What Would Father John Harvey Say? Calumny Against Courage

Thank you to the wonderful collaborative team at Courage International for their prompt response to the “mischaracterization” of a thoroughly truthful and loving  Catholic apostolate and for calling out the devious detraction caused by the Vatican Synod Report that one must conclude has its aim in diminishing the presence and influence of those who seek to authentically reconcile persons experiencing same-sex attraction with the fullness of Faith, Hope and Charity and strive to live a life of virtue. 

 
How would Father John Harvey, founder of Courage International in the late 1970s,  respond to the Vatican’s General Secretariat of the Synod’s final published report of Working Group 9 that contained calumnious   reference to the Courage Apostolate for men and women experiencing same sex attraction but seeking a life of virtue, including chastity?  

 
One first has to understand that Father Harvey was a gentle and humble priest who devoted much of his life to assisting those who felt helpless and lonely in same sex attraction to realize God’s love for them,  and that, by His grace, they could attain a fully robust Christian life.   However, all of Courage’s work was accomplished with full respect for the dignity of individual persons to freely accept or reject the tenets of Courage.  The Synod report would have readers convinced based on one personal account that Courage coerced reparative therapy.  Therein, too, is the unjust, implicit accusation that Courage is judgmental as well as coercive.  By close association, this also casts family members of  EnCourage  in the same negative shadow.

 
Let’s step back first, especially from the temptation to be reactive.  A visit to the Father John Harvey Guild helps rightful perspective.  To cite the website and Father Harvey, some visitors to their 1990 annual conference proposed that the sixth goal after ones for chastity prayer, fellowship, support and good example, would be reparative therapy.  That was rejected.  While psychological help can be engaged to move away from unwanted attractions, that was always and continues to be an option, not an obligation.  Furthermore, quoting Father Harvey,  Courage  “promotes the chastity of the heart within the Church.”

 
Perhaps a better way of stating this objective would be to cite St. Thomas Aquinas who accepted the reality of human nature but that:   “Grace perfects nature.” We are all fallen, but God will “catch us” and place us upright to walk towards Him.  In fact, any of us could likely admit a fault, imperfection, or flaw that leads or led to habitual sin of some sort.  We all struggle with something.

 
Furthermore, Father John Harvey was absolutely nonpolitical in his public engagements, as rarely as that may have occurred on the secular scene.  As an Oblate of St. Francis de Sales, he always emphasized the devout life as a way of attaining love and peace.  A repetitive reader of this Doctor of the Church’s  Introduction to a Devout Life, Father Harvey strived to live by its direction.    He might have consulted this invaluable work in formulating a Courage-affirming response to the Synod report.

 
He might likely have set his response upon the premise that we are all called to “purification and purgation” of all affection for even venal sin.  In this manner, Courage is a ministry that addresses just one area of serious temptation for many persons, but it is not the only one for certain.  Consider the other sins associated with disordered sexuality, including pornography and all types of addiction.  Moreover, the Five Courage Goals   emphasis God’s generous giftedness to be cherished by a live of sanctity on a daily basis. (https://couragerc.org/resource/5-goals-courage/ )  These also foster virtue to triumph over the seven deadly sins.  The Synod erred in isolating same-sex attraction in such an obviously political and polarizing way when the Church should be addressing sin…period.

 
Absolutely, Father John Harvey, in response to the Synod would emphasize that prayer is essential regardless of how persons deem their own sexual attraction, as well for parents and family members.  (Encourage  was formed for the latter.) Even if currently one obstinately believes that acting upon same sex attraction is acceptable to God, that person should still persist in seeking grace to know Truth.  One sure way is by knowing and practicing virtues.  With respect to Courage, Father Harvey might incorporate some of St. Francis de Sales wisdom on Chasity and how to persevere it.   

 
I would expect that Father Harvey would also emphasize the cultivation of genuine friendships and the signs of evil or vain associations.   He would caution against being hyperbolic, anxious, or surly when reacting to those who treat us unjustly or even in slanderous ways.  One caveat:   he would acknowledge that we must speak up when persons of rank scandalize or mislead those under their authority, and this includes the Church.  In this case, would Father John Harvey not respond as Father Blatchford and the Courage Board did?  In the name of integrity and courage, personally, I am convinced he would have communicated his concerns over this blundering document that does such a disservice to conflicted souls.  

 
Finally, Father Harvey would calmly remind us, I think, to “disregard the criticisms of this world’s children” to quote St. Francis de Sales.  He might have mentioned saints who steadfastly defended the Faith, particularly those  chaste spiritual warriors  who combatted evil forces to the point of white or red martyrdom. .

 
The letter would likely close with prayers but also his fraternal love for even those who oppose God and sign off with a resounding, “Live, Jesus.”

 
(The foregoing article arises solely from personal fervor over the unfortunate Synod reference to Courage International  and my personal faith journey with loved ones experiencing same-sex attraction for over five decades.  Kindly do not construe, in any way, this as an official missive from Courage International which is most capable of communicating Truth and Love in their mission without any assistance from me.)