<p>Dear members of DignityUSA:</p><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >As the members of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) gather in Chicago this week I am proud to stand with our allies in &ldquo;Call to Action&rdquo; (CTA) and participate in their activities as a representative of DignityUSA and a member of CTA. CTA has planned an open discussion on the range of critical issues facing our church and will be demonstrating outside the bishops&rsquo; meeting site demanding the resignations of those bishops who covered up sexual abuse of children by priests.</p> <!--break--> <p>As you know this activity is one part of DignityUSA&rsquo;s ongoing effort to advocate for gay lesbian bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) Catholics in the church and society on many issues of faith and fairness.</p><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >Now more than ever our voice needs to be heard.</p><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >In light of the remarks by Pope Benedict XVI last week that same sex civil marriages or civil unions are &quot;anarchic&quot; or &quot;false&quot; it is critical for us to stand before church leaders such as the American bishops and tell them we believe same sex unions are a fair and legal application of civil rights in a democratic society. As a Catholic I see the opportunity for legal recognition of GLBT partnerships and families as no less than an expression of the Holy Spirit at work in our world.</p><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >Please hold the members of DignityUSA CTA and our allies in prayer as we witness to the need for spiritual renewal in our church and as we work for change.</p><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >Peace</p><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >Sam</p><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >C. Samuel Sinnett<br />President DignityUSA</p><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; ><em>DignityUSA is the nation's foremost organization of gay lesbian bisexual and transgender Catholics their families friends and supporters. Founded in 1969 it is an independent nonprofit organization with members and chapters across the country. DignityUSA works for full inclusion of gay lesbian bisexual and transgender people in the life of the Church and society. Join OR Donate at&nbsp;<a style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51 0 102); text-decoration: underline; href=http://www.dignityusa.org/index.html>www.dignityusa.org</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>