What do Courage EnCourage and EnCourage further believes: believe?
Courage and EnCourage believe that, with Standing by the teachings of the Roman human support and Divine Intervention: Catholic Church, EnCourage members support one another and their loved Persons who experience SSA can follow ones through discussion, prayer, Jesus Christ according to Roman Catholic Chastity fellowship, and sacri ice. spiritual and moral teaching. Prayer and Dedication We are not our children’s saviors; Jesus It is possible to experience SSA and live a Fellowship Christ is Lord, God, and Savior. chaste and productive life. Support We are not responsible for our grown Persons who experience SSA can develop children’s decisions to pursue Good Example an assured, grace‐ illed understanding of homosexual activity (should they make themselves while growing into their true such a decision), but we can encourage identities as mature men and women. them to lead chaste lives. Experiencing same‐sex attractions or COURAGE INTERNATIONAL, INC. EnCourage offers faithful witness to homo‐sexual feelings is not itself a sin; 8 Leonard Street Catholic teaching on sexual morality however, homosexual acts are immoral while meeting the needs of its members Norwalk CT 06850 and do not lead to a deeper life in Christ. with charity and compassion. (203) 803‐1564 A person’s dignity does not depend upon offi[email protected] his or her sexual attractions but upon his h p://couragerc.org or her relationship to Jesus Christ. “Courage is doing Homosexual desires are not usually a the work of God.” CONTACT YOUR LOCAL COURAGE person’s choice. AND ENCOURAGE CHAPTERS: Courage — Pope St John Paul II Therapy may address underlying emotional issues related to SSA; however, Support for Catholic men therapy cannot guarantee that SSA will be and women who experience eliminated. Copyright © 2015 Courage International, Inc. same‐sex attractions and Men and women who experience SSA can All Rights Reserved. desire to live chaste lives lead chaste lives. Chastity, made possible Permission is granted to reprint this following the teachings of the by Christ’s redemption, is a liberating document for educational purposes. virtue and a source of joy and freedom. Roman Catholic Church another our thoughts and experiences and “Human love hence embraces the body, and the What is Courage? so ensure that none of us has to face the Church Teachings body also expresses spiritual love. Therefore, What is EnCourage? problems of homosexuality alone. about Homosexuality sexuality is not something purely biological; rather, it concerns the intimate nucleus of the 4. Support: To be mindful of the truth that person.” chaste friendships are not only possible Ponti ical Council for the Family “The human person, made in the image and Courage and EnCourage are spiritual support but necessary in chaste Christian life; and The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality, 1995 likeness of God, can hardly be adequately groups. to encourage one another in forming and described by a reductionist reference to his or Mental Health and sustaining these friendships. Courage was founded in 1980 by Cardinal her sexual orientation. Every one living on the Same-sex attractions face of the earth has personal problems and Terence Cooke, then Archbishop of New York, to 5. Good Example: To live lives that may dif iculties – but challenges to growth, help Catholics who experience same‐sex serve as good examples and role models The authentic meeting point of spirituality and strengths, talents, and gifts as well. Today, the attractions live chaste lives in accordance with to others. psychology with regard to same‐sex attractions the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching. Father Church provides a badly needed context for the care of the human person when she is in what might be called “chastity‐based John Harvey, OSFS, served as the founding refuses to consider the person a ‘heterosexual’ therapy.” This is very far from an attempt to director of the apostolate. or a ‘homosexual’ and insists that every “repair” or “ ix” someone. Rather, those with a EnCourage is a support group for family members, The Five Goals of person has a fundamental identity: a creature deep understanding of the way human beings spouses, and friends of men and women who ENCourage of God, and by grace, His child and heir to think and relate to others have demonstrated eternal life.” experience same‐sex attractions. many ways in which habits of coping with
1. To grow spiritually through spiritual feelings or situations can make one more Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, susceptible to temptations or more likely to reading, prayer, meditation, individual Letter to Bishops on the Pastoral Care spiritual direction, frequent attendance at of Homosexual Persons,, 1986. seek grati ication in ways that are not good for The Five Goals of him or her. Mass, and the frequent reception of the Courage Sacraments of Penance and Holy “Support groups, noted for their adherence to Some people ind that, in addition to spiritual Eucharist. Church teaching, for persons who experience direction and the sacraments, talking about The founding members of Courage developed same‐sex attraction continue to be an their experiences and their present situation ive goals as the foundation of the apostolate: 2. To gain a deeper understanding of the important part of Church ministries and are to with well‐trained, ethical psychologists and needs, dif iculties, and challenges 1. Chastity: To live chaste lives in be encouraged. therapists gives them insights that help them in experienced by men and women with SSA. accordance with the Roman Catholic “[Same‐sex attracted persons] should not be their striving to be chaste. Courage respects the Church’s teaching on homosexuality. 3. To establish and maintain a healthy and encouraged to de ine themselves primarily in decisions some of our members make to seek wholesome relationship with their loved terms of their sexual inclination, however, or out quali ied professionals. However, Courage 2. Prayer and Dedication: To dedicate our ones who experience SSA. to participate in ‘gay subcultures,’ which often meetings are not group therapy, and no Courage entire lives to Christ through service to tend to promote immoral lifestyles. Rather, member is required to seek counseling or others, spiritual reading, prayer, meditation, 4. To assist other family members and they should be encouraged to form treatment of any kind. individual spiritual direction, frequent friends to reach out with compassion and relationships with the wider community …. attendance at Mass, and the frequent truth to, and not to reject, their loved ones Examples of such ministries whose principles Courage provides con idential, reception of the sacraments of who experience SSA. are in accord with Church teaching are welcoming, and informative Reconciliation and the Holy Eucharist. Courage and EnCourage.” support for men and women who 5. To witness to their loved ones by their 3. Fellowship: To foster a spirit of own lives that ful illment is to be found in US Conference of Catholic Bishops, experience same‐sex attractions. fellowship in which we may share with one Jesus Christ through His Body, the Church. Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclina on: Please join us. Guidelines for Pastoral Care, 2006.