the shock and grief of being fired for being who they are.”  

 Those wishing to join FWD in expressing love and support for employees fired by Catholic institutions are invited to contribute here: 

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Families with Dignity is a Catholic ministry that supports the LGBTQ+ community and families by promoting equality and inclusion among all people and by sharing personal stories. Based in Detroit, it has been expelled from Catholic facilities by the Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit. Undaunted, it vows to continue advocating for the welcome and full inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in the Catholic Church and for justice and equality for the many LGBTQ+ people in churches, schools and other workplaces.