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N
MARCH 1990, an interview with Father John Harvey, OSFS
entitled "The Catholic Homosexual" was published by New
Covenant. Asked to define the Catholic Church's teaching
regarding homosexuality, Father Harvey responded, "Briefly,
the Catholic Church regards homosexual activity as sinful
but urges prayerful support for homosexuals seeking to deal
with their condition. The most recent Church teaching on
homosexuality can be found in the 1986 letter to bishops on
the pastoral care of homosexual persons issued by the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith... It is based on
the impossibility of homosexual activity leading to
procreation, the lack of any true physical union, and the
violation of the physical structures of the body implicit in
homosexual activity" (New Covenant, March 1990). Father
Harvey also spoke about a Catholic organization called
Courage, which he founded in 1980, to provide support to
homosexual individuals "who desire to live a chaste
lifestyle in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic
Church."
Courage
is endorsed by the Holy See (Pontifical Council for the
Family, 7 July 1994 - Prot. N. 216/93) and has chapters in 6
Canadian cities (including Winnipeg) and in 22 cities in the
United States. Courage invites members to frequent
participation in the sacraments, daily prayer and individual
spiritual direction while embracing chastity. A priest
serves as a chaplain. Courage also uses Alcoholics
Anonymous' Twelve Step program.
On
December 6, 1994, Ken (not his real name) received approval
from the Manitoba Conference of Catholic Bishops to
establish a local chapter of Courage in Winnipeg. It
currently meets twice a month.
Ken
first heard about Courage through the New Covenant
interview. When he wrote Courage for more information, Ken
was edified to discover that there are other people,
struggling with homosexuality, who share his desire to be
faithful to the Church. In 1992, Ken attended a Courage
conference in Toronto and another in New York in 1993 and
1995. The attendance at each of these conferences was about
100 people.
Ken
states "The place of Courage is to support and give help to
those who choose to struggle and follow the Gospel." Courage
offers this support by encouraging its members to take
advantage of the spiritual richness of the Catholic Church
and to enable them to come into faithfulness and healing.
For more information you may contact Courage P.O. Box 2655
Winnipeg, MB R3C 4B3. (Courage maintains the anonymity of
its members).
The goals of Courage
- To live chaste lives in accordance with the Catholic
Church's teaching on homosexuality.
- To dedicate our entire lives to Christ through
service to others, spiritual reading, prayer, meditation,
individual spiritual direction, frequent attendance at
Mass and frequent reception of the sacraments of Penance
and Holy Eucharist.
- To foster a spirit of fellowship in which we may
share with one another our thoughts and experiences and
so ensure that none of us has to face the problems of
homosexuality alone.
- To be mindful of the truth that chaste friendships
are not only possible but necessary in chaste Christian
life _ to encourage one another in forming and sustaining
them.
To live lives that may serve as good examples to others.
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