<p>By&nbsp;Gene Corpuz</p> <p>The Dignity/Honolulu chapter has been busy this summer in addition to their weekly liturgies and monthly video nights. Gene Corpuz Tim Earhart and Alan Campo attended the DignityUSA Convention in Minneapolis from July 4 -7. Joining them was Michael Liendecker who is a dual Honolulu and Philadelphia chapter member. Michael helped carry the Honolulu banner with Tim during the Opening Ceremonies Parade of Banners. They enjoyed the plenary sessions and workshops and had a chance to network with other DignityUSA members.</p> <p>On Sunday July 28 the chapter held their annual Mary of Magdala liturgy promoted by FutureChurch which honors Mary as the &ldquo;Apostle to the Apostles.&rdquo;&nbsp; Mary of Magdala events around the country recognize the contribution of women in the Church. In Honolulu the liturgy was led by a lay presider and chapter member Gina Cardazone and the homily was presented by a Maryknoll nun Sister Joan Chatfield. About 20 people attended this liturgy which was followed by a potluck in the St. Mark&rsquo;s Church parish hall.</p> <p>Dignity/Honolulu sponsored a lecture presented by Daniel Helminiak on Saturday August 3^rd at St. Mark&rsquo;s Church in Honolulu titled &ldquo;What Today&rsquo;s Science Says About Sexuality.&rdquo;&nbsp; He reviewed the scientific data and research on sexuality including those related to sexual orientation and gender identity. He pointed out the Church&rsquo;s antiquated view of sexuality (procreation) as it does not support loving relationships in the LGBT community. Daniel Helminiak is a former&nbsp; priest theologian and professor of psychology at the University of West Georgia. He is the author of several books including <em>The Transcended Christian</em> <em>Meditation Without Myth</em> and <em>What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality</em>. He has presented workshops at numerous DignityUSA conventions and contributed material for the brochure <em>Catholicism Homosexuality and Dignity. </em>Daniel also was the homilist for the Honolulu chapter&rsquo;s weekly liturgy on August 4^th.</p> <p>Dignity/Honolulu was featured in the local newspaper the Honolulu Star Advertiser&rsquo;s Religion section in an article printed on August 4. Gene Corpuz was interviewed by staff writer Pat Gee regarding responses to Pope Francis&rsquo; statements regarding LGBT people. Gene stated &ldquo;It&rsquo;s nice to hear the Pope say that gay people&hellip;. are people of faith and good will. We were pleased with the tone&hellip; hope it changes the tone of cardinals and bishops &hellip;.in their rhetoric supporting discriminatory laws.&rdquo;&nbsp; You can read the full text of the article on the <a href=http://honolulu.dignityusa.org>Dignity/Honolulu website</a>.&nbsp;Dignity Honolulu was one of many Dignity groups making statements to the press regarding the Pope&rsquo;s statement on LGBT people.</p>