Catholics Call for an End to Bullying of LGBT Youth

Along with our Equally Blessed partners, DignityUSA launched a sign-on petition to raise our voices against bullying and to encourage others to do likewise.  We ask our US Catholic bishops to join us in working for an end to bullying and violence against LGBT Youth.

The petition of 1771 signers calling the Bishops to work for an end to bulling and violence against LGBT youth were delivered November 14. 2011 to the USCCB.  Below is the letter that accompanied the petitions 

 

 November 14, 2011

 

Most Reverend Timothy Dolan

President

United StatesConference of Catholic Bishop

3211 Fourth Street, NE

Washington, DC20017

 

Dear Archbishop Dolan:

 

Equally Blessed is a coalition of four national Catholic organizations which work for justice and equality for lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender (LGBT) people in church and society.Our member organizations are Call To Action, DignityUSA, Fortunate Families, and New Ways Ministry.

 

We present you today with 1,771 signatures from Catholics on a petition asking the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to speak out against bullying and violence directed against LGBT people.Over the past year, headlines and news stories have highlighted how this problem has reached staggering proportions, sometimes resulting in tragic suicides or brutal murders.

 

Religious leaders across our nation have raised their voices against this un-Christian behavior.Our Catholic tradition of respect for the dignity of every human life impels us to ask that our bishops join these leaders by speaking forcefully against bullying and violence and by encouraging Catholic pastoral leaders to do the same.

 

We will be sharing this petition with members of the press. We stand ready to meet with you to dialogue about this matter, if you would find such an opportunity helpful.As we pray and work to build a more just world and church for LGBT people, we will also keep the conference of Catholic bishops in our prayers.

 

Sincerely,

Sincerely,

 

Jim FitzGerald                  Casey and Mary Ellen Lopata

Call to Action                  Fortunate Families

  

 

 

Francis DeBernardo                           Marianne Duddy-Burke

Jeannine Gramick, SL                       DignityUSA

New Ways Ministry

 


Equally Blessed is a coalition of Call To Action, DignityUSA, Fortunate Families, and New Ways Ministry. We are faithful Catholics who have worked more than a combined 112 years to support full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families both in the church and in civil society.