Courage

Today we look at what it is like for people who wish to follow the teaching of the Church but are attracted to those of the same sex. Fr Delaney of Motherwell Diocese and Elena Feick write for us.

As a priest, it is an amazing thing to be able to hear confessions and to forgive sins in Jesus’ name.  But, as a Church, we also have a responsibility to offer people opportunities to form their consciences and to cultivate virtues.  As a newly ordained priest, I heard countless confessions of people struggling with same-sex desires.  They knew the Church’s teaching and were trying to live according to it, but they often felt lonely and unfulfilled.  This often led to a cycle of masturbation, pornography consumption or clandestine sexual encounters, which, in turn, led to intense burdens of guilt and shame.  Of course, these are temptations for everyone, but the fact that there can still be something of a taboo associated with homosexuality in the Church means that people can be more likely to remain locked in these negative cycles.

When I first heard of Courage, I thought it was a great idea.  These men and women I had encountered frequently, who were already trying to live the virtue of chastity, would now have a ‘support group’; they would know that they were not alone and that the Church cared about their spiritual and emotional well-being.  In addition to the grace of the sacraments, they would be supported by the friendship and fellowship of others who understood.

I have found great joy in being a Courage chaplain.  I think the most amazing part for me has been seeing men and women truly stepping into the light and claiming their true identity as sons and daughters of the Father, without having to hide or disown a part of themselves.  They can know that they belong fully in the Church.

Of course, Courage isn’t for everyone.  But if the Church calls people to chastity, she has to have the heart of the Good Shepherd, supporting men and women along the way. 

I have been asked, sometimes disparagingly, why there is no group supporting heterosexual people to live chastely.  My response is always the same: What a great idea!

Fr Martin Delaney is a priest of the diocese of Motherwell and parish priest of St Aloysius & The Sacred Heart, Chapelhall and Salsburgh. He is also has a chaplain to the Courage Chapter in Motherwell Diocese since its beginning. 

Sancta Familia Interview: Elena was interviewed by Sancta Familia on the Catholic Faith and Same Sex Attraction. A 30 minute interview.

Homosexuality, SSA and the call to Chastity: Elena Feick writes about how it is for her and others who are attracted to people of the same sex but wish to follow Church teaching.

Courage UK - A Peek Inside: It can be a difficult and lonely experience for those who are gay and in the Church. Thankfully there is an International Catholic Apostolate here to help. Elena gives us a peek inside one of their local meetings.

Love and Same Sex Attraction: A talk given by Fr Mike Schmitz from Ascension Presents.

If anyone has been affected by the issues brought up in this edition please get in touch and I can help you get in contact with Elena herself or with Courage UK.

St Kenneth

A.D 599. Feast Day 11th October

St Kenneth was Irish and was a very popular Saint in Scotland. A child of poor parents, he became a Monk under St Cadoc in Wales and was known for his perfect obedience to the Saint. He was ordained in Rome and after spending some time in Ireland with the likes of St Comgall, he left for Scotland where he was supposed to have started a monastery in St Andrews. He also spent time at Iona and went with St Columba to Inverness to speak with King Brude. It was said he did the Sign of the Cross that made King Brudes hand wither. The Saint has many dedications to himself up and down the country including one in Laggan near Inverness. This author would also like to make a comparison to St Kenneth’s Gaelic name; ‘Cainnech and Cináed’ with the Inverness-shire town - Cannich, that lies on the Western side of Loch Ness past Drumnadrochit. The author is wondering whether there is an ancient relationship there?

St Kenneth returned to Ireland, began another Monastery at Aghaboe and died there.

St Kenneth - Pray for us.