The Feb. 27 issue of America features an article by Msgr. Thomas Candreva on the recent Vatican document concerning homosexuality and seminary admission. In the article, Msgr. Candreva describes the Courage movement in terms that are quite misleading. It didn't sound right to me, but I've only had off and on association with the movement and its members. Not wanting to respond to America without checking on this myself, I called the Courage office this morning to verify that the description was not accurate and spoke with Fr. Harvey, the organization's founder. He was, to say the least, horrified at the mischaracterization of the movement's purposes. I am going to follow this with a description of the misleading statement and Fr. Harvey's clarification, but before I go on, please prepare to write to America editor Drew Christiansen (letters@americamagazine.org) to inform him that Msgr. Candreva's article calls for some correction. You might also invite him to consider America's publishing a substantial (and correctly nuanced!) article on Courage itself. Imagine how much good that could do!
Okay, here's the summary of the treatment and Fr. Harvey's response:
Msgr. Candeva (page 21 of the Feb. 27 issue of America) says that, in regard to homosexual orientation, "Among the premises of Courage, for example, the most widely approved Catholic ministry to homosexuals in this country, is the capacity of homosexuals to change. The literature and presenations of Courage include powerful testimonies of men who attest that faith, therapy and a deep spiritual life have completely altered their inclinations, behaviors and lives." (Emphasis mine.)
Father Harvey was dismayed at this and immediately protested, "Oh, no, that is failing to make a crucial distinction between two kinds of healing. The first and most important kind of healing is from lust to chastity. That's our purpose: to help people live chaste lives. That's all. A second kind of healing would be coming out of the condition, and there are national organizations that focus on that (organizations such as NARTH: National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality), and we refer people to them in certain cases..."
He kept repeating this in so many ways: Courage is not in the business of changing people's orientation or pushing them into change, but is entirely focused on helping its members to live chaste and holy lives.
This seems pretty important to clarify, especially because there are many members of Courage who are living chaste and holy lives (incredibly edifying lives) without being able to undergo a change of orientation, even when they have earnestly sought it and attempted reparative therapy. That's not a problem for Courage. We are all called to sanctity, no matter what our orientation or deep-seated inclinations. "Drives" aren't what drive people, in other words: we walk by faith.
4 comments:
Not surprising since last month when talking about the new document on admissions to the seminary they basically equated homosexuality with ethnic groups in that just as you wouldn't want the priesthood to be dominated by Irish the same goes for homosexuality.
Before I entered there was a Fr. Thomas Candreva at my parish, and I wonder if it's the same priest. He worked at the marriage tribunal and was in residence at our parish. He was quite good and gave orthodox homilies, so maybe he's just misinformed here.
I have gone many times to the book display we have at the Courage conference each year, and I can testify that at the conference Courage does exactly what Fr. Harvey said. While individual speakers may have their own opinions about the possibility of change, they never propose it as something people must strive for.
By the way, Fr. Harvey is such a wonderful priest. He's in his 80's and looks great and works full time in this ministry.
From the article, especially the conclusion, it is clear that the author is quite orthodox. I am sure it is just that the Courage position is so nuanced, a lot of people "read" them the wrong way. It doesn't help that other groups claiming to minister to people with same-sex attraction have such an un-nuanced, "all is right with the world" approach, that anything different would tend to be understood in an equally un-nuanced, whole-hog approach.
Again, to reiterate, the author is clearly a solid thinker, a "man of the Church." I am afraid my blog title for this post was too... unnuanced.
I think that the article's title (Misleading America)was clever, provacative and inviting. 'Twas neither unfair nor inappropriate. Thank you for calling my attention to the work of Courage.
Your description earlier this week of the 'Chair of Peter' brought me back to my student days in Rome. Seeing that chair ringed with candles and set ablaze is an unforgettable sight.
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