CV NEWS FEED // A Catholic apostolate that ministers with Church teaching and truth to persons who struggle with same-sex attraction recently sent a letter to its members in light of the controversial Vatican document Fiducia Supplicans.
Founded in 1980, Courage International “is a group of Catholics who experience same-sex attractions and who are committed to helping one another to live chaste lives marked by prayer, fellowship and mutual support,” according to Courage’s website.
Among Courage’s five goals as a ministry are the goals “to live chaste lives in accordance with the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching on homosexuality (Chastity),” and for members to “dedicate [their] entire lives to Christ” through various spiritual resources such as “the frequent reception of the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist.”
Courage Interim Executive Director Father Kyle Schnippel sent the letter to Courage’s members on January 9 in light of Fiducia Supplicans, the Vatican document that allowed for priests to bless same-sex couples under certain requirements.
Schnippel wrote that Fiducia Supplicans “has caused a lot of noise in the media, both secular and Catholic,” and lamented that “there was often minimal relevant conversation about the actual content of the document or the perennial theology that the document explicated.”
“The document was intended to develop a deeper appreciation of the pastoral meaning of simple blessings,” Schnippel continued:
The clarification issued January 4th was made as a result of the diversity of reactions and pastoral implementation of this development. There is a clear reiteration that this development in no way changes Church teaching on the Sacrament of Marriage and sexuality, contrary to many news reports and social media posts.
Schnippel encouraged members to read or reread Fiducia Supplicans and the January 4 clarification, and asked that members “do so in a spirit of prayer and with peace of heart open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.”
“We would invite you to read and meditate on John 8: 11 and Matthew 19: 16-22, before reading the documents, so that you might be better prepared to receive their contents without bias,” Schnippel wrote.
John 8:11 is a verse from the story of Jesus and the woman who the Pharisees caught in the act of adultery. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ translation reads that when the Pharisees wanted to stone the woman to death, Jesus responded to them in John 8:7, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”
John 8:9-10 reads, “And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him.Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’”
“She replied, ‘No one, sir.’ Then Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go, [and] from now on do not sin any more,’” reads John 8:11.
The other Scripture passage Schnippel recommends is Matthew 19:16-22, the story of the “Rich Young Man.” The USCCB’s provided translation reads:
Now someone approached [Jesus] and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He asked him, “Which ones?” And Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother’; and ‘you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to [the] poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Schnippel wrote, “Much of the coverage — both secular and Catholic — has been presented in such a way as to enflame our emotions which inhibits our ability to hear the voice of Jesus who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life or to objectively apply our reason to the arguments.”
Since its founding, “Courage’s mission has been to proclaim the Truth of Jesus Christ, as handed on to us by our Holy Mother Church. Particularly her teachings on sexuality, the identity of the human person, complementarity of the sexes or masculinity and femininity, and what it means to be beloved children of God,” Schnippel continued:
Likewise, our apostolate has always proclaimed the call of the Gospel to everyone of God’s children to live a life of chastity and virtue that best fulfills their vocation in life.
What we may be known best for is the charitable, merciful, and compassionate pastoral care we have offered and have encouraged others to offer to our brothers and sisters who experience same-sex attraction.
The letter included several resources providing context for Fiducia Supplicans and the USCCB’s response to the Vatican document. The letter also linked the response of Bishop Andrew Cozzen of Crookston, Minnesota to Fiducia Supplicans for further reading.
Schnippel concluded, “With God’s help, we will continue proclaiming and ‘living the truth in love’, we will always be faithful to the Holy Catholic Church, and we shall remain so by the guidance of the Holy Spirit and by humble obedience to Christ’s Vicar on Earth, the Pope.”
