Articles of Interest to Courage Members

An Interview With Vera, on the Courage Reparational Groups
Vera, who doesn't wish her last name publicized because of her work as a pastoral counselor, hails from New York, and is candid about her former life only because the story of her subsequent conversion "gives glory to God." A "child of the sixties," she came of age when the hippie movement was gaining ascendancy, and while the hippies got a few things right, their belief that "you have to have sex, or you won't be integrated psychologically" was directly opposed to God's order. As for Vera, things were a bit more complicated, she admitted: while she "experimented" with boys and "felt normal in every way, I felt this need for women. I have homosexual leanings." (more...)

The Role of Courage in the Spiritual Life of Chastity for Persons With Same-Sex Attraction by Fr. Jim Lloyd, CSP
For those who understand Courage and its relationship with SSA persons seeking Chastity, it is fairly obvious that the group experience is core to the movement. One to one counseling is extremely helpful as is reading appropriate literature on the subject. Personal private prayer is essential as is one’s own dedicated determination. Nothing, however, can replace the group experience which has proven to be the single most factor, under God, in achieving sexual sobriety and sanity. (more...)

Talks and Homilies:
1. Sunday Homily: Blessed John Henry Newman - Fr. Paul Check
2. Bishop Paprocki Homily: Courage/EnCourage Conference 2010
3. Fr. Harvey's Conference Talk: Use of the Twelve Steps by Courage
4. Divine Mercy Homily - Fr. Paul Check
5. Easter Sunday Sermon - Fr. Paul Check
6. Meditation on "I Thirst" - Fr. Paul Check
7. Homily on II Corinthians 12:7-10 - Fr. Carlton Jones, OP
8. Courage and the Cross: The Problem of Same-Sex Attraction - Fr. Paul Check
9. Sermon on the Parable of the Talents - Fr. Paul Check
10. A Homily on Marriage - Fr. Paul Check
11. Friendship and Holiness - Msgr. Peter Magee
12. The Storm at Sea - Homily by Fr. Paul Check

Catechesis on Homosexuality: Making the Distinctions by William Newton -- From the Sower of Maryvale Institute in Birmingham, England -- Web site: http://www.thesowerreview.org

Sexual Common Sense: 12 Talk Series by Prof. Janet E. Smith

ZENIT News Agency -- The World Seen From Rome: Fr. Harvey on Strengths of New Vatican Instruction

Instruction Concerning the Criteria for the Discernment of Vocations with Regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in View of Their Admission to the Seminary and to Holy Orders -- Congregation for Catholic Education

The Theology of Weakness: Courage Reparational Prayer Group -- Catholic Standard and Times, Thursday, September 9, 2004.
The Courage Reparational Prayer Group was formed a decade after its parent organization, Courage, was begun by Father John Harvey, O.S.F.S. in New York City in 1980. This ministry provides spiritual support to persons with same-sex attraction who desire to live chaste lives in accordance with Roman Catholic teaching. Responding to the Church’s call to chastity is hard for anybody in our sex-saturated culture, which is one of the main reasons this group was formed.

“We come together to offer up our struggle with chastity and use it as reparation for the sins of the world,” said Vera, the group’s founder, who asked that her last name be withheld. “We offer up our own pain and struggle,and unite it with the passion of Jesus to bring life to others. It gives meaning to our suffering.” (more...)

Articles, Homilies, and Talks

Fr. Paul Check Interview-Catholic World Report
In this December 2010 interview, Fr. Check provides a brilliant explanation of the Courage Apostolate.

Dr. Phil Sutton's Courage Conference Handouts & PowerPoint Presentation

The following handouts were distributed at Dr. Phil Sutton's workshop at the 2010 Courage Conference:
► Advice from the Game Plan
► Aides for Emotional Healing and Personal Growth
► Have I Been Asphalted?
► Stumbling Blocks Quotes
► Timely Wisdom
► Prayer

These are the notes from Dr. Phil Sutton's PowerPoint presentation:
► Who AM I? Right Questions, Wrong Answers?

Observations Concerning the Revised Text of Always Our Children: Fr. John F. Harvey, OSFS - After reading the text of the Revised Always Our Children (RAOC), in Origins, vol. 28, #7, July 2, 1998, I regard it as a distinct improvement over the flawed October 1, 1997 document, but it is still characterized by a misleading use of terms and by failure to provide specific kinds of guidance for Catholic parents of children with same-sex attractions. I had noted that Bishop Thomas O'Brien, chairman ofthe Committee on Marriage and the Family, had consulted with the Sacred Congregation of the Faith on the revision, and that the Congregation was "satisfied" with it. (more...)

An Article by Melinda Selyms, author of the book
Sexual Authenticity: An Intimate Reflection on Homosexuality and Catholicism

Twelve years ago, I converted to Catholicism and began a long dialogue with my own sexuality. At the time, I was involved in a lesbian relationship that had been going on for a little over six years. I had, in the course of researching the Catholic position with a view to refuting it, encountered the Church's teachings on homosexual relationships before, so when I decided to embrace the Church as my mother, I knew that meant giving up my lesbian partner. I called her that night and explained my decision. Read more ...

A letter from the Office of the Bishop, Dioceses of Dallas and Ft. Worth, Texas. This letter not only addresses the Courage/Encourage ministries for the Dallas and Ft. Worth Dioceses, but also talks about the Courage Apostolate as a whole. These are very encouraging letters!

FROM ...

The Pastoral Response to Homosexuality - Melinda Selmys

In his September 1, 2011 columm "Gay and Christian," Russell Saltzman addressed my article in the New Oxford Review, in which I sketched a brief history of homosexual politics over the past two and a half millennia as a background for understanding the present controversy.

I wrote that: "It is an uncomfortable fact that for a long time a campaign of hatred and persecution has been waged against those who experience same-sex attractions." Saltzman takes issue with waht he imagines to be an argument ... Read more ...