<p><em>The following letter was sent by DignityUSA Executive Director Matthew J. Gallagher to the Catholic pastors of Chicago who signed a letter to the Church hierarchy on December 19 2003 regarding the pastoral care of gay and lesbian persons linked </em><a href=http://www.dignityusa.org/chicago-letter><em>here</em></a>&nbsp;</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >Dear Father:</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >On behalf of DignityUSA our members and supporters I want to thank you for your bold statement to the Hierarchy of our church regarding the pastoral care of gay and lesbian persons.</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >Like you we have been greatly dismayed at the angry and dismissive language used in recent church statements and by several of our bishops. Such words are easily construed as violent and can lead to violent actions in our communities. Rather than create healing and unity such language tears apart relationships between the faithful and simply is sinful.</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >As an organization for gay lesbian bisexual and transgendered Catholics DignityUSA and its chapters we worked for nearly thirty-five years to support our brothers and sisters through the struggle to reconcile our faith our spirituality and our sexuality. This journey as GLBT Catholics becomes evermore very difficult when we are faced with such language that clearly does not come from a place of love but rather from fear and sometimes hatred. We've looked to the bishops to be Christ-like but unfortunately too often we have found them to be just the opposite.</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >For those of us who have been the target of the bishop's attacks your courage to write this letter gives the hope that perhaps we still can experience Christ's love within our Church. Your letter has been forwarded by many of our members to their friends and families. The introduction to your letter is always one of joy and excitement that there are clergy with faith and courage to stand up and hold our hierarchy accountable for their language and who will speak the truth about the lives of the glbt faithful - clergy and laity alike.</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >Please be assured of our prayers for each of you. We pray that you continue to be good ministers to God's children. We pray that you continue to receive the strength of the Spirit to speak the truth. We pray that you receive the support you deserve for being voices of love in our church.</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >I hope that when I visit the Dignity chapter in Chicago later this spring that I have the opportunity to meet you and thank you in person for your courageous act.</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >May the blessings of the new year be with you in your ministry.</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >Sincerely</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >Matthew J. Gallagher<br /> Executive Director</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>