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NEWSThis is the NEWS page of this website. In reality, however, it serves not so much as a news page as an announcements page, for it is (at least for now) beyond the scope of this page to act as a newspaper. Announcements found on this page will likely be of general interest to chapter members, and likely to others as well. Indeed, in some cases, they will be of interest even after the date of the event or announcement; and when deemed to do so, they will be moved to a page that will serve as an archive of such articles retired from this NEWS page: to go there, click here. IRS Rules on Charitable DeductionsNew: 2007 (and revised for 2011)Event: Indefinite The IRS has updated rules for 2011 re deductions for cash gifts (including checks) to charitable organizations, such as Dignity. A gift is deductible only if the taxpayer has in hand a receipt (when the tax return claiming a deduction is filed), regardless of the amount; but your cancelled check can serve as a receipt. For any gift over $250, one must have an acknowledgement of the gift from the donee; but this may be one for each gift over $250 or an overall one listing all such gifts for the year, showing date and amount of each and the total of gifts for the year. The chapter each year acknowledges the total of verified gifts made by an individual when the total for the year is in excess of $250, specifying the date and amount of each gift that is in excess of $250 and the total for the year. Gifts given in unverifiable manners (such as loose cash in the collection basket at a liturgy) cannot be included. Those who want the ability to deduct their total donations should consider the annual pledge drive as the way to donate and to then satisfy the pledge by check(s), so that the chapter can easily compute a verifiable total and acknowledge the total and each gift in excess of $250, promptly at the end of the tax year (in time for the tax-return season) and meeting IRS rules.
Click
here
for the record-keeping rules (Publication 526), including for cash gifts (p. 18) and the special
rules for non-cash gifts (pp 18-19), out-of-pocket expenses (pp 19-20), and reporting gifts
on your tax return (p. 20).
UN DeclarationEvent: December 2008
The UN has amended the
Declaration
of Human Rights to include gays and lesbians.
Prop 8 OppositionEvent: Nov. 4, 2008, Election
California voters rejected Prop 8 to limit marriage
to one between a man and a woman. A gay Fresno priest had opposed Prop 8 from the pulpit.
click
here
re a press conference at Dignity/LA on him. Click
here
for the chapter Press Release on Prop 8.
Anniversary Dinner 2008Event: Oct. 11, 2008
The chapter's 39th Anniversary Dinner was held on Sat, Oct 11, 2008. The Guest
Speaker was Tony Sweet, a musician-gospel singer; and the annual Archangel award was given to
long-time member Pedro; and the annual community charity award (in the amount of $1,000)
was given to the Serra Project (with its Executive Director Terry Goddard II accepting the
award for the Serra Project). Watch the About Us page for the posting of photos of the event.
A retired bishop from Australia spoke in San Diego and
L.A. in June on abuse of power by the hierarchy. Click for
more info.
Click
here
for his own reflections on his U.S. tour.
Art Exhibit 2008Event: June 21-22, 2008
The chapter's second annual
Art Exhibit
was held at the Center on June 21-22.
Petition to PopeEvent: April 25-20, 2008
Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) sponsored a
petition
to the Pope for his April 15-20 visit to U.S.
Lay Convocation of southern CaliforniaEvent: March 29, 2008
A Lay Convocation was held for southern California on March 29, 2008, at the St. Joseph Center in
Orange, California. It was a Calling Together of the Laity.
Its purpose was to focus our attention on the participation and responsibilities of the laity in the
Catholic Church, reflecting on the gifts received, the hurts endured, and the desire to respond
to the needs of the Church. The objectives were to inspire hope for the future of the Church and
a commitment to action. The oligations and rights of the laity, as articulated in the documents
of the
Second Vatican Council
(1963-65) and in
Canon Law,
were addressed. All were welcome.
Results of Officers Election (2008)Event: February 2008
Each year in February, the chapter conducts its annual Election of officers. In the February
2008 election, the results are: Jason Craig, President; Saul Farias, Vice-President; Steve
Leffler,
secretary; and Michael Rademacher, treasurer. The President will now nominate (for
membership approval at the General Meeting held in March) the chairpersons who will be the
remaining members of the Board in the new Administration.
Pastoral CareEvent: July 2007
At its biennial national convention in July 2007 in Austin, Texas, Dignity issued its Guidelines
on the Pastoral Care of GLBT People; click
here
to read them.
Evolution
There is a good article on Pope John Paul II and evoluation in the Jesuit America
magazine. Click
here
to read it.
New IRS Regulation on Charitable DeductionsNew: 2006 Event: Indefinite
See the entry re the newer regulation in 2007.
Meeting of U.S. Bishops On GLBT IssuesEvents: November 2006 & July 2007 The Catholic Bishops of the United States met in mid-November 2006, in Washington, D.C. An item on the agenda was approval of a major statement on the pastoral care of GLBT persons. Since it was largely unfavorable, Dignity/USA issued a critical press release (that got good press coverage in the general media) and organized a protest for the time of the meeting. Unfortunately, the statement was approved anyway; and subsequently, in July 2007, Dignity/USA issued its own Guidelines on the pastoral care of GLBTs.VOTF Calls for Bishops to be AccountableUp: 2010 Read VOTF demand that Catholic bishops be more accountable.Back to Top |
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