Archive | February 24, 2012

The Five Goals of Courage

Feb24

The following Five Goals of Courage were created by the members themselves, when Courage was founded. The goals are read at the start of each meeting and each member is called to practice them in daily life. 

1. Live chaste lives in accordance with the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching on homosexuality. (Chastity)

2. Dedicate one’s life to Christ through service to others, spiritual reading, prayer, meditation, individual spiritual direction, frequent attendance at Mass, and the frequent reception of the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist. (Prayer and Dedication)

3. Foster a spirit of fellowship in which all may share thoughts and experiences, and so ensure that no one will have to face the problems of homosexuality alone. (Fellowship)

4. Be mindful of the truth that chaste friendships are not only possible but necessary in a chaste Christian life and in doing so provide encouragement to one another in forming and sustaining them. (Support)

5. Live lives that may serve as good examples to others. (Good Example/Role Model)

The Five Goals of Courage are a Direct Quotation, from CourageRC.Net: http://CourageRC.Net/Our_Five_Goals.html

Related articles

“Courage was founded by Cardinal Terence Cooke, former archbishop of New York, and led for many years by Father John F. Harvey, OSFS. In 2010, Father Harvey died at age 92; the apostolate is currently led by Father Paul Check. There are more than 100 Courage chapters and contacts nationwide; there is also an outreach for spouses, relatives, and friends of persons with same-sex attraction called EnCourage.”

“Courage makes a distinction between homosexual attractions or feelings and the behavior of acting on those feelings. The feelings themselves are not sinful, the organization notes, but homosexual acts are. Deacon Pallotti continued, ‘Courage will not reduce a person’s identity to their sexual desire; [those with same-sex attraction] are people with full human dignity not defined solely by their sexual desire.’”

The above quotation is from an article on “Ignatius Insight Scoop” link in “Related Articles.”

With God All Things Are Possible!

My Two Cents Worth:

+ Rest In Peace, Fr. Harvey. You were truly a generous priest to God’s People. “Well done, good and faithful friend.”

* And, “No,” I’m not Gay. I just don’t mind pointing folks, towards Christ and His Catholic Church. This “Courage” and ENCourage Group is okay’d by the Catholic Church.

*The Phoney “Dignity” group is not of Christ nor of His Catholic Church. Yes, some hold their meetings on Catholic Property, by dissenting, bad Catholic Priests, who should be Excommunicated. But, make no mistake; “Dignity” is not approved of by the Catholic Church, nor does Christ approve of it.

* Any priest who privately offers Gay Marriage, is not a good Catholic Priest. He is trying to re-make the Catholic Church in his own image, not Christ’s. And, yeah, one priest here in my town offers that. Seems the Bishops do not correct it, or maybe they just don’t know it’s going on.

* I do not respect Dissent in the Catholic Church, from folks on the Left or the Right. I detest groups like: Dignity, Call to Action and SSPX. They do NOT represent the Catholic Church, in any way, shape, or form. “Ipso Facto” which means “by the very fact” that they dissent from Church Teachings, and haven’t repented of it, they excommunicate themselves, from Christ and His Catholic Church, He founded on the Rock of Peter. IF they Confess their sins, and try to start over, I believe their excommunication is lifted.

* It takes time, for the Church to get the proof they need to silence or disband dissenters on the right or left.

* Be patient. And, pray for one another. “There but for the Grace of God, go I,” said St. Francis of Assisi….when a friend pointed out that a man they knew went into a brothel.

* Our job is to pray for ourselves and one another. “One up manship” is no way to be. We are all in this life together. We have to do our part and love, forgive and pray for one another, and correct when we can. That’s all I know, to do.