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WELCOME
TO
DIGNITY
DIGNITY LOS ANGELES is an inde-
pendent lay organization seeking to re-
form Catholicism, and society in general as well.
We seek reforms mainly on
issues regarding
the sexuality of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgen-
der, and questioning (GLBTQ) persons. We min-
ister to their spiritual (and other) needs as
well.
We are an affiliate of Dignity/USA, a nationwide organization
with scores of local chapters and thousands of members. Several chapters
are in California, four in southern California. Click for a nationwide list of chapters,
which is equipped with links to chapter email and chapter websites.
Dignity/LA has the unique distinction of being
the founding chapter of Dignity/USA.
In 1969, a small group of Catholics began to meet to discuss GLBTQ
issues and to celebrate Mass. We took a statement of the then only recently
completed Vatican Council II (the quote is in the box at the right) as our
inspiration in the choice of a name for our organization. In only a very
few years, the organization had developed into the high-profile nationwide
advocate for all GLBTQ persons that Dignity is today.
During most of the
pontificate of Pope John Paul II (1978-2005), Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger
(later Pope Benedict XVI) was the enforcer of orthodox doctrine.
Ironically, however, he had years earlier vigorously defended (see quote in
the box to the right) primacy of conscience, even in the face of contrary
demands of the Pope or any other church authority.
We urge you to get to know Dignity/LA better. We invite you (and bring
a friend, if you can) to attend a regular chapter liturgy any Sunday at
5:30 pm (click for an index to
some photos) at Dignity Center and the fellowship
(i.e. a social) that fol-
lows the liturgy. Click for a map
(equipped with a zoom-in/out feature) and for directions.
In the meantime, please do
explore further on this website to learn more About Us.
Anything that is underlined (in the text of any page of this web-
site or in either of the two rows found just below the banner at the top of
each page of this website) links to still more information, on this website
(or elsewhere): so just click on the link to go there.
We echo a saintly
Philadelphia pastor who posted this welcome on the parish website:
"Come into
this house and bring all you are. No need to check your failures at the
door. There are no perfect people here. You are invited, so come. Come in
seeking, come in wandering, come in hurting. Come into this house of
companionship and compassion.
"Come in. You are welcome
here."
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