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The weekend of vigils, protest, trainings, and civil disobedience is being organized by Soulforce, an interfaith network of individuals committed to applying the principles of nonviolent resistance as taught by Gandhi and King to the liberation of sexual and gender minorities. Soulforce volunteers from a myriad of faith traditions will be gathering together to accuse the Catholic Church of acts of spiritual violence. On November 13, Soulforce plans to be a visible and persistent presence outside of Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, the meeting place of the National Council of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) during the day. Starting at 5:30pm on November 13 in front of the National Basilica at 400 Michigan Avenue, NW, Soulforce supporters will standing in a silent candlelight vigil during a worship service for the NCCB. The vigil is a symbolic act to work to change the hearts and minds of the bishops and request them to take a stand to end spiritual violence against God's LGBT children.
To participate in the direct action, individuals must take part in the Soulforce non-violence training and rally being held on Monday night, November 13 (location to be announced) or in a brief training on site prior to the action and press conference at the Hyatt. All participants are required to sign, wear, and uphold the Soulforce "pledge to nonviolence" used by Dr. Martin Luther King and his marchers in 1963. Hundreds of people were arrested earlier this year when similar acts of protest were held during the United Methodist General Conference in May, the Southern Baptist Convention and the Presbyterian General Assembly in June, and the Episcopal Convention in July. For additional information on the Soulforce action, or to sign up for the civil disobedience training and non-violent direct action, go to www.soulforce.org or call (949) 455-0999. |
The Vatican 