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Every Saturday
Come
join us at 7:00 p.m. as we celebrate the Roman Catholic liturgy at the Church
of the Beatitudes, 555 W. Glendale Avenue, Phoenix (southeast corner of Glendale
and 7th Avenues in the chapel located in the Britt Center which is
the building east of the main sanctuary facing Glendale Avenue). Click here
for a map.
A potluck
is held on the third Saturday. This is your opportunity to meet some great
new friends.
Subscribe!
DignityUSA
Responds to
"Deus
Caritas Est"
Pope Benedict XVI's first
encyclical letter asks Church to extend true charity to gays, lesbians,
bisexuals and transgenders.
Washington,
DC — DignityUSA applauds Pope Benedict’s vision of universal
love and calls on the Church to extend God’s love and enlightened
competent charitable service to gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders.
In Pope
Benedict’s first encyclical letter, he presents different dimensions
of the concept of love, beginning with the Greek words “eros” and “agape.” The
second part of the letter explores the Church’s charitable
work as love. While not directly discussing sexual orientation or
gender identity or expression, the text is still significant for
LGBT Catholics.
“We
are encouraged that the Church acknowledges that God’s love
extends to all, that it is universal,” said Debbie Weill, executive
director of DignityUSA. “This point seems to be missing in
most Vatican statements regarding gays. lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders
(GLBT) for many years. When considering Pope Benedict’s discussion
of the different dimensions of the concept of love, it is striking
that in so many ways the Catholic Church fails to love GLBT persons.
We hope the Church will model God’s love more closely in the
future,” Weill added.
“We
also noted the Pope’s insistence on professional competence
for those involved in Catholic social charity, who are responding
to immediate needs and specific situations,” Weill continued. “DignityUSA
strongly agrees and asks the Vatican to apply these same standards
to itself when discussing issues of human sexuality or providing
human sexuality social services. One of the most regrettable aspects
of Vatican statements on homosexuality and human sexuality in general
over the past several decades is their failure to take into account
ongoing research in the medical, psychological and social sciences.
In many instances, the Vatican has disregarded the advice of its
own experts on subjects ranging from contraception to sexual abuse
to homosexuality.
Our Church
has long held that faith need not be in conflict with reason and
scientific knowledge. We call upon Pope Benedict and our bishops
to make a renewed commitment to that central tenet of Catholic belief
and teaching.
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 across the country.
DignityUSA works for full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender
people in the life of the Church and Society. http://www.dignityusa.org
Spiritual
Quote
The
only lasting beauty is the beauty of the heart. -Rumi.
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Serving
Phoenix
Since
1977
Dignity/Phoenix
was founded in 1977 and is an affiliate of Dignity USA,
Inc. We provide a welcome and open environment for gay, lesbian, bi-sexual
and transgendered Catholics, their families and friends
as we share in the Mystical Body of Christ, which is the Church, in
general and in our respective denominations.
As gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people, we know that our sexuality
is a precious gift of God, and we believe that we can express that
gift in ways consonant with the teachings of Christ and with the example
of Christ. We are numbered among the People of God and therefore gay,
lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered Christians have the same hope
of salvation as all other baptized persons. We believe it is our right,
our privilege, and our duty to live in the sacramental life of the Church,
so that we might become more powerful instruments of God's love working
among all people. We exemplify this in our Chapter where the center
and heart of who we are is our celebration of the Eucharistic Liturgy
each Saturday evening.
Dignity/Phoenix
helps our members deepen their self-acceptance, revitalize their spiritual
lives and enrich their service to others. Our goal and hope is for
our members to become more active participants in the Church and in
society. To accomplish this, Dignity/Phoenix conducts social,
educational and political activities as well as programs of spiritual
growth.
What
is Dignity?
Vision
-advocates for change
in the Catholic Church's teaching on homosexuality;
-provides educational materials, speakers, and other resources to Catholic
parishes, gay ministries, and other interested groups;
-maintains ongoing dialogue with Catholic bishops and other Church
leaders;
-represents gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Catholics in the
media;
-presents positive testimony from a Catholic perspective on civil
rights legislation.
Statement
of Position and Purpose
We believe that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Catholics in
our diversity are members of Christ's mystical body, numbered among the
People of God. We have an inherent dignity because God created us, Christ
died for us, and the Holy Spirit sanctified us in Baptism, making us
temples of the Spirit, and channels through which God's love becomes
visible. Because of this, it is our right, our privilege, and our duty
to live the sacramental life of the Church, so that we might become more
powerful instruments of God's love working among all people.
We believe that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons can express
their sexuality in a manner that is consonant with Christ's teaching.
We believe that we can express our sexuality physically, in a unitive
manner that is loving, life-giving, and life-affirming. We believe that
all sexuality should be exercised in an ethically responsible and unselfish
way.
DIGNITY is organized to unite gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender
Catholics, as well as our families, friends and loved ones in order to
develop leadership, and be an instrument through which we may be heard
by and promote reform in the Church.
To be such an organization, we accept our responsibilities to the Church,
to our Catholic heritage, to society, and to individual gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender Catholics.
TO THE CHURCH: We work for the development of sexual theology leading
to the reform of its teachings and practices regarding human sexuality,
and for the acceptance of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender peoples
as full and equal members of the one Christ.
TO SOCIETY: We work for justice and equality through education and by
supporting social and legal reforms.
TO INDIVIDUAL GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER CATHOLICS: We reinforce
their sense of self-acceptance and dignity and encourage full participation
in the life of the Church and society.
As members of Dignity, we promote causes of interest to gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender Catholics. We have five primary areas of concern
and commitment:
SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT: We strive to achieve Christian maturity through
the sacraments, Scripture, prayer, an active love of neighbor as ourselves,
and liturgical celebrations, especially the Mass.
EDUCATION: We inform ourselves in all matters of faith and of interest
to our communities, so that we may grow in maturity and may nurture fulfilling
lives in which our sexuality and spirituality are integrated.
SOCIAL JUSTICE: As Catholics and members of society, we involve ourselves
in those actions that bring the love of Christ to others and provide
the basis of social reform in the Church and society. We are actively
involved with:
INDIVIDUALS:
We lead a life of service to ourselves and others, rendering visible
the love of Christ and assisting in the creation of love centered communities.
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Groups: We work with a variety
of other groups to seek justice for all persons and to promote a sense
of solidarity within the communities.
Religious and Secular Groups: We work with many groups and organizations
so that their members might better understand gay, lesbian, bisexuals
and transgender persons and thus recognize and eliminate present injustices.
Health Care: We work to promote equal access and justice in all areas
of health care and healing.
Women's Justice Issues: We strive to eradicate sexism and patriarchy
in all areas of Church and secular life so that women are wholly included,
accepted and welcome.
EQUALITY ISSUES: We dedicate ourselves to develop the potential of all
persons to become more fully human. To do this, we work toward the eradication
of all constraints on our personhood based on the ascribed social roles
of women and men and to promote inclusivity in all areas of liturgical
and community life.
SOCIAL EVENTS: We provide activities of a social and recreational nature
in an atmosphere where friendships can develop and mature, and where
our sense of self acceptance and dignity is affirmed.
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