From: communications@pflag.org Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 16:33:08 -0600 Subject: National Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting November 10, 1997 To: Members and Friends of PFLAG Re: National Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting NOTE: Press Release Follows PFLAGers: PFLAG took a critical, pro-active stance today to try to ensure that the U.S. Catholic Church carries out its recent initiative to become more open and inclusive of all families. PFLAG participated in a Washington, DC, news conference today, Nov. 10, calling on the U.S. Catholic bishops to hold firm against recent efforts both inside and outside the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) to weaken or rescind its recent pastoral letter supporting families of gays and lesbians. PFLAG members Veronica and Gerald Colfer, Silver Spring, MD residents, did a tremendous job speaking out in support of the pastoral letter at the news conference. The event was held in front of the Hyatt Regency in Washington, DC, where the NCCB is holding its semi-annual meeting, the first gathering of its membership since issuing the pastoral statement. Coordinating the event was Dignity/USA, the nation's largest organization of gay/lesbian/bisexual and transgender Catholics. A group of conservative Catholics with opposing views demonstrated only yards away in front of the same hotel. PFLAG issued this statement today, and will monitor the situation for any developments coming out of the NCCB meeting which goes through Wednesday. Contact your local church leaders to let them know where you stand! And thanks again to all of you who have already launched efforts to create links with local church leaders. ***** Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) For Immediate Release November 10, 1997 PFLAG to Bishops: Stand Firm in Your Support of Parents of Gays & Lesbians Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) President Nancy McDonald today encouraged the U.S. Catholic bishops - gathering in Washington, DC, this week - to stand firm behind their new pastoral message urging parents nationwide to accept and love their gay and lesbian children. And McDonald urged the bishops to move promptly to implement the much needed guide. "It's critical that you push ahead now with your message to parishes, and to not withdraw your outstretched hand," she said. She expressed her disappointment about efforts to weaken, or even rescind, the pastoral message, Always Our Children. McDonald encouraged all Catholic parents to join PFLAG mothers and fathers in contacting church leaders to show their support for the new message. It lays out specific suggestions to bishops and priests about how to respect and support families with gay and lesbian loved ones. Members of several of PFLAG's 400 local chapters already have begun to create channels of dialogue with church leaders since the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) made the pastoral message available a month ago. Members of the NCCB are slated to gather as an entire group for the first time this week in Washington, D.C. since the document's release. PFLAG parents from various chapters have praised the message which urges parents to stand by, and not abandon, their gay and lesbian children. In the letter, the bishops urged parents not to break off contact with a child, warning that rejection can lead to suicide or substance abuse. ### Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian and bisexual persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure civil rights. PFLAG provides an opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity. Serving approximately 69,000 members, PFLAG affiliates are located in more than 400 communities across the United States, and in 11 other countries. 1101 14th Street, N.W., Suite 1030 Washington, D.C. 20005 (202) 638-4200 Fax: (202) 638-0243 E-mail: info@pflag.org Web: http://www.pflag.org