National Convention of Courage and Encourage

 

 

 

By Bishop Robert W. Finn
Bishop of Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph
August 4, 2006

Last week I was in St. Louis for the annual National Convention of Courage and Encourage, an apostolate of spiritual support for people with same-sex attractions and their family members. Jesuit Father James Knapp, a friend of mine who has headed up the Courage group in St. Louis area for some years now, invited me to celebrate Holy Mass for the convention-goers on Friday, July 28. I was able to attend several conferences as well.
It was my first experience attending Courage's national gathering, and I was moved by the strong faith, hope, and positive support I experienced among these fine Catholic men and women. Father John Harvey, a priest of the Oblates of St. Francis DeSales, began Courage in 1980 at the invitation of Cardinal Terrence Cook of New York and Father Benedict Groeschel, a Franciscan Friar who is well known to many Catholics. Ten years later, Encourage was begun to assist family members of persons with same-sex attractions, who often struggle with the lifestyle their loved ones undertake.

First of all, Courage uses terms like "persons with same-sex attractions" rather than "gays" or "lesbians." They wish to testify to the greatness of the human person. We are more than our sexual attractions, and we shouldn't be named according to such a narrow expression of some aspect of our life. It is clear as well that the titles "gay" and "lesbian" have also come to signal a whole agenda of sexual activity which is contrary to the call to holiness that is extended to us all as followers of Jesus Christ.

Courage is the only support group for persons with same-sex attractions that has been approved by the Holy See. Early on, Courage identified its goals, which are primarily spiritual. The five goals of Courage:

To live chaste lives in accordance with the Roman 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 the frequent reception of the Sacraments of Penance and the 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 will have to face the problems of homosexuality alone.
To be mindful of the truth that chaste friendships are not only possible but necessary in celibate Christian life and to encourage one another in forming and sustaining them.
To live lives that may serve as good examples to other homosexuals.
Here was a gathering that offered mutual acceptance of other persons and at the same time was fully committed to living in accord with the call of Jesus Christ to holiness in a way that built on purity and chastity.

Father Harvey, now in his 80s, is still going strong: writing and lecturing on the truth about homosexuality and how people with these attractions can live full lives within the framework of the church's teaching.

For more information about Courage or Encourage, see their Web site www.couragerc.net or phone (212) 268-1010. All calls are handled with strict confidentiality.

It is my hope and prayer that we will soon start chapters for Courage and Encourage in our diocese. Please pray that this message of hope and holiness will be extended to and received by our brothers and sisters struggling in what is, too often, great loneliness.

END