A coalition of Chicago Catholics will take out a full-page advertisement in the Chicago Tribune Wednesday, Nov. 12, supporting same-sex civil unions and calling for ‘an honest and open dialogue’ on the issue within the church and at all levels of American society. Call Dignity/Chicago at (312) 458-9438 or visit www.dignitychicago.org and sign up online.
The ad is sponsored by a coalition called Always Your Families, Always Our Church that was convened earlier this fall in response to a Vatican document opposing legal recognition of same-sex civil unions and the adoption of children by gay men and lesbians. Dignity/Chicago, a local Roman Catholic group, is the founding organizer of the coalition.
The Vatican document, issued in May, states that ‘moral conscience requires that, in every occasion, Christians give witness to the whole moral truth.’ In its ad, Always Your Families, Always Our Church welcomes the opportunity to witness to the whole moral truth. The ad also urges that ‘consistent with the pursuit of liberty and justice for all, same-sex couples should have full and equal access to the rights and responsibilities bestowed by civil marriage.’
The Tribune ad is part of an effort to persuade Roman Catholic leaders and others to include gays and lesbians in discussions about civil unions and adoption.