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Groups respond to inclusion of controversial group founded to 'help' gay Catholics follow church teachings
By Anne-Bénédicte Hoffner | France
The Diocese of Bayonne in southwest France and the Courage group have planned two information evenings on LGBT issues for March 7 and 8.
Two speakers, Father Louis-MarieGuitton, who is responsible for family pastoral care in the Diocese of Fréjus-Toulon and regional chaplain of the Courage association and a member of the group, will address the meeting.
Alerted by an article in "Sud-Ouest" newspaper, the SOS Homophobia association published a statement Feb. 26 in which it "firmly condemned the holding of this event and the serious risks that it involves for lesbian, gay, bi and trans (LGBT) people."
"The Courage association, which is a partner in the meeting, has been subject to several complaints in the United States, where it organizes "homosexual healing therapy," said the statement, which was picked up by the Catholic "David and Jonathan" group.
"Far from helping and supporting LGBT persons, this kind of event may cause people to experience feelings of guilt concerning their sexual orientation or their gender identity.
"It could also lead to lower self-esteem, isolation of the people involved and may even lead to suicide attempts," the statement added.
SOS Homophobia also criticized what it characterized as "the irresponsibility of the French Bishops Conference, which by allowing this kind of event to be freely organized, is helping maintain a high level of homophobia."
Stating that it had alerted France's Interministerial Mission of Vigilance and Struggle against Sectarian Excesses (Miviludes), the group appealed to the diocese and the French Bishops Conference to "cancel the event."
Meanwhile, the Arcolan association, which is made up of 27 movements, parties and trade unions, called on officials and citizens to assemble "in front of St. Jacques presbytery" where the March 8 event will take place.
Courage was founded in New York nearly 40 years ago by Cardinal Terence Cooke and Father John Harvey for persons "afflicted by the trial of same-sex attraction," the association said on its website.
Its first meeting took place in September 1980 at South Ferry in New York City.
At a practical level, Courage members support each other through regular meetings that aim to help people achieve "external chastity in line with the teaching of the Catholic Church as well as internal chastity or 'chastity of the heart.'"
"Prayer, Mass and Reconciliation as well as a life integrated into the Christian community and the service of others are the only means of achieving this goal," the association said.
"Moreover, the spiritual fatherhood of the priest-chaplain of a Courage local group can help to bind a 'paternal wound,' particularly in the heart of a man," the association said.
Courage also organizes a program called "Encourage" as a service to members' families, the group said, adding that its services are "international" and "supported by the Holy See."
To illustrate its "apostolate," the group has posted on its website a talk by Father Paul N. Check, a priest of the Diocese of Bridgeport and director of Courage International.
Father Check described same-sex attraction as 'a developmental disorder,' which is both treatable and avoidable."
"It indicates an incomplete development of character probably based on a convergence of several factors, including temperament, environment, experience and free choice," Father Check said.
In its FAQ section, the website also stated that "there is no obligation for members of Courage to seek to become heterosexual because there is no certitude that this result can be achieved."
"If one of our members wishes to attempt to orient him or herself towards heterosexual development, we encourage and help him or her, while proposing as an absolute priority that he or she deepen his or her Catholic faith and obedience to Christ," it said.
Father Guitton told La Croix he was astonished at "the violence" of the reactions drawn by the conference.
"I am convinced that what Courage does is a magnificent apostolate," he said.
"To speak of 'healing therapies,' is an accusation. Courage does not do this," Father Guitton said.
"Our teaching is in line with what the church teaches, namely that we have a duty to welcome people while recognizing that homosexual acts are disordered."
Courage group leader in Paris, Xavier Guillaume, also confirmed that the group "absolutely does not carry out healing therapy."
"Some people do also follow psychological treatment but there is no question of healing taking place at our meetings," he said.
"During our first meeting at the Paray le Monial monastery three years ago, we invited a psychologist to speak for an hour on the causes, or rather the mechanisms that could lead to such attraction, particularly childhood traumas.
"However, that is not what interests us most. We primarily want to focus on accompaniment," he said.
With respect to criticism by the SOS Homophobia group, Guillaume, who said he has been "a Christian for ten years" but who had lived with a partner prior to that, is also astonished by their virulence.
"We live in a society where people say that homosexual attraction is in line with human sexuality.
"Allow me to say that I think differently. Those who do not agree will no doubt not understand our way of thinking and will not come to our meetings. But we are not forcing anyone to come!"
Contacted by La Croix, Bayonne Diocese did not wish to make any comment or confirm the holding the two meetings.
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