<h2> Call for Resistance to Damaging Directive</h2> <p><strong>Boston MA October 13 2015</strong>. Newark NJ Archbishop John Myers order banning Catholics who oppose official Church teaching from Communion is damaging divisive and wrong according to DignityUSA the nations leading organization of lesbian gay bisexual and transgender Catholics.</p> <p>Archbishop Myers directive banning Catholics from the Churchs sacraments if they are in a marriage not recognized by the Church or if they join or support organizations that question Church teaching is pastorally damaging divisive and theologically wrong said Marianne Duddy-Burke DignityUSAs Executive Director. It is using our Churchs most sacred elements to coerce and intimidate in support of a specific political agenda. It will alienate many people from their own Church.</p> <p>This statement is particularly hurtful as it was timed to coincide with Pope Francis visit to the United States the World Meeting of Families and the Synod considering new policies for the Church and family life noted Duddy-Burke. It sends a message of exclusion when so many are hoping for more openness to current realities.</p> <p>In 2013 Archbishop Allen Vigneron of Detroit stated that supporters of same-sex marriage should not receive Communion. Following protests the Archdiocese rolled back the statement. As a memorandum to the priests of the Newark Archdiocese Archbishop Myers instruction is more official and potentially more damaging to Catholics who fall into the categories identified for exclusion from Sacraments.</p> <p>DignityUSA wants Catholics to know that they have no obligation to comply with this directive. Jesus welcomes all to the table and we believe our Church should too said Duddy-Burke. There has always been room within our Church for thoughtful disagreement and expressions of conscience on matters such as these. We call on Catholics to continue to participate fully in the life of our Church no matter their marital status or beliefs about Church teaching. We also call on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to reject this harmful directive and any similar statement that may be in the works.</p> <p class=rtecenter>####</p> <p><em>DignityUSA works for full equality for LGBT Catholics in our Church and society. In July 2015 the organization called for full access to all Catholic sacraments regardless of gender sexual orientation or marital status</em>.</p>