From: Date: Thu, 12 Jan 1995 10:55:44 -0500 (EST) Subject: New Lesbian and Gay Catholic Helpline Dignity/NY Linkline 1/11/1995 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Paul Halsall (718) 932-6609 NEW YORK GAY & LESBIAN CATHOLICS BEGIN TELEPHONE HOTLINE CONCERNED TO REACH LESBIAN, GAY AND QUESTIONING CATHOLICS OF ALL AGES, DIGNITY/NEW YORK SETS UP SUPPORT AND INFORMATION SERVICE New York, NY - Dignity/New York, an organization of lesbian and gay Catholics, announced the creation of a telephone hotline [212-620 0369], called LINKLINE, to reach out to gays and lesbians buffeted by the attacks of Church leaders, right-wing politicians and unsympathetic families. The hotline, based in a Greenwich Village office, will be staffed three evenings a week by trained volunteers. Volunteers will be willing to talk about any issue callers raise, but will be especially willing to discuss spiritual and religious issues. Paul Halsall, Dignity LINKLINE Coordinator said, "Other telephone helplines do a wonderful job, but are not oriented to spiritual and religious issues. As lesbian and gay Catholics, we believe that there is no conflict between spirituality and homo- or bisexuality. Our goal is to offer an ear to callers who want to discuss these issues." Following Vatican attacks on lesbians and gays in the late 1980s, Dignity/New York has seen a resurgence in numbers and spirit in recent years. Dignity, whose members are already enagaged in a number of support programs for people with AIDS, is one of the more active Catholic faith communities in the New York area. Dignity has also staged many peaceful demonstrations outside St. Patrick's Cathedral, after the group was forbidden to worship in Roman Catholic churches by Cardinal O'Connor in 1987. Jeff Stone, Dignity/Northeast Regional Director, said "The LINKLINE represents an important new service to the many thousands of gay and lesbian Roman Catholics in the New York City area and beyond. As far as I know, it is the only Catholic gay helpline in the country and could serve as a model for some of the other 85 Dignity chapters around the nation. Dignity - the largest group of gay and lesbian Catholics in the United States - is the major organization that gay and lesbian Catholics can count on to consistently and openly challenge official Vatican teaching on the subject of homo- sexuality, and to affirm that their sexuality is a gift from God." LINKLINE will be open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, 7pm to 11pm. All calls will be kept completely confidential. Support to callers will be non-directive in nature, and volunteer staff will have a full array of information to refer callers elsewhere if needed. Callers from all backrounds are welcome, and referrals will be available to other faith communities. The service commences on Monday 16 January 1995. --END-- Dignity/New York, Box 1554, New York, NY 10150 (212) 866-8047 Dignity is organized to unite gay and lesbian Catholics and their friends, to develop leadership and to be an instrument through which we may be heard by the Church and society.