Date: Wed, 01 Oct 97 14:35:59 EDT From: "Phil Attey" Subject: HRC Welcomes Bishops' Pastoral Letter ________________________________________________________ NEWS from the Human Rights Campaign 1101 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 email: hrc@hrc.org WWW: http://www.hrc.org ________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, Oct. 1, 1997 HRC WELCOMES PASTORAL LETTER, LAUDS CATHOLIC BISHOPS FOR SEEKING COMMON GROUND, OPPOSING DISCRIMINATION AND ENCOURAGING FAMILIES TO ACCEPT THEIR GAY LOVED ONES Pastoral Letter Recognizes That 'Faith Asks Fairness of Us All' READ THE BISHOPS'LETTER ONLINE WASHINGTON -- A pastoral letter released today by the U.S. Catholic Conference encouraging families to accept their gay loved ones and reaffirming the basic human rights of gay people was welcomed by the Human Rights Campaign as an important step forward on the road to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation. "This is another milestone on America's journey toward common ground where faith, family and fairness go together," said HRC Executive Director Elizabeth Birch. "The letter is a much-needed reminder to American families that people of faith can disagree without being disagreeable -- and that families have a moral obligation to treat all people, including their gay loved ones, with fairness, respect and dignity." The letter is entitled "Always Our Children: A Pastoral Message to Parents of Homosexual Children and Suggestions for Pastoral Ministers," and it contains several important messages, according to Birch. The letter reaffirms an earlier call for all Christians to work to end discrimination against gay people; recognizes the mounting evidence that a person's sexual orientation is not a matter of choice; encourages families to be accepting and supportive of their gay loved ones even as they are working through areas of confusion and disagreement over the difficult issues that arise when gay people come out to their families. It also reminds parents that gay people often face violence and discrimination, and emphasizes how crucial it is for parents to accept their gay children. In addition, the letter encourages pastors to welcome gay people within communities of faith, and encourages both parents and children to be patient, fair and honest with each other and rise above the temptation to reject each other when challenging issues arise. Birch noted HRC's disagreement with some aspects of the letter -- most notably its unrealistic call for celibacy; she said that gay people should be able to live full and complete lives. But she emphasized that the letter's overall message encouraging honest, caring, accepting dialogue within families, and support for human rights for gay people represents a faith-based approach to the issues that urgently needs to be heard. "This is yet another expression from religious leaders that faith asks fairness of us all. Whatever their disagreements over other gay issues, they are recognizing that discrimination against gay people is fundamentally un-Christian," said Birch. "We applaud the U.S. Catholic Conference for seeking common ground. While there will continue to be many areas of disagreement, the bishops deserve a great deal of credit for encouraging families to move toward greater acceptance of their gay loved ones and active support for ending the unfair discrimination gay Americans face." Birch noted that the U.S. Catholic Conference is not only demonstrating leadership in its pastoral letter -- the bishops are also reflecting their parishioners' commitment to basic fairness. Birch pointed to a recent poll that found a strong majority of Christians (70 percent) -- and an even stronger majority of Catholics in particular (78 percent) -- believe that gays and lesbians should be protected from discrimination in the workplace. The poll also found that 73 percent of Catholics would support a bill like the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to protect Americans from job discrimination based on sexual orientation, when informed that federal law currently does not protect people from being fired from their jobs just for being gay or lesbian. Results come from a national survey of 1,007 voters conducted Nov. 5-8, 1996, for the Human Rights Campaign by the polling firm of Greenberg Research Inc. The poll's margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 percent. "The teaching of the church makes it clear that the fundamental human rights of homosexual persons must be defended and that all of us must strive to eliminate any form of injustice, oppression, or violence against them," the letter states. It also says "Nothing in the Bible or in Catholic teaching can be used to justify prejudicial or discriminatory attitudes and behaviors." The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and gay political organization, with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that lesbian and gay Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community. - 30 -