Organization Spotlight: Catholics for Marriage Equality

Catholics for Marriage Equality [C4ME] encompasses faithful Roman Catholics throughout the United States who through prayerful discernment are supporting civil marriage for same-sex couples.

Organization Spotlight: Call To Action

Call To Action is a Catholic movement working for equality and justice in the Church and society.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair Lends Support to Gay Catholics

Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister of Great Britain is a recent convert to Catholicism. In an interview with Attitude magazine a British gay lifestyle magazine, Mr. Blair goes onto describe his disagreement with the pope on LGBT issues and calls for a more inclusive and liberal thought process within the church.

Blair describes a big "generational difference on the issue and that ordinary Catholics are more liberal-minded than their leaders"

He goes on to say that "we need an attitude of mind where rethinking and the concept of evolving attitudes becomes part of the discipline with which you approach your religious faith," Blair said. (Yahoo)

You can get in touch with Tony Blair at:

The Office of Tony Blair
P.O. Box 60519
London
W2 7JU
United Kingdom

info@tonyblairoffice.org

Five Vigils Planned Today in Front of Catholic Cathedral's Nationwide

Dignity USA, New Ways Ministry, and Call to Action are holding 5 vigils in different cities across the country to protest the Vatican's position to not support a U.N. resolution to decriminalize homosexuality. The legislation is trying to make it illegal to imprison or execute people based on sexual orientation. The vigils will be held at various Catholic Churches listed below.

Boston, MA

6:30 PM Eastern Time
Holy Cross Cathedral
1400 Washington Street
Boston, MA
Contact Person: Rocco Pigneri, 617-421-1915, dignityinfo@dignityboston.org
Directions: http://www.angelfire.com/ma4/cathedral/directions.html

Dallas, TX

5:30 PM Central Time
Cathedral Guadalupe
2215 Ross Avenue
Dallas, TX
Contact Person: Jon Garinn, 214-621-9530, garinns@sbcglobal.net
Directions: http://www.cathedralguadalupe.org/about/directions.cfm

New York, NY

12:30 - 1:30 PM Eastern Time
Fifth Avenue & 51st Street (in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral)
New York, NY
Contact Person: Jeff Stone, 646-418-7039, jefastone@aol.com

San Francisco, CA

5:00 - 7:00 PM Pacific Time
Pink Triangle Memorial Park
Castro & Market (near the northwest corner)
San Francisco, CA
Contact People: Jim McGarry or Kathy Curran, kathycurran@yahoo.com

Seattle, WA

4:45 - 5:30 PM
St. James Cathedral
804 Ninth Avenue
Seattle, WA
Contact Person: Leo N. Egashira, 206-723-4759, legashira@yahoo.com
Directions: http://www.stjames-cathedral.org/Main.htm

Catholic Church Against Making Gay Death Penalty Illegal

The Catholic Church a body that has been staunchly opposed to the death penalty does not want to include international protections by the United Nations for gay people who face death penalty charges in countries where homosexuality is illegal. The Vatican is voicing opposition and plan to go against the French proposal that is introducing this piece of human rights resolution.

"This week the Vatican's permanent observer to the United Nations, said the Holy See would oppose a resolution that would protect gays from being killed, just because they are gay because it would "add new categories of those protected from discrimination" and could lead to reverse discrimination against traditional heterosexual marriage.

The French resolution, scheduled to be proposed this week, recommends protecting Gays and Lesbians from being jailed or killed because of their sexual orientation and is being introduced to the UN on behalf of the European Union.

But Archbishop Celestino Migliore said, if adopted, the resolution would create “new and implacable discriminations," and also said that states which do not recognize same-sex unions as 'matrimony' will be pilloried and made an objects of pressure.

However, the French resolution, which is supported by all 27 members of the European Union, says absolutely nothing about gay marriage; it is about ending jail and death penalty sentences gays yet face in more than 85 countries including Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen where you can still be killed for being gay."(LGR)

This is so disgusting and hypocritical of the Church. They are against the death penalty but don't want to be on the record opposing it for gays and lesbians?

Permanent Observer Mission of the
Holy See to the United Nations

25 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016-0903

Tel: (212) 370-7885
Fax: (212) 370-9622

Catholic School Kicks Lesbian Mother Off PTA

Robin McGehee's 5 year old son Sebastian attends St. Helen's Catholic School. The school was aware of her sexual orientation but forced her to resign after she appeared at a "No on 8" rally claiming it went against church teachings. Shortly after being forced to resign, the Vice-president of the PTA had resigned in solidarity with Ms. McGhee. Ms. McGhee and her wife are now looking for a new school for their son.

Email contact for St. Helen's Catholic School.

Phone: (559) 251-5855
Mailing Adress:
4888 East Belmont Avenue
Fresno, California 93727

Australian Activists Set to Protest Pope's Visit

"The NoToPope Coalition is inviting all civil libertarians, sexual health workers, condom producers, gays/ lesbians/ queers, women's rights activists, abortion providers, Christians and faith/holders, to challenge NSW governments attacks on free speech."

The NoToPope Coalition will peacefully protest on Saturday July 19th 12 noon at Taylor Square, Darlinghurst.

Youth Against World Youth Day are rallying in Melbourne Sunday July 13, 1:30pm (speakers from 2pm), Step of Parliament House, Spring St, Melbourne. Call Jason 0407781406

A kiss-in and condom distribution action will take place in Brisbane on Saturday July 19th at 3pm in Queens Park. Call Luke 0400 195 203 Dominic Hale o431 638 772

For Adelaide's Kiss-in Queen Street, Bowden Saturday July 19th at 2.30pm for 3pm please contact: Troy-Anthony Baylis 0439 684 876 or Jess Cronin 0438 668 370

Lismore NoToPope event at Winsome Hotel contact Tara 02 6629 5358

For Newcastle call Star 0410 326 006

http://www.notopope.com/

More Queer Papal Protests/Vigils

An Interfaith Vigil of Hope:

Saturday, April 19: 6-7pm,

on the eve of the Pope’s visit to Ground Zero & in memory of Fr. Mychal Judge.
With members of New York's LGBT community we will “remember our families and friends who died in the World Trade Center Tragedy, and pray for change of heart, for an end to prejudice, for understanding, peace, and reconciliation."

Meet outside St. Paul's Chapel at Broadway & Fulton St at 6 pm. From there the candle light vigil will walk to the corner of Church and Vesey Streets where the body of Fr. Mychal Judge was first placed on 9/11. Bring your own candle.

A 7-foot banner painting of Mychal Judge, by Brooklyn artist Ian Hart, will be unfurled at the vigil. The banner depicts scenes from his life of reconciliation and compassionate caring, including as Fire Chaplain, with Chinese immigrant-survivors of the Golden Venture wreck, walking with his St Francis Aids Ministry in the Pride parade, and at Long Kesh Prison in the North of Ireland. The event will call attention to the important role gay clergy have played in the Catholic Church.

CONTACT: Brendan Fay: 718-721-2780.

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Counter-protest Westboro Baptist Church AKA: "God Hates Fags"
The following may likely have counter-gay protests, but I don't have a source as of yet to confirm, anyone know?
Ground Zero possible counter protest of anti-gay Fred Phelps clan:
Reverend Fred Phelps' virulently anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church will demonstrate at Trinity Place and Liberty Streets on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. by Ground Zero in Manhattan.

Yankee Stadium sossible counter protest of Anti-Gay Fred Phelps clan:

Later in the day they will picket the pope's Yankee Stadium Mass at 161st Street and River Avenue in the Bronx from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

To Have and To Hold: Faith Leaders for the Freedom to Marry

GodTube typically an anti-gay site has a pro-faith, pro-marriage equality video. Hopefully this does not get deleted, but nonetheless it is beautiful and I wanted to share and hear your thoughts.

LGBT Catholics to Protest Anti-Gay Pope

As noted at DignityUSA:

Dignity USA the largest LGBT Catholic organization will protest when Pope Benedict XVI's visits the United States April 15-20.

DignityUSA's executive director. "We need to recognize the damage that this Pope's attacks on our community have caused countless individuals and families. We witness on their behalf."

Events throughout Washington D.C. and New York City:

THURSDAY, APRIL 10 (10 a.m. New Ways Ministry Press Conference):
LOCATION: Murrow Room, National Press Club (529 14th Street, NW; 13th floor, Washington D.C.)

"A Few Moments with the Pope: Lesbian/Gay Catholics Speak about their Church" - Speakers: Teresa DeCrescenzo, executive director of Gay Lesbian Adolescent Social Services (GLASS), Gregory Maguire, author of more than a dozen novels, most notably Wicked, which was the basis for the Tony-award winning Broadway Musical. Heather Mizeur, delegate representing the 20th District in Maryland and a leader in the debate about legalizing gay and lesbian marriages. Richard Rodriguez, social and cultural commentator, author and Peabody-award winning contributor to PBS News Hour with Jim Lehrer.

SATURDAY, APRIL 12: (11:30 a.m. Press Conference - 12:00 Demonstration at UN)
LOCATION OF PRESS CONFERENCE AND DEMONSTRATION: Ralph J. Bunche Park (43rd Street and 1st Avenue, New York)

"The Global Impact of Pope Benedict's Anti-Gay Campaign" - Speakers: Lourdes Rodriguez-Nogues, Cuban immigrant, lesbian Catholic activist, editor of Out in the Workplace. Brendan Fay, Irish-born gay activist, filmmaker and cofounder of New York's inclusive St. Patrick's Day Parade. Currently involved in an international controversy regarding the unauthorized use of images from his marriage to Dr. Thomas Moulton by Polish President Lech Kaczynski. Jeff Stone, Dignity/New York Steering Committee. Marianne Duddy-Burke, executive director of DignityUSA.

TUESDAY, APRIL 15: Papal Motorcade Demonstrations
LOCATION AND TIME: Press advisory to follow when officials announce time and route.

Demonstrations will be along the Pope's motorcade route through Washington D.C.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16: (5:30 p.m.) Demonstration during Pope's Meeting with U.S. Bishops
LOCATION: Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (400 Michigan Ave. NE, Washington D.C.)"