Courage
Taking Courage to the next level

By JEFF GRAHAM
From The B.C. Catholic - Courage, a ministry devoted to helping Catholics with same-sex attraction, is aptly named.

Courage is defined as the ability to face danger and fear with confidence and resolution. Living a chaste life in the face of homosexual desires no doubt requires both.

The mandate of Courage is to help Catholic men and women with same-sex attraction to live in accordance with the Church's teaching on homosexuality, to encourage them to lead holy lives, and to foster fellowship and chaste friendships. The movement started in New York in September 1980 and is now in 34 dioceses in the U.S. and Canada, including the Archdiocese of Vancouver.

Courage hosted a sports camp for men with basketball, softball, football, and soccer from June 16-19 in Princeton, N.J. Father Mark Schwab, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Vancouver and chaplain to Vancouver Courage, attended as the camp chaplain.

Father Schwab said a primary reason for the sport camp was to heal what some term the "sports wound." He said this wound is often found in men who didn't excel or have an interest in athletics when they were younger, which can result in a lack of friendship with other boys and men. The camp exposes the men to the camaraderie they missed in their youth, and thus helps to help heal that sports wound.

"The camp offered the men a safe place," said Father Schwab. "Even those who had never played, tried."

"There were only two rules," he said. "You're not allowed to laugh at anyone, unless it's yourself, and you're not allowed to apologize." Father Schwab explained that in their youth, many of the men were mocked or would be overly apologetic for their lack of athletic ability. The childhood mockery leaves deep scars, and can translate into a longing for male affection.

Father Schwab said the sports camp helped heal the childhood scars by allowing the men a safe place to participate in sport and have fun, regardless of their athletic ability or physical condition.

He also said he was amazed at the sportsmanship and fellowship of the participants. "Everybody encouraged everybody," he said. "It truly was what sportsmanship is all about."

The camp was divided into two teams, the dolphins and the lions, and at the end of the camp the two teams were tied in points, resulting in a basketball shoot-off. Father Schwab's team won. "I've never been somewhere where there was more cheering from the losing side."

"These guys are a beacon for the rest of the world," he said. "For some of them, it was just a dream. I loved watching these grown men, with such pride, go up and get their medals."

Father Schwab said he was originally approached to be the chaplain of Courage by Monsignor Gregory Smith before he left on study leave a year ago. "Monsignor Smith pestered me, but I wasn't sold."

He said he eventually decided to take on the chaplaincy and told Father Smith, "I'll do it for a year," to which he replied, "Great, there's a conference next week."

Father Schwab said that he approached the conference with trepidation, but when he was there he was touched by the depth of faith he saw.

"There was a chapel set aside for all-night adoration of the Blessed Sacrament," Father Schwab explained. "I went into the chapel at 4 a.m. and it was packed."

"The inspiration from that conference really set me on fire. I realized these were Godly people," he said. "I saw them as men and women striving for holiness, trying their best to live out their vocation to chastity, and when I came back, I realized how important it was to get this apostolate going."

The 1986 letter to the faithful from the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith explains that human persons, made in the image and likeness of God, should not be defined by their sexual orientation.

Some have erroneously taught that homosexuality is biologically determined, that change isn't possible, that there is a so-called "gay spirituality" with special "gay gifts" for the Church, and that the homosexual condition is not disordered.

Courage, however, explains that homosexual activity, distinguished from homosexual orientation, is morally wrong. Like heterosexual persons, homosexuals are called to chastity and to avoid non-marital sexual relations in the same way heterosexuals are called to.

The Catholic Church sees those with homosexual and heterosexual attractions similarly in that all have unique talents, strengths, and gifts. However, the Church refuses to consider a person to be "heterosexual" or "homosexual" and says every person has a fundamental identity as a creature of God, and by grace is His child and heir.

Courage now offers weekly meetings in Vancouver that are based on the 12-step program and are designed to help Catholic men and women live in accordance with the Catholic Church's pastoral teaching on homosexuality. Confidentiality is strictly upheld by its members. More information is available at 604-916-6192, e-mail vancouvercourage@yahoo.ca.

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