They meet at least once a month. The day, time and place are hidden. They are “a Life style gay is at serious medical and moral risk” and their pastor advises parents “go” to someone gay wedding –even if you have children getting married – to avoid “cooperating in the bad behavior of others”. Called “International Courage”, they have their headquarters in the United States and, with the approval of the Archdiocese of Toledo, in Spain since 2019.
According to the Archdiocese’s website, his mission in Toledo is a “spiritual pastoral accompaniment to men and women those who are attracted to people of the same sex”. This work is coordinated by a team from the “Archdiocese Delegation for Family and Life” from Toledo.
HE Courage’s “Priest’s Handbook”Updated at the end of December 2020 and to which CASO ABIERTO has access, gives religious guidelines on how they can support, mentor and guide people who are attracted to others of the same sex. It also explains how they should treat families. It includes the involvement of psychologists at certain moments, but does not mention therapies for homosexuals. Its “repair” is always “spiritual”. Its mission is to advise on the “real dangers” of homosexuality.
“Consistent gestures of faith”
pabloHE President of Courage International in Toledohis apostleship to this medium only “make offers” to its members and they decide “Whether they accept it or not. They get to know Jesus and make decisions. Catholic Christianity is a point of freedom, what the manual says are just consistent gestures of faith.”
Courage makes sure it doesn’t censor ‘AMS’ (gay attraction) on its website. Feeling is not a sin in itself, they explain, but they censor it by showing it.
“Avoid Evil”
“It is important for spiritual directors to understand psychological conflicts. predisposing teenagers and adults to AMS“, they explain on their website under the heading ‘Spiritual companionship for people with gay attraction’.
The origin of gay men, they describe, may be that they experience “psychological conflicts.” Between them and following the theses of an American psychiatrist, when it comes to gay men, “lack of bonds and security with a father, brother, or other person of the same sex; negative body image or gross betrayal by other women. responsible for most new infections HIV also exposes participants to other infections such as hepatitis B, gonorrhea, and syphilis.”
They state the following about lesbian women: “Studies show that nearly 50% of gay women sexual abuse Male, twice as long as heterosexual women.
two groups
There are two types of pastoral groups: Courage (courage) for ‘AMS’ and Encourage (encourage) for “relatives” and “…”. Each group is called a ‘section’ and they try to meet once a week, at least those that make up Courage.. “In any event,” the roadmap this medium accesses says that the meeting “should not exceed once a month.” Meetings for “family” and “friends…” can be scheduled every 30 days.
To enter one of these meetings, a preliminary stage must be passed, after which the “new member” commit to attending several meetings (three to five) before he decides the episode isn’t for him.”
“When one of the members has to describe an experience,” they explain in their own way, “they should do it very carefully so that you don’t give them details that might offend them. can provoke impure thoughts in the audience; Also, you shouldn’t mention specific places, websites or apps that you use or try to use.”
in the name of God
The movement, or as it is called apostolic, postulates that “people with homosexual tendencies should be welcome.” respect and mercy. We are aware that they are, and continue to be, the subject of frequently. humiliation, hatred and violence in some sectors of our society”.
Despite claiming that “a gay lifestyle puts men who have sex with men at serious medical and moral risk,” which can be read in the same section of their website (“Spiritual companionship for people of the same sex”).
for relatives
The handbook for religious officials, which they define as “a”. basic reading not only for clergy, but for all members and friends”, but also for families with a loved one who identifies as LGTBIQ+ and even dares to “share” their love on social networks.
The ideal, according to his doctrine, is for the parent or relatives of the homosexual in question to speak to him understandingly and say to him: “Another way is possible. I love you so much, and precisely because I love you, I cannot support your decision regarding this relationship. or the way you describe yourself or introduce yourself.”
According to the Courage group, the source of male homosexuality may be “lack of attachment and security with a father, brother, or other same-sex person, a negative body image, or serious betrayals by other women.”
They include in their recommendations how to treat the spouse of a gay boy – not recognized as a groom or bride – should the situation arise. “Father Harvey, creator of Courage International, has always it is recommended that the child greet their partner with respect, but without treating them as a couple“, marks the document. They give examples: “It is courtesy to send couples a greeting or gift for their birthday or Christmas, but Sending gifts to both of you as you would to a married couple is sending the wrong message.“.
There’s more: “It can be a courtesy to invite them over Christmas or the summer. as you do with friends or family. However, offering a (shared) room for both, the impression that your romantic and sexual relationship is approvedwhich would be inappropriate.” This includes the possibility of sending the couple from home alone to a hotel if necessary.
Be careful if there are children around
“You know we love you and respect your spouse,” the guide advises, the beginning of a father or mother talking to their gay child. “We don’t want you to change to be cute and respectable. Your younger siblings/cousins/etc. they are not yet old enough to understand your relationship And if you act kindly in front of them, it will probably raise questions in their minds that we can’t answer. Out of respect for them and us, we need to ask you to adjust the way you relate, at least when the little ones are around”, she gets the message.
weddings
The handbook for chaplains also states, “As a rule, it is best for Catholics, including parents and relatives, not to attend any wedding that is void under Canon Law.” “There are two reasons: lFirst, cooperating in other people’s mistakes should always be avoided.. It’s hard to deny that by agreeing you said ‘I support what the couple is doing’. Second, It is obligatory to avoid being the cause of scandalthat is, to confuse other people about the importance and accuracy of what the Church teaches us about faith and morality”.
The weight of the EnCourage guidelines is as follows: “Even if people are convinced that participating does not mean supporting what the couple is doing, they cannot avoid the fact that other people at the wedding will interpret their presence in this way.. Scandal must be avoided.”
“Not a sect”
If the contracting party – the son/daughter – moves away from their parents or relatives because of this decision, “they should be told if the only way to maintain a relationship is to submit to someone else’s request.” do something you know is wrongIt’s not going to be a healthy relationship in the long run.”
When asked about this by CASO ABIERTO, Pablo, the person in charge of Courage in Toledo, states: “It is within our apostolic There is no rule prohibitingThere is freedom, there is no religion. Not going to (a gay wedding) is a measure for you. hug as much as you want and you realize your faith.” go to these links with a lot of pain. And those who decide not to go they do not deny their son; The son already knows that his parents have a faith and must be respected”.
look at ttranssexual
While Courage and Encouragement’s “primary mission” is to “support” people who experience same-sex attraction, they also explain in their document that they were called to the apostolate to provide guidance on “transgender”.
“It is in the hands of both men and women to recognize and accept their sexual identity. God wanted to create each individual as a man or a woman; it is every man’s moral obligation to respond to his sexual identity by accepting and cooperating with God’s plan.“, they argue.
Gay Pride: Fasting and Prayers
Gay attraction “will never lead to a morally good sexual act (…). Homosexual acts are disorderly in nature. (…) Under no circumstances can they get approval”. These are some of the propositions of Courage. active in 18 countries, While LGTBIQ+ Pride is celebrated in many places, Courage pastors form a prayer chain they call “Praying Courageously” (Praying Courageously), which can include “fasting” and “virtual pilgrimages”.
This medium contacted Courage International and the Archdiocese of Toledo to find out their versions. The Archdiocese of Toledo sent the Courage group, whose version is included in this report.