Dear Members of DignityUSA, Catholic leaders, and Friends,

This past Sunday, we marked the celebration of the Baptism of Jesus. In our own Baptism, we are united withJesus as we become part of a community working to bring the vision of our Creator to fullness here on Earth. Each year, during Easter celebrations, we renew the promises we made, or that were made on our behalf, during our Baptism. There are many versions of the renewal of Baptismal promises, but they all have questions that go something like this:

Do you reject all that is evil? I do.

Do you reject injustice, hatred,bigotry, and violence? I do.

Do you embrace justice, love,equality, and peace? I do.

Our Baptism takes on a compelling urgency as we grapple with recent events in our own country. Many of us have been shocked by the killing of a woman--a mother, wife of another woman,advocate for her Somali neighbors being threatened with detainment, even if they are citizens—by a government agent. The next day two other people were hospitalized after being shot by another agent. Our government claims to be running another sovereign nation and has stated that the oil that lies below its territory belongs to us. We are threatening to invade or launch attacks on several other countries.

Many of us feel disempowered, alienated, angry, and frightened. This is understandable. The injustice, hatred, bigotry, and violence that are endemic in our country, our communities, and our neighborhoods can be overwhelming. Now is the time to remember another part of our Baptismal promises:

Do you accept that your faith calls you to live as a witness to Jesus’ prophetic teachings? I do.

Living as a witness to Jesus’ prophetic teachings will be different for each of us. For some, it means bringing food and a caring presence to neighbors too frightened to work, to attend school, or to shop. For some, it means being part of peaceful witnesses in support of every person’s dignity and human rights. For some, it involves utilizing professional expertise to help maintain community connections and counter government attempts to destabilize and divide communities. For some, it means bringing all of this to prayer and responding to the Spirit’s movement within about how you can best witness to Christ’s teachings in your place and time.

As evil feels ever more ascendant, know that Dignity offers sanctuary, affirmation, and community for LGBTQIA+people, our family, friends, and allies. We want to be a space where you can join other people of goodwill who believe deeply in the power of faith, hope, and love, and who affirm the right of all people to live with respect, justice, and safety.

We call on the leaders of our Catholic church, especially in our country, to be visible and outspoken in protecting the lives, rights, and dignity of those who are being targeted by a government that prioritizes corporate profit and their own interests over the people they were elected to serve.

We call on government officials,employees, and agents to follow their consciences and refuse to engage in any action which violates human rights and dignity.

We call on all people to work towards building societies and institutions that truly serve the common good.

May the tragedies to which we bear witness compel us to do all that we can to bring an end to injustice, hatred, bigotry, and violence.

Meli Barber, President & MarianneDuddy-Burke, Executive Director