[HeartStrongList] Diocese Spokesman Claims Catholic Church is Against Anti-Gay Hatred and

[press at heartstrong.org]

Diocese Spokesman Claims Catholic Church is Against Anti-Gay Hatred and
Discrimination

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:   Marc Adams, Executive Director
           HeartStrong, Inc.
           206-351-9993
           heartstrong at heartstrong.org
           http://www.heartstrong.org

Seattle, WA - “The situation was not related to Marc Adams. But the
diocese does not want to provide a forum for those whose beliefs
contradict the ideas of the Catholic Church," Andrew Walton,
communications director for the Diocese of Camden, was quoted as saying in
the Philadelphia Gay News.

Walton was reacting defensively to revelations that the Diocese of Camden
authorized the termination of a lease to the Unitarian Universalist
Congregation of South Jersey Shore following their refusal to cancel the
appearance of gay speaker/author Marc Adams in their regular Sunday
service.

The UUCSJS has leased space from the Catholic student center without
incident at the non-religious Stockton College in south New Jersey for
nearly three years.

Following intense pressure from local Knights of Columbus, and the
congregation's refusal to censor their own Sunday service content, the
Diocese of Camden informed the congregation that their lease was
terminated.

"We are not surprised by the actions of the Knights of Columbus and the
Diocese," Marc Adams states. "But we do require an apology. Their attempts
to get the UUCSJS to censor me out of their service is insulting. You'd
better believe they'd be putting unbelievable pressure on me to apologize
if they thought I was trying to censor them."

Adams is the author of nine books including his autobiography, The
Preacher's Son, and Do's and Don'ts of Dealing with the Religious Right.
He is also the founder and volunteer executive director of HeartStrong, a
national non profit organization which provides outreach and support to
gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students who are persecuted in
religious educational institutions.

Both the UUCSJS and Adams are convinced that the termination of the lease
was a punishment for the congregation's refusal to cancel Adams'
appearance.

In a recent interview with the Philadelphia Gay News, Walton proposed that
the Catholic church is on the "forefront of strongly condemning any kind
of hatred or discrimination against homosexuals." A statement which is
contradictory after the recent re-affirmation by the U.S. bishops which
states that homosexuals are disordered."

"How can he make such an offensive claim when this group of people causes
GLBT persons so much pain and works tirelessly to prevent us from getting
civil rights?" Adams says. "Andrew Walton's statements were ridiculous,
highly contradictory, but again, not surprising. When his entire life
revolves around being part of such an organization, there's no way that he
can defend it."

HeartStrong is mailing weekly letters to the Knights of Columbus and the
Diocese of Camden to request apologies. Supporters may also sign and
submit a series of letters on the HeartStrong website protesting the
treatment of Marc Adams and the UUCSJS, along with four additional
sponsoring groups, are hosting a Rally for Pride and Against Prejudice on
December 6th at Stockton College.

"The rally will raise even more awareness about this unfortunate
incident," Adams says. "As a Unitarian, I want it to provide encouragement
to this congregation and as the executive director of HeartStrong I know
it will further educate people about HeartStrong and the plight of GLBT
students in religious schools. This rally is the positive result of such a
negative situation. Because the Knights of Columbus and the Diocese did
this, more people will hear the message that they wanted to be kept quiet.
Censorship never works."