<p><span class=Apple-style-span style=font-family: Verdana; line-height: 15px; ><strong>April 2 2003 &mdash;&nbsp;</strong>Lesbian and gay Catholics in the US will find the comments on homosexuality in the Vatican's new glossary of sexual terms &quot;infuriating but unfortunately not surprising&quot; according to leaders of DignityUSA. The nearly 1000-page &quot;Lexicon on Ambiguous and Colloquial Terms about Family Life and Ethical Questions&quot; was released in Italian by the Vatican's Pontifical Council on the Family.</span></p><p><span class=Apple-style-span style=font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >&quot;Once again the Vatican attacks gay and lesbian people using archaic language of sickness and sinfulness&quot; said Marianne Duddy DignityUSA's Executive Director. &quot;Despite decades of scientific evidence the Vatican repeatedly returns to outdated views of homosexuality. There is no recognition of our sexuality as a God-given blessing.&quot;</p><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >Duddy went on to say that what is surprising is the vehemence of the language in the document. &quot;As the Vatican's moral authority crumbles around the world it has stepped up its efforts to scapegoat the gay community. The language in this glossary is vicious and shows great fear of the growing acceptance of gays and lesbians in societies around the world.&quot;</p><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >In addition Duddy expressed grave concern over the Pontifical Council on the Family's statements regarding countries that support gay marriage. The lexicon says such support &quot;shows a profound disorder in the minds of these countries.&quot;</p><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >&quot;The Vatican demonstrates total disregard for the democratic processes in those countries&quot; said Duddy. &quot;We live in a world where diversity must be embraced and respect for cultural variation must be the norm. For the Vatican to violate this principle so profoundly is irresponsible and totally lacking in Christian principles of love and acceptance.&quot;</p><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >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 throughout the country.</p><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >For more news regarding the new Catholic Lexicon and Dignity's response please follow the links below:</p><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; ><a href=http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/5536174.htm target=_blank style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0 0 102); text-decoration: none; >http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/5536174.htm</a></p><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; ><a href=http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030117-79632399.htm target=_blank style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0 0 102); text-decoration: none; >http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030117-79632399.htm</a></p><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; ><a href=http://www.cathnews.com/news/301/97.php target=_blank style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0 0 102); text-decoration: none; >http://www.cathnews.com/news/301/97.php</a></p><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; ><a href=http://www.planetout.com/news/article.html?date=2003/04/02/2 target=_blank style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0 0 102); text-decoration: none; >http://www.planetout.com/news/article.html?date=2003/04/02/2</a></p></span></p>