<p align=center><em>Equally Blessed praises O&rsquo;Malley says all God&rsquo;s children must be treated with respect</em></p> <p>&nbsp;MARCH 1&mdash;Equally Blessed a coalition of Catholic groups that support equality for LGBT people in the church and wider society released this statement today on the signing of marriage equality legislation in the state of Maryland:</p> <p>&quot;We are deeply gratified that Governor Martin O&rsquo;Malley has joined fellow Catholic governors Andrew Cuomo of New York and Christine Gregoire of Washington in signing marriage equality legislation into law.</p> <p>&ldquo;These governors represent the sentiments of Catholics in this country far better than the church&rsquo;s hierarchy which has spent millions of dollars in an increasingly futile campaign to prolong the era in which secular governments actively discriminate against same-gender couples and their families.</p> <p>&ldquo;We applaud Governor O&rsquo;Malley and the state legislators who recognized that every human being regardless of sexual orientation is created in God&rsquo;s image and must be treated with dignity and respect by their neighbors and their government and we pray that some day such an understanding will take root among the bishops of our church.</p> <p>&ldquo;As a coalition we were honored to work of behalf of marriage equality in Maryland by placing an op-ed in <em>The Washington Post</em> making the Catholic case for same-gender marriage. In addition three coalition members Sister Jeannine Gramick and Francis DeBernardo of New Ways Ministry and Allen Rose of DignityUSA testified before the House of Delegates.&nbsp;</p> <p>&ldquo;We are particularly thankful to Governor O&rsquo;Malley who distributed copies of Mr. DeBernardo&rsquo;s booklet &ldquo;Marriage Equality: A Positive Catholic Approach&rdquo; and who will be attending New Ways Ministry&rsquo;s seventh annual Symposium on Catholicism and Homosexuality March 15-17 in Baltimore.</p> <p>&ldquo;It is fitting that Sister Jeannine one of the most effective advocates for LGBT people in the church will be participating in today&rsquo;s signing ceremony.&rdquo;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p align=center>###</p> <p>&nbsp;<em>Equally Blessed is a coalition of faithful Catholics who support full equality for lesbian gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people both in the church and in civil society. Equally Blessed includes four organizations that have spent a combined 112 years working on behalf of LGBT people and their families:&nbsp; Call To Action DignityUSA Fortunate Families and New Ways Ministry.</em></p>