<p><strong>January 6 2012</strong></p> <p>Chris Pett President of Dignity/Chicago the advocacy organization for LGBT Catholics welcomed today&rsquo;s apology from Cardinal Francis George for his remarks fearing that the annual Pride Parade could morph into a Ku Klux Klan-like anti-Catholic rally.&nbsp;</p> <p>Said Pett &ldquo;a core element in our Catholic faith is the sacrament of reconciliation by which we admit our wrongs seek and are given forgiveness. We welcome this apology from Cardinal George. As we know him as our bishop we know that it is sincere and that he will work to avoid making such damaging and hurtful remarks in the future.&rdquo;</p> <p>&ldquo;We also invite a dialogue with the Cardinal so that he might better understand and love the LGBT community in all its facets especially those in his own Catholic Church who continue to be alienated by Church teaching that regards LGBT people as less than &lsquo;wonderfully made&rsquo; children of God.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;We encourage the Cardinal to open his arms to our community and listen to the truth in our lives and the joy we take in our faith.&rdquo;</p> <p>Dignity/Chicago is a chapter of Dignity/USA and shares its mission to work for respect and justice for all gay lesbian bisexual and transgender persons in the Catholic Church and the world.</p> <!--break-->