Courage International
Encyclopedia
Courage International is an apostolate and Christian
ministry of the Roman Catholic Church
, which "ministers to those with same-sex attractions
,"
encouraging such people to abstain
from acting on their sexual desires and to live chastely
according to the Catholic Church's teachings on homosexuality. Courage also sponsors an outreach program called Encourage, which ministers to relatives and friends of persons with same-sex attractions providing help by "supporting one another and their loved ones through discussion, prayer and fellowship."
Archbishop
Terence Cardinal Cooke conceived the ministry in the early 1980s as a spiritual support system which would assist same-sex attracted Catholics in adhering to the Church's teaching on sexuality and sexual behavior.
Cooke invited the moral theologian Father John Harvey of the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales to come to New York to begin the work of Courage with Father Benedict Groeschel
of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal
. The first meeting was held in September, 1980 at the Shrine of Mother Seton in South Ferry.
In 2003, it became a member of Positive Alternatives to Homosexuality
.
Courage has developed a program based on the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous
.
.
In the United States, Courage International, referred to by those associated as simply "Courage", is financially supported by the Archdiocese of New York and by donations. Individual chapters are self-supporting and exist with the permission of their diocesan Bishop. Courage was recommended as a support-group for Catholics with homosexual attractions in the 2006 document by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
, "Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination: Guidelines for Pastoral Care".
In 2005, Courage International formed a Spanish-speaking branch, based in Cuernavaca
, Morelos
called Courage Latino. It currently extends to seven countries: Mexico
, El Salvador
, Guatemala
, Argentina
, Colombia
, Spain
, and Venezuela
.
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
ministry of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, which "ministers to those with same-sex attractions
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
,"
encouraging such people to abstain
Sexual abstinence
Sexual abstinence is the practice of refraining from some or all aspects of sexual activity for medical, psychological, legal, social, philosophical or religious reasons.Common reasons for practicing sexual abstinence include:*poor health - medical celibacy...
from acting on their sexual desires and to live chastely
Chastity
Chastity refers to the sexual behavior of a man or woman acceptable to the moral standards and guidelines of a culture, civilization, or religion....
according to the Catholic Church's teachings on homosexuality. Courage also sponsors an outreach program called Encourage, which ministers to relatives and friends of persons with same-sex attractions providing help by "supporting one another and their loved ones through discussion, prayer and fellowship."
History
New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Terence Cardinal Cooke conceived the ministry in the early 1980s as a spiritual support system which would assist same-sex attracted Catholics in adhering to the Church's teaching on sexuality and sexual behavior.
Cooke invited the moral theologian Father John Harvey of the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales to come to New York to begin the work of Courage with Father Benedict Groeschel
Benedict Groeschel
Benedict Joseph Groeschel, CFR is a Catholic priest, retreat master, author, psychologist, activist and host of the television talk program Sunday Night Prime with Father Benedict Groeschel, which is broadcast on the Eternal Word Television Network. He has also hosted several serial religious...
of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal
Franciscan Friars of the Renewal
The Community of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal is a mendicant congregation in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church...
. The first meeting was held in September, 1980 at the Shrine of Mother Seton in South Ferry.
In 2003, it became a member of Positive Alternatives to Homosexuality
Positive Alternatives to Homosexuality
Positive Alternatives to Homosexuality is a coalition of groups that want to help "people with unwanted same-sex attractions realize their personal goals for change -- whether by developing their innate heterosexual potential or by embracing a lifestyle as a single, non-sexually active man or...
.
Goals
The five goals of Courage are:- Live chaste lives in accordance with the Roman Catholic Church's teaching on homosexuality.
- Dedicate ones life to Christ through service to others, spiritual reading, prayer, meditation, individual spiritual direction, frequent attendance at Mass, and the frequent reception of the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist.
- Foster a spirit of fellowship in which all may share thoughts and experiences, and so ensure that no one will have to face the problems of homosexuality alone.
- Be mindful of the truth that chaste friendships are not only possible but necessary in a chaste Christian life and in doing so provide encouragement to one another in forming and sustaining them.
- Live lives that may serve as good examples to others.
Programs
The four goals of Encourage are:- To promote a spirit of compassion and acceptance among the members so that they may share with one another their thoughts and experiences and so ensure that no one will have to face the problems of homosexual loved ones alone.
- To foster the practice of service to others, spiritual reading, prayer, meditation, individual spiritual direction, frequent attendance at Mass, and the frequent reception of the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist.
- To encourage loved ones in the development of chaste friendships.
- To witness by good example to others who have homosexual loved ones.
Courage has developed a program based on the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is an international mutual aid movement which says its "primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety." Now claiming more than 2 million members, AA was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio...
.
Organization
Courage has chapters in many U.S. cities and several foreign countries, and has official recognition from the Church, having the endorsement of the Roman CuriaCuria (Roman Catholic Church)
In Roman Catholicism, a curia consists of a group of officials who assist in the governance of a particular Church. These curias range from the relatively simple diocesan curia, to the larger patriarchal curias, to the Roman Curia, which is the central government of the Catholic Church.Other...
.
In the United States, Courage International, referred to by those associated as simply "Courage", is financially supported by the Archdiocese of New York and by donations. Individual chapters are self-supporting and exist with the permission of their diocesan Bishop. Courage was recommended as a support-group for Catholics with homosexual attractions in the 2006 document by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
, "Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination: Guidelines for Pastoral Care".
In 2005, Courage International formed a Spanish-speaking branch, based in Cuernavaca
Cuernavaca
Cuernavaca is the capital and largest city of the state of Morelos in Mexico. It was established at the archeological site of Gualupita I by the Olmec, "the mother culture" of Mesoamerica, approximately 3200 years ago...
, Morelos
Morelos
Morelos officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Morelos is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 33 municipalities and its capital city is Cuernavaca....
called Courage Latino. It currently extends to seven countries: Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
, Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
.
See also
- Homosexuality and Roman CatholicismHomosexuality and Roman CatholicismIn Roman Catholicism, homosexual acts are considered contrary to natural law and sinful, while homosexual desires are considered "disordered" but not themselves sinful. The Catholic Church considers human sexual behavior to be sacred, when properly expressed...
- Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual InclinationMinistry to Persons with a Homosexual InclinationMinistry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination is a document which was issued on November 14, 2006 by the bishops of the Roman Catholic Church...
- On the Pastoral Care of Homosexual PersonsOn the Pastoral Care of Homosexual PersonsThe Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons, is a letter to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith of the Roman Catholic Church written in 1985 and delivered in Rome on 1 October 1986 by then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and...
- Ex-gayEx-gayThe ex-gay movement consists of people and organizations that seek to get people to refrain from entering or pursuing same-sex relationships, to eliminate homosexual desires, to develop heterosexual desires, or to enter into a heterosexual relationship...
- Homosexuals AnonymousHomosexuals AnonymousHomosexuals Anonymous is an ex-gay group which practices conversion therapy to change the sexual orientation of homosexual clients. Its mission statement describes it as "a fellowship of men and women, who through their common emotional experience, have chosen to help each other live in freedom...
Further reading
- Belgau, Ron. "Sodom and the City of God." New Oxford ReviewNew Oxford ReviewThe New Oxford Review is a magazine of Roman Catholic cultural and theological commentary, founded in 1977 as an Anglo-Catholic magazine in the Anglican tradition. In 1983, the magazine officially "converted" to Roman Catholicism. The magazine championed Pope John Paul II's condemnation of...
, June 2003. The author, spokesman for Courage in the Archdiocese of SeattleRoman Catholic Archdiocese of SeattleThe Archdiocese of Seattle is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. state of Washington. Headquartered in Seattle, the archdiocese encompasses all counties in the state west of the Cascade Range. Its cathedral is St. James Cathedral, and its present archbishop is J...
, criticizes the use of stereotypes and hate-speech directed against people experiencing same-sex attraction. http://www.cityofgod.net/essay/sodom.htm - Harvey, John F. The Homosexual Person: New Thinking in Pastoral Care. Ignatius Press, 1987. ISBN 0898701694. Harvey is the founder of Courage International.
- Holton, Robert. "Homosexuals With the Courage to be Different". Our Sunday VisitorOur Sunday VisitorOur Sunday Visitor is a Roman Catholic publishing company in Huntington, Indiana which prints the American national weekly newspaper of that name, as well as numerous Catholic periodicals, religious books, pamphlets, catechetical materials, inserts for parish bulletins and offertory envelopes....
, vol. 81 p. 21, August 30, 1992. Profile of the group. - Jacquet, Louis F. "Courage: a support group for Catholic Homosexuals". The Liguorian, vol 77, pp. 16-20, May 1989.
- Kenny, Joseph. "Catholic Church Has Room for Those Struggling With Homosexuality." Catholic News ServiceCatholic News ServiceCatholic News Service is an American news agency covering the Roman Catholic Church. CNS was established in 1920 and is a leading source of news for Catholic print and broadcast media throughout the world....
, August 9, 2006. http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=20845 - Morrison, David. Beyond Gay. Our Sunday Visitor, 1999. ISBN 0879736909. Morrison is the founder and moderator of "Courage Online", an online support group sponsored by Courage International.
- Nugent, Robert. "Courage Curbs Gays". National Catholic ReporterNational Catholic ReporterThe National Catholic Reporter is the second largest Catholic newspaper in the United States; its circulation reaches ninety-seven countries on six continents. Based in midtown Kansas City, Missouri, NCR was founded by Robert Hoyt in 1964 as an independent newspaper focusing on the Catholic Church...
, vol. 21, p. 10, January 18, 1985. An article critical of Courage.
External links
- Courage, official site in the United States
- Courage Latino, official site for Spanish-speaking Catholics
- Encourage, official site