October 22, 2004

Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory
Diocese of Belleville
222 South Third Street
Belleville, IL 62220

Excellency:

My purpose in writing this letter to you is for clarification. As you are aware the Rainbow Sash Movement will be sending a delegation to the Plenary Liturgy of the National Council of Catholic Bishops on November 15, 2004 @ 7PM in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington, DC has refused to give our delegation the Holy Eucharist in past years. We are also aware that the National Council of Catholic Bishops presently has no policy on this matter.

However, our concern is that should Cardinal McCarrick again refuse us the Holy Eucharist, that action could be interpreted as an act supported by the National Council of Catholic Bishops. Already, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago has used this rational as one of his reasons for denying Rainbow Sash Movement members the Holy Eucharist in Chicago this past Pentecost Sunday.

Therefore, I am asking that you charily state that Cardinal McCarrick actions do not represent a policy of the National Council of Catholic Bishops to deny Rainbow Sash Movement members the Holy Eucharist. Without this clarification more scandal can only be brought to the Church.

It is our hope that you will welcome the gifts and insights we offer to the Church. If you don't accept these gifts and insights, than the Church will suffer; the Church will lack something that is very important.

We wish to belong to Church, and you have to open the doors, not only physically, but in every other way so that we will have a tremendous sense of belonging. It's our Church as much as yours. We understand this, and this understanding has brought perseverance to us.

Sincerely Yours in Christ,

Joe Murray
US Convener
Rainbow Sash Movement