Wednesday, October 21, 2009

An Upcoming Event of Special Interest to Twin Cities-area Catholics

.
Holding the Courage Apostolate Accountable


The Catholic Church, Homosexuality,
and Reparative Therapy


Tuesday, November 17, 2009

St. Martin’s Table Restaurant and Bookstore
(2001 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis)
5:00 -6:30 p.m. – Soup supper ($5.00)
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. – Program (free and open to the public)


Almost 30 years ago Archbishop John Roach called for “competent and compassionate pastoral ministry” for LGBT persons and their families within the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis. Under subsequent archbishops we’ve sadly witnessed such ministry undermined and usurped by rigid doctrinal fundamentalism and discredited pseudo science.

Recently, the American Psychological Association repudiated “reparative therapy,” i.e., attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation through therapy and prayer. Yet the Courage Apostolate of the Catholic Church, which employs a 12 step-like program to help their members “recover” from “same-sex attractions,” continues to support individuals who seek “reparative therapy.” Courage also maintains links on its national website to pseudo-scientific organizations that endorse and/or offer reparative therapy.

On November 17, the Catholic Pastoral Committee on Sexual Minorities (CPCSM) will host a forum featuring three speakers sharing their perspectives on this situation and offering steps that can be taken to hold the Courage Apostolate accountable – both locally and nationally –for its support of reparative therapy.


Speakers will include:

Dr. Simon Rosser, Ph.D., M.P.H., L.P.
Internationally renowned researcher on sexuality and sexual health

Philip Lowe, Jr.
Former member of the St. Paul-Minneapolis chapter of Courage

Michael Bayly
Executive coordinator of the Catholic Pastoral Committee on
Sexual Minorities and author of Creating Safe Environments for LGBT
Students:
A Catholic Schools Perspective


The program component of this event is free and open to the public,
although a free-will offering will be requested.


For more information, call 612-201-4534.


See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
Holding the Courage Apostolate Accountable
The Cowardice of Courage
It’s Official: APA Opposes “Reparative Therapy”
The Continuum Just Shrank
“Curing” Homosexuality
Debunking NARTH (Part 1)
Debunking NARTH (Part 2)
The Real Meaning of Courage
The Many Forms of Courage (Part I)
The Many Forms of Courage (Part II)
The Many Forms of Courage (Part III)
Beyond Courage
Archbishop Nienstedt’s “Learning Curve”: A Suggested Trajectory
A Catholic Presence at Gay Pride


2 comments:

Terence Weldon said...

Michael, just a thought:

It's well accepted that orientation cannot be changed. But in their gentler manifestations, Courage and similar don't claim to change basic orientation, but just to help people to lively chastely within that condition.

But in Church teaching, this "chaste" living is appropriate to all, and widely ignored by unmarried Catholics of all kinds: teens, young adults, engaged couples, the widowed and divorced people.

If the authorities are so concerned to promote chaste living to us, shouldn't they be promoting chastity as vigorously to everyone else?

Mareczku said...

Too bad that I live 1000 miles away as I would love to attend this. I am hopeful you will fill us in on how it went, Michael. It would be nice if Dignity and Courage could have some contact. Do you know if Courage has spoken out against discrimination against gay people and anti-gay violence and prejudice? I have had some contact with Courage with mixed results but also attend Dignity events. I do get a lot out of the Dignity Masses but wish that the Church would be more positive about such ministries.