LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Casey and Mary Ellen Lopata upon the
occasion of their retirement from the Board of Directors of Fortunate
Families and celebrating the tenth anniversary of their founding the
organization

WHEREAS, The character and richness of religious and community life in
this noble Empire State is nourished and fulfilled through the faithful
concern and selfless devotion of those who would commit their energies
and purpose to the ministry, support and enfranchisement of others; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Casey and Mary
Ellen Lopata upon the occasion of their retirement from the Board of
Directors of Fortunate Families and to also commemorate the tenth anni-
versary of their founding of this esteemed organization, to be cele-
brated at a ceremony in Rochester, New York, on Saturday, May 3, 2014;
and
WHEREAS, In 2004, Casey and Mary Ellen Lopata founded Fortunate Fami-
lies, a nonprofit organization which offers support and counseling to
Catholic parents of gay and lesbian children; for the past decade, it
has served as a resource network for the promotion of meaningful
dialogue between parishes, pastors, and bishops on the issues of homo-
sexuality within the Catholic community; and
WHEREAS, The parents of four children, including one gay son, Casey
and Mary Ellen Lopata have compassionately ministered to Catholic fami-
lies with LGBTQ sons and daughters working to facilitate the process of
acceptance and affirmation; and
WHEREAS, Casey and Mary Ellen Lopata previously founded the Catholic
Gay and Lesbian Ministry in the Diocese of Rochester and have also
worked to organize ministries at the national level; in addition, they
are charter members of the Catholic Parents Network; and
WHEREAS, This pioneering couple has made presentations at numerous
religious events in the name of tolerance, and has written extensively
on the subject; they are the authors of FORTUNATE FAMILIES: CATHOLIC
PARENTS WITH LESBIAN DAUGHTERS AND GAY SONS; furthermore, Casey Lopata
is the editor of SEEDS OF HOPE and MORE SEEDS, resource manuals for
compassionate ministering to the GLBT community; and
WHEREAS, Throughout its ten years of devoted ministry, Fortunate Fami-
lies has strived to build a more welcoming church and society, seeking
equality for the families it represents; and
WHEREAS, In 2005, Casey and Mary Ellen Lopata received the New Ways
Ministry's Bridge Building Award in recognition of their outstanding
work on behalf of Catholic gays and lesbians and their families; and
WHEREAS, This remarkable couple has brought to their ministry an over-
whelming spirit of justice and compassion, acting with great empathy in
conducting their mission, while always displaying the highest standards
of personal integrity and dedication; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals and organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are
brought to our attention it is appropriate to publicly and jubilantly
proclaim and commend them for the edification of others; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Casey and Mary Ellen Lopata upon the occasion of their retire-
ment from the Board of Directors of Fortunate Families and celebrating
the tenth anniversary of their founding of the organization; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Casey and Mary Ellen Lopata.