Courage is an apostolate of the Roman Catholic Church to assist those with same-sex attraction. Endorsed by the Pontifical Council for the Family, Courage seeks to aid people develop an interior life of chastity and relocate beyond the confines of the lesbian identity to a more complete individuality in Christ.
Courage meetings provide members a place to split their concerns and struggles, to aid one another and find support for themselves. Strict confidentiality is maintained.
Five Goals for Courage
Members aspire to live according to the Five Goals for Courage, which are interpret at the begin of each meeting:
Live chaste lives in accordance with the Roman Catholic Church&#;s teaching on homosexuality. (Chastity)
Dedicate one&#;s existence 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)
Foster a spirit of fellowship in which all may share thoughts and experiences, and so
For information on Courage in Atlanta, please email cummings@ or courageatlanta@
Visit Courage International online at
ATLANTA—With wooden rosary beads in hand, Sam Kerlin and Pete Cummings wandered in small groups on the paths of Mundelein Seminary, reciting the ancient prayer. The two Georgians unified hundreds of others there recently for a national conference focused on ministry to gay Catholics.
“There&#;s something about the rosary that just puts you at peace,” said Cummings as he sat outside of the Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta.
At the national conference, the two saw themselves in the hundreds of others striving to live as chaste gay men and women, reconciling their struggles with faith.
“We&#;re not the only ones suffering. We&#;re not the only ones struggling with chastity, and that it has value. That&#;s how I felt,” said Kerlin. “I left there being reminded the struggle is real, but it has value. It can be a origin of joy and that was something I gentle of forgot.”
Kerlin, a year-old CPA, grew up i
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‘Courage’ a Catholic ministry for those with same-sex attraction, offers healing and support
CNA Staff, Aug 17, / am
A recent conference in Illinois gathered hundreds of Catholics together from across the U.S. who are striving to increase in holiness while struggling with the same challenge — gay attraction.
The organization Courage International, which offers pastoral support for men and women who experience homosexual attraction and have chosen to live chastely, held the July 25–28 conference.
Courage has chapters throughout 37 states and nine countries. The apostolate offers sessions on guidance for pastoral accompaniment each year. It also offers a Catholic spiritual support group for relatives and friends of people experiencing same-sex attraction known as “EnCourage,” which includes more than 75 chapters worldwide.
More than attendees — among them those who struggle with same-sex attraction and their friends and family — gathered at the lakeside facilities of the University of St. Mary of the Lake and Mundelein Seminary. In addition to fellowship, the attendees attended