For the second time in four years, so-called Catholic groups that oppose Catholic Church teachings regarding human sexuality will protest at the opening Mass of the National Courage Conference.
The Catholic Action Network for Social Justice and Friendship and Justice plan to be outside the College Church on the campus of Saint Louis University on Thursday, July 27 demonstrating against what they call the "hurtful and untrue message promoted by Courage."
Organizers are also asking supporters to write letters to friends, faculty, and students of the university to "expose" the university’s support of Courage and the conference.
[Via David Morrison]
They are concerned that "Courage’s understanding of homosexuality directly contradicts
statements by major professional mental health and medical associations including the American Psychological Association, the American
Psychiatric Association, the American Medical Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics."
I find this sad but funny that two so-called Catholic groups are worried about Courage’s dissent from the psychiatric magisterium while at the same time have no problem dissenting from the magisterium of the Catholic Church. Somehow in their ecclesiology a vote taken by an organization because of social pressure and not scientific studies trumps the faith.
So what is the "hurtful and untrue" message proclaimed by Courage. Why it is a call to developing the interior life and chastity and to move beyond the confines of the homosexual identity to a more complete one in Christ. Somehow I miss how that is a hurtful message especially when their own message has nothing to do with repentance and they in truth become enablers of sin; which seems to me to be pretty hurtful.
14 comments
Anything that speaks out against any of our desires no matter how disordered is “hurtful”.
Hmmm which do I believe Revelation or the psychiatric establishment?
Is that seriously the title of their group? “Catholic Action Network for Social Justice and Friendship and Justice”? There aren’t nearly enough nouns or articles in that sentence, yet the perfect absence of commas. We need at least four more “and’s” with no fewer than 3 more “justice’s”.
Courage speaks the truth and denies that homosexuality is genetically based, but that Same Sex Attraction is a learned behavior that can be unlearned. Many of these individuals don’t want to face the truth — that their behavior is learned and that it is sinful. They want to have a strong excuse or rationalization for committing the sin. If you take that away from them, then they have to deal with the truth and change their behavior.
Andy, that’s actually two groups: (1) the Catholic Action Network for Peace and Justice and (2) Friendship and Justice. The link structure on David Morrison’s page (follow Jeff’s link) makes it clear.
What I’m wondering is, when are these folks going to protest outside a violence-preaching mosque? Or an abortion clinic? Seems to me that there are stories being told today that are a lot more “hurtful and untrue” than the idea that gay folk don’t have to accept that label if they don’t want to. Shoot, the narratives of abortion and violent Islam might even be a bigger threat to peace and justice than the narrative of a group like Courage, even if the APA & co. were right about homosexuality.
But maybe I’ve been living in South Carolina long enough to start thinking like a redneck, or something.
Peace,
–Peter
Fr. Jeffery O’Keefe, a national director of Courage spoke for a Newman Club meeting at my university spring semester.
This priest is rock solid, though he’s getting rather old and I hope there are other good folks around when the time comes for a new director.
By the testimony that he gave, the people with homosexual inclinations who come to Courage group meetings would be extremely offended by the action of those two groups.
The sessions are pretty much like round circle AA meetings with less emphasis on “re-wiring” and more emphasis on living a chaste life in response to God’s Will. The evangelical groups typically put a great amount of emphasis on therapy to make these folks heterosexaul but it is not to this extreme that Courage takes it.
The two groups aformentioned look pretty silly to protest such events.
Catholic Action Network for Social Justice and Friendship and Justice and George Bush is a Doodyhead
And this group wants parents, faculty, etc. to write letters to expose that St. Louis University is supporting… Catholic teaching!?!?
What I keep hearing ad nauseum from people who want to change the Church’s teaching on homosexuality is that it is very cruel to suggest that someone must abstain from loving (sexual and everything else that comes with being a couple) relationships for their whole lives. So the Church is cruel and harsh and demanding and pharasaic etc etc.
I mean, our work is cut out for us in the apologetic realm. But the obstacle is huge. How can we translate the principles that are behind Catholic truth to a people that doesn’t believe in principles, that thinks like abc-tv? Who think that the only error is judgmentalism? It’s a crazy time and I don’t know how to get the truth out on this one. It’s very frustrating.
Wow, those folks must be fired up. Two times in four years? Can’t hold back the enthusiasm, I guess.
Indeed. From the way they protest, you could almost forget that participation in Courage is voluntary and is done by those who actually want to live a chaste life according to Church teachings.
They are, in other words, offended by those who chose to live in chastity.
What a bunch of hooey.
Isn’t it ironic that one person at a graduation ceremony can protest the mere mention of a Supreme Being and cause a meltdown resulting in “policy change”, and disciplinary action. This person’s feelings usurp the other 500 people in attendance. Yet, all the members of Courage do not receive one iota of consideration for their feelings in this matter. Their rights are being trampled in a most viscious fashion and all we hear is that the practicing sodomists are “hurt” because a voice cries out in the wilderness disputing their claims that they are the victims.
Actually Jean, you�re mistaken. Courage takes no position on whether or not SSA is genetic, learned, or can be unlearned. Courage is simply about living a life of chastity for those with SSA, which is something that all OSA people are called to as well.
Hi all. Thanks for the support. The Conference gets underway tommorrow I will not be able to attend because of work committments. Please join me prayer for the effort, that the Holy Spirit will renew the Courage members who come to the conference and help make Christ steadily more known among all.