<p>March 16 2016. Boston MA. DignityUSA the nations foremost organization of lesbian gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Catholics is expressing grave concern over the announcement that the Catholic news service Crux currently sponsored by <em>The Boston Globe</em> will be underwritten by the Knights of Columbus as of April 1 2016.</p> <p>In the year and a half since its launch Crux has become one of the go-to centers for information and analysis about news and trends in Catholicism said Marianne Duddy-Burke DignityUSAs Executive Director. When it was sponsored by a major news organization I think its audience came to expect high quality independent journalism. In shifting to Knights of Columbus sponsorship I fear that independence could be compromised. The Knights are deeply invested in advancing a particular brand of Catholicism and I am concerned that Cruxs coverage of the diversity and breadth of our Church will be diminished.</p> <p>Duddy-Burke noted the Knights significant funding for campaigns opposing same-sex marriage as an example of its support for conservative Catholic causes. She pointed to a <a href=http://equally-blessed.org/release/knights-columbus-spending-millions-stop-marriage-equality>2012 report by the Equally Blessed coalition</a> of which DignityUSA is a founding member which documented that over $6.25 million was directed to anti-marriage equality measures by the Knights of Columbus.</p> <p>&nbsp;How can we trust that the full range of Catholic perspectives on key issues facing our Church will continue to be covered by Crux? asked Duddy-Burke. I am deeply concerned that the Knights may try to use the trust Crux has built as an authority on all things Catholic to silence voices that have important perspectives on key issues facing our Church and our world.</p> <p>Duddy-Burke said she hoped to be able to speak directly with John Allen and Inas San Martan who will head the new venture in the days ahead. I want to understand what the conversation about editorial independence has been and how they plan to ensure that Crux continues to be a credible resource for the whole Church she said.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>