Shame on you
Dear Editor:
We in Gay Liberation Network join The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, & Queer ( LGBTQ ) Immigrant Rights Coalition of Chicago in its sharp criticism of the Rahm Emanuel administration and Chicago City Council for its decision to honor Cardinal Francis George. What appears to be shameless pandering to Catholic Chicogoans by vote-hustling politicians led by Emanuel was also grossly insulting to LGBTQ Chicagoans.
George has not only acted with deliberate intent to punish immigrant-rights groups who endorsed marriage equality. George and his fellow Illinois bishops worked tirelessly to defeat marriage equality in Springfield. They lost that battle, but it was not for lack of trying.
In addition, George fought our equal rights in all other areas from employment discrimination to going so far as to shut down Catholic Charities placement of children after courts ruled that Catholic foster care agencies receiving state funds must follow state law and place kids in qualified same-sex homes. George sought to protect pedophile priests from criminal prosecution, until forced to take action by outraged public opinion and abuse survivors' pressure.
It is appalling that the City of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel and his City Council would honor a man so vicious in his bigotry toward LGBTQ Chicagoans. This outrage shows that much work remains to be done.
Bob Schwartz
Gay Liberation Network
Grant and rave
The "2012 Tracking Report: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Grantmaking by U.S. Foundations" lists foundations by the total amounts granted in support of LGBTQ Issues. The same report lists the Arcus Foundation as the second highest giver and the Gill Foundation as the third highest supporter of LGBTQ issues.
The Rainbow Sash Movement ( RSM ) has opted not to apply for this type of grant money because we feel outside organizations who are not Catholic are trying to affect the internal decision making of the Catholic Church. In our opinion, this is a slippery slope and we should not fool ourselves about that.
We also recognize that Dignity, New Ways Ministry and Fortunate Families all have been recipients of this money. Our vision of working for change in the Church is different; we come from a faith-based perspective, and believe the discussion needs to brought openly and honestly into the pews of our Church.
After speaking with the current president of Dignity and a board member of Fortunate Families, I became aware that Dignity's local chapters were not aware of the reception of these funds, and that Fortunate Families Board members would really rather not talk about it.
The Arcus Foundation, founded in 2000 by Jon Stryker, focuses on gay rights and "conservation of the great apes." Since 2010, it has given about $1.5 million to self-identified Catholic groups such as Dignity's Equally Blessed Coalition.
The Gill Foundation awarded $100,000 to the Catholics United Education Fund in 2012. That single grant covered most of that fund's annual budget of $111,819, as Catholic News Agency's Kevin Jones found by examining the organization's tax return.
In 2004, the Gill Foundation gave Dignity USA a grant of $10,000, following a $7,500 grant to Dignity in 2003.
We are concerned that the reception of such funds have strings attached, which are not based on Catholic social teaching. Furthermore, it is the RSM's opinion that these funds have been funneled to these organizations in a manner that challenges a culture's ethics.
Our hope is not to curse the darkness, but rather to light a candle.
Rainbow Sash Movement
Chicago