We are the Newest Chapter of DignityUSA
We are small but determined!!
There has not been a Dignity Chapter in Baltimore since the 80's. We are proud to resurrect one now in Charm City.
We invite you to come join us for Sunday Mass with Our Lady Undoer of Knots Inclusive Catholic Community, either at our church (address below) or online.
Who Are We?
We Are Catholic
We are Catholic just like you ... with the same Mass and Sacraments... and many of us are confidently LGBTQi just like you.
We Reject the Roman Catholic "Teaching" That Gay People Are "...intrinsically morally disordered."
We wholeheartedly and vehemently reject the Roman Church's teaching on homosexuality.
We reject that homosexuality is an intrinsic moral disorder as defined byJoseph Cardinal Ratziner, later Pope Benedict XVI, in his Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons (vatican.va) of October 1986 and other such documents.
How does it feel to be a "homosexual person"?
Rome won't rescind that - we reject it! If anybody is intrinsically morally disordered, the people that published this rubbish are.
We Reject the Self-loathing Approach of the Catholic Church in Baltimore
We also reject the self-loathing approach sponsored by organizations such as the Archdiocese of Baltimore: Courage & EnCourage | Archdiocese of Baltimore (archbalt.org)
We have no interest in "moving beyond the confines of homosexual identity." Where do they get this stuff?
Our sexuality is not "confinement" any more than heterosexuality is. Nor is it a "choice" any more than heterosexuality is. Our sexuality - all sexuality - is a gift from God - PERIOD!
We Oppose the Roman Catholic Persecution of Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Intersex, and Non-binary people
In statement after statement the Roman church vehemently opposes any concept of LGBTQi, gender identity or gender fluidity rights .
They filed an amicus brief in Bostock vs. Clayton County before the Supreme Court
asking the court to allow workplace discrimination of LGBTQi people on the grounds that they needed the "religious liberty" to do so.
In another example, here is where they stand on gender identity. The 2019 document from the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education. "Male and Female He Created Them" claims to want a "dialogue" on the subject. What they really mean is shut up and agree that we are right, and you are wrong.
They oppose - and by that we mean they not only preach against it but they actively lobby and sue in courts against - any form of Trans rights. For example: Catholic Bishops Oppose Gender Neutral Bathrooms.
We Proclaim Dignity's Statement of Purpose
We proclaim Dignity's USA Statement of Purpose, that we are all children of God and loved for who we are.
Statement of Position and Purpose | DignityUSA.
"God shows no partiality." (Acts 10:34). Neither should Her Church!
We will NOT Deny You Sacraments
Recently the Vatican put out its announcement that it would not allow same-sex marriages because it cannot - wait for it!!! - "...bless sin."
Vatican Says Catholic Church Cannot Bless Same-Sex Marriages : NPR
They seemed to have missed that part about removing the many many logs from your own eye, before you presuming to remove the splinter from anyone else.
In contrast, we strive to live out our belief in an infinitely loving and compassionate God in very real, tangible ways that the Roman church will not... and cannot.... no matter how supportive some Catholics and some parishes and some clergy may want to be. They cannot cross the RED LINE.
What is that RED LINE? Their doctrines are still there. They won't marry you or bury your life partner with Christian burial. They want to tell you what to do with your own body. Some will deny you Holy Communion because you are an "avowed homosexual." They won't baptize your kids, nor will they support your adopting or fostering a kid in need. (see NPR Article on the recent Supreme Court ruling).
Yes, some may welcome you - but the RED LINE remans. We have no such red line. Our only terms are that you approach with reverence and respect.
We will offer you the Eucharist - no restrictions.
We will offer you God's unconditional forgiveness and reconciliation.
We will celebrate your loving relationships and gladly marry you and your partner.
We will anoint you and lay you to rest when God calls you home.
We will welcome your children into the family of God through baptism.
We will ordain you - regardless of your gender, orientation, or marital status - if you feel the call to serve. For us, our clergy serve like shepherds; like Christ did. They do not rule and judge and govern.
Come Join Us and Feel God's Love As It Truly Is
Bottom line: The Roman Catholic Church does not want you. We do.
Come join us and feel Christ's love without judgement or condemnation or rejection.
Our Board
From Left to Right
Tony Bono - Chapter President
Jared Dixon - Vice-President
John Hagens - Secretary & Treasure
Our Chapter Pastoral Team
Fr. AL
Fr. Steve
Fr. Steve
Al grew up in Philadelphia in a typical Irish-German-Italian, upper-lower-class, Catholic, Philly row-home home. Dad was a Philly cop (and a good one) and Mom worked at Sears to make ends meet.
He has a BA in Philosophy and some graduate studies in Theology from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. A short time after, he entered the Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
He holds a master’s degree in Organization Development from Antioch University and is currently a senior human resources executive. He is well known in the industry as a thought leader and change agent who is expert at building engaged cultures, effective leaders, market-facing capabilities and human capital strategies.
He has been active in the field of gay rights for decades and a member of Dignity for over 40 years He is married to his incredible partner, Tony of 25 years. They live with their pups Rachel and Ross just south of Baltimore.
He was ordained a Deacon in May of 2018, and a priest on April 6th, 2019 within the CACINA denomination. We are no longer affiliated with CACINA. Instead, he is one of the founders and pastor of Our Lady, UnDoer of Knots Inclusive Catholic Community as well as of Dignity Baltimore.
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Fr. Steve
Fr. Steve
Fr. Steve
Stephen was born and raised in Philadelphia where he was part of a large, extended Irish Catholic family (the O’Neills of Olney). After twelve years of education in the Archdiocesan school system, Stephen entered the seminary of the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity (STs) as a college freshman in 1969.
On the way to ordination in 1978, he acquired a BA degree in Philosophy from LaSalle College (now university) in Philadelphia and a Master of Arts in Religious Studies from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Following his ordination, Stephen served parishes in West Virginia and Kentucky before being named pastor of St. Agnes-Our Lady of Fatima parish in inner city Cleveland, Ohio where he served from 1982 to 1986.
In 1988, Stephen resigned from the Missionary Servants to marry Lisa Burner. He and Lisa have two children, Thomas and Sarah—now in their mid-twenties. Since resigning from the active priesthood, Stephen has worked in public service serving the City of Baltimore, Montgomery County (Maryland), and the State of Maryland (Department of Health/Behavioral Health Administration).
In 2003, at the request of his extended family, Stephen resumed part time priestly ministry by officiating at weddings and funerals and, since 2010, celebrating the Eucharist for the Dignity Community of Washington and now for OLUK and Dignity Baltimore.
Join OUr Family
Al & Tony
John & Mike