A Call to Solidarity - Rome at Home

December 18, 2000

DignityUSA

To: Dignity Chapters and Friends From: <a href=mailto:MLCervone@aol.com>Mary Louise Cervone</a> President DignityUSA Date: December 18 2000 Re: President's Email 0001-06: A Call To Solidarity – Rome At Home An Invitation from <a href=http://www.soulforce.org/ target=_blank>Soulforce</a> and <a href=http://www.dignityusa.org/>DignityUSA</a>Dear Friends: As you probably know Soulforce and DignityUSA are going to Rome Jan. 5th & 6th to take our demands to the Vatican to <a href=http://www.dignityusa.org/node/129>STOP SPIRITUAL VIOLENCE</a>. We need your prayers and support. We believe that having simultaneous prayer vigils throughout the country will draw much needed attention to the Vatican's continuing attacks against gay lesbian bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people especially GLBT Catholics. Whether it is just two or three of you in a dozen cities or larger gatherings the simultaneous actions will help to focus attention on our action to bring to the Vatican the truth about God's gay lesbian bisexual and transgender children. <a href=http://www.soulforce.org/romevigil.html target=_blank>Attached to this letter</a> are the requests that we presented to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and will be presenting to the Vatican called "Why We Vigil." You may also access "Why We Vigil" at <a href=http://www.soulforce.org/romevigil.html target=_blank>http://www.soulforce.org/romevigil.html</a>. There are several things to keep in mind as you start to organize such a gathering whether you are a member of the Catholic Church or not. 1) We are witnessing to the importance and depth of faith in the lives of GLBT people despite centuries of oppression and discrimination. We love our churches and we long to claim our rightful place in them openly and proudly celebrating who God created us to be. 2) We do all things in the spirit of nonviolence. We come in love seeking reconciliation in justice and truth. We are calling chancery officials and other Church leaders to the dialogue that has been avoided for too long. We need them to understand the reality of our lives and loves so that together we can bring about fullness of justice in the Church. We are willing to listen to them person to person to hear the truth that they bring as well. This is the time to get past rhetoric and talk heart to heart and soul to soul. 3) Individuals participating in the "Rome At Home" vigils should be familiar with the principles of non-violence as outlined on the Soulforce web page at <a href=http://www.soulforce.org/ target=_blank>www.soulforce.org</a>. Please be sure they can participate in that spirit. We are listing below three links to websites: DignityUSA Metropolitan Community Church and a listing of gay-friendly Catholic Churches throughout the country. Please check out these websites and make the connections in your local area immediately. <ul><li><a href=http://www.dignityusa.org/local_chapter>http://www.dignityusa.org/local_chapter</a> – DignityUSA - Local Chapters</li><li><a href=http://www.ufmcc.com/dircongs.htm target=_blank>http://www.ufmcc.com/dircongs.htm</a> – UFMCC GLOBAL DIRECTORY: UFMCC LOCAL</li><li><a href=http://www.bway.net/%7Ehalsall/lgbh/gayparishes.txt target=_blank>http://www.bway.net/halsall/lgbh/gayparishes.txt</a> – Gay friendly Catholic Churches</li></ul> Contact any other people of faith you know who would be interested in taking part; don't forget to include PFLAG members. Begin spreading the word. Use this opportunity to build a community of faith to respond to future situations that will need quick organizing. If you live in a city that has a chancery call the chancery in your area as soon as possible. You can probably find them listed under the "Diocese of ______(whatever city you are in). Check at this link to see if your city is a diocese <a href=http://www.nccbuscc.org/dioceses.htm target=_blank>http://www.nccbuscc.org/dioceses.htm</a> – National Conference of Catholic Bishops/United States Catholic Conference. Ask for an appointment for the evening of Jan. 5th if it is available to emphasize solidarity with those who are going to be in Rome and explain that is why you would like to meet on that date. However any good faith effort to provide a meeting within a reasonable time frame should be respected. If they refuse to meet with you do not be deterred. Make plans for your group to go to the chancery offices and "tape" the demands to the doors of the office. If you do not live in a city that has a chancery office find another suitable site to hold your prayer vigil. Contact your local gay and straight media now to let them know about your plans. Be sure to tell them that this will be happening in conjunction with the actions at the Vatican and throughout many cities in the U.S. Below is a suggested prayer service for you to consider. On Friday Jan. 5th (the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany and the official end of the "Year of Jubilee") go to your local chancery office hopefully meeting with some representative but if as we said earlier their doors are shut then tape the demands and the apologetics to the door in the presence of the media. If there is no chancery office then simply hold your prayer vigil. Within two weeks follow up with this action by calling together those who have been a part of this organizing project and debrief and see if there is an interest in keeping the group active. Please be sure to let us know what you are doing. Send your information to <a href=mailto:Kara4Peace@AOL.com>Kara4Peace@AOL.com</a> no later than Dec. 31st. If you do not have your information together by that date send it to Karen Weldin at <a href=mailto:Karen@cwis.net>Karen@cwis.net</a>. Last of all don't forget to pray for those of us who will be in Rome and for all of us who carry this important message to the Church. If you have any questions please contact me at <a href=mailto:Kara4Peace@AOL.com>Kara4Peace@AOL.com</a>. In the spirit of love and nonviolence <a href=mailto:Kara4Peace@AOL.com>Kara Speltz</a> Catholic Co-chair Soulforce Advisory Committee for NCCB/Vatican Actions <a href=mailto:MLCervone@aol.com>Mary Louise Cervone</a> President DignityUSA <h4><a href=http://www.dignityusa.org/news/001218-samplevigil.html target=_blank>SUGGESTION FOR PRAYER VIGIL IN SUPPORT OF SOULFORCE/DIGNITY ACTION IN ROME</a></h4>

A Call to Solidarity - Rome at Home

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