As we continue the month of June and the culture at large supports and affirms the LGBTQ community through the celebration of “Pride month,” it is essential to remember the Catholic position on homosexuality. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that ‘homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered,” and continues by saying that “under no circumstances can they be approved.” With this in mind, we must remember that those who struggle with same-sex attraction “must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity,” understanding that they are “called to fulfill God’s will in their lives” in a unique way. Apostolates such as Courage International/Encourage exist precisely for this purpose.
Courage International is an organization that supports men and women who experience same-sex attraction and who have “made a commitment to strive for chastity.” In 1979, Terence Cardinal Cooke, Archbishop of New York, identified a need to support those with same-sex attraction and asked for an apostolate to begin. In 1979, support meetings began, and in 1980, the support group was named Courage. Since its foundation, Courage has grown to offer “pastoral support in the form of spiritual guidance, community prayer support, and fellowship.”
In 1994, the Holy See endorsed Courage. The President of the Pontifical Council for the Family, Cardinal Lopez Trujillo, gave formal support for Courage’s efforts in “helping homosexual persons to live in accordance with the laws of God and the teachings of His Church.” This formal recognition led to international growth. Although the first international chapter opened in 1986 in Toronto, Canada, in 1995, the first “overseas” chapter opened in the Philippines. Today, Courage has chapters throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, supporting thousands of people.
Courage helps its supported members pursue the five goals established at its founding:
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Chastity: To live chaste lives in accordance with the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching on homosexuality.
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Prayer and Dedication: To dedicate our entire lives 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.
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Fellowship: To foster a spirit of fellowship in which we may share with one another our thoughts and experiences, and so ensure that no one will have to face the problems of homosexuality alone. (Fellowship)
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Support: To be mindful of the truth that chaste friendships are not only possible but necessary in a chaste Christian life; and to encourage one another in forming and sustaining these friendships.
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Good Example/Role Model: To live lives that may serve as good examples to others.
In addition to supporting those with same-sex attraction, in 1987, Courage International began Courage-Anon, which is now known as Encourage. Encourage is a co-apostolate that supports “parents, spouses, siblings and friends of people who identify as LGBTQ” and “are looking for help to keep the faith and keep their family bonds intact.” Ultimately, Encourage helps family members “respond with compassion” to loved ones, understanding they cannot “support their choices or actions.”
Matthew Weller — SFA Theologians Guild Member