<p><strong>Washington DC October 16 2003 &mdash;</strong>&nbsp;As President Bush and conservative leaders mark the so-called &quot;Marriage Protection Week&quot; DignityUSA and its chapters and members across the country call upon supportive Catholics everywhere to stand with same-sex couples who are seeking marriage rights and challenge the arguments of the opponents of same-sex marriage.</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >&quot;From the White House to the Vatican to the news conferences of our own bishops officials keep repeating the mantra that somehow by acting fairly and providing rights to same-sex couples heterosexual marriage is diminished&quot; said Sam Sinnett president of DignityUSA. &quot;When pressed on this point no one has any evidence or reasonable arguments. In fact we believe greater fairness strengthens all of society by respecting and honoring all kinds of families. We continue to advocate for the right to marry for same sex couples &mdash; both civil marriage in society and sacramental marriage in our Church. This is a matter of fairness in our democratic country and a matter of justice and recognition for the thousands of same-sex families that worship in Catholic churches.&quot;</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >Dignity chapters across the country are working in coalition with other groups to speak the truth of same-sex partnerships show the world how same-sex couples are raising children and contributing to their communities. Recent efforts include events hosted by&nbsp;<a target=_blank style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51 0 102); text-decoration: underline; href=http://www.dignitychicago.org/>Dignity/Chicago</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target=_blank style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51 0 102); text-decoration: underline; href=http://www.dignityboston.org/>Dignity/Boston&nbsp;</a>and others are planned.</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >DignityUSA leaders call on all Catholics to become part of the public and private dialogue on this policy matter &mdash; in the civil arena and the church &mdash; and to consider the historical social justice stance of the Roman Catholic Church with regard to the expansion of civil rights.</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >&quot;Speak out to your elected officials write a letter to your bishop and start a conversation in the church hall after Mass&quot; urged Sinnett. &quot;Your stories as supportive straight Catholics joined with the voices of the membership of DignityUSA will be heard!&quot;</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >Recently the board of directors of DignityUSA and the membership assembled for the biennial convention adopted a resolution on same-sex marriage saying:</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >&quot;As Americans we remind our fellow citizens of a foundational principle of our form of government: all are created equal. Consistent with the pursuit of liberty and justice for all same-sex couples should have full and equal access to the rights and responsibilities bestowed by civil marriage.</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >&quot;As Catholics we remind our Church of a foundational conviction of our faith: God is love and all who abide in love abide in God and God abides in them. The love that brings and binds two people of the same or opposite sex together has a divine source. It is therefore sacramental in nature and should be celebrated as such by our Church.&quot;</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >DignityUSA is the only national Catholic organization that offers a multifaceted program of support for same-sex couples and blesses their commitments in chapters across the country. DignityUSA maintains a national couples registry to recognize and record these unions.</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >DignityUSA is the foremost organization of gay lesbian bisexual and transgendered Catholics their families friends and supporters. Founded in 1969 it is an independent nonprofit organization with members and Chapters across the country. For more information please visit&nbsp;<a style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0 0 102); text-decoration: none; href=http://www.dignityusa.org%20/>www.dignityusa.org</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p>