Gay Catholics, the Courage Apostolate, and Reparative Therapy – by MICHAEL J. BAYLY – The Wild Reed

Gays Reject Catholic Church’s Attempt to “Cure” Them

Gay and lesbian Roman Catholics who contact the Archdiocese

of St. Paul and Minneapolis for spiritual guidance can find themselves

directed toward a 12-step program aimed at changing their behavior.

Australian-born Michael Bayly, who is the executive coordinator of the

Catholic Pastoral Committee on Sexual Minorities, has organized a protest forum. Bayly, who is a member of St. Stephens Catholic Community, believes the Catholic Church needs to be “more accepting of diversity.”

Gay and lesbian Roman Catholics are protesting

a therapy aimed at helping them become celibate.

The programs are provoking national –

and even international – protests from critics.

Gay and lesbian Roman Catholics who contact the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis for spiritual guidance can find themselves directed toward programs aimed at helping them become celibate. Photo

Called reparative therapy, the programs are provoking national – and even international – protests from critics who say they are ineffective at best and, in some cases, harmful. [Skrickler makes quite a jump here. Neither the Roman Catholic Courage apostolate nor CPCSM consider “programs aimed at helping [gay people to be] celibate” as examples of “reparative therapy.” For CPCSM’s concerns about Courage and reparative therapy, click here. As you’ll see, the Church isn’t actually attempting to “cure” gay people - so the article’s headline is erroneous, which is unfortunate for all concerned, i.e., something false is said about the Church and we look like we don’t know what we’re talking about! It should be noted, however, that the Courage apostolate, does not discourage its members from attempting so-called reparative therapy endorsed and/or offered by other organizations (such as NARTH). In relation to our program this evening at St. Martin’s Table, that’s our issue with Courage, not that it or the wider Church are themselves trying to “cure” gays.]

Many see the programs as an example of the Vatican’s swing toward conservatism, and an insulting blow to a decade of bridge-building between the church and the gay community.

“[Retired Archbishop] Harry Flynn came to us – we didn’t go to them, they came to us – in the late 1990s and asked us to serve as resource people for the church,” said Michael Bayly, executive coordinator of the Catholic Pastoral Committee on Sexual Minorities (CPCSM). “Then a new pope comes in. Now the archdiocese won’t even take our phone calls.” Read complete article and more – by MICHAEL J. BAYLY – The Wild Reed

Related links:

Sexual Orientation Is Less About SEX and More About LOVE, Being One With Another Human Being. Attachment Theory - LOVE and RELIGION

No - USA CIVIL LAWS - To Protect CHILDREN From Harmful Influence of - Vatican's Unsubstantiated ANTIGAY TEACHINGS - by Fr. Marty Kurylowicz

Threats, Silence, Harm and Disposal of Catholic Personnel Supportive of LGBT Adults and Children - Ratzinger/Benedict XVI’s Directives To Hierarchy

Impending rules on gay priests create Catholic divide – by Charles Honey – The Grand Rapids Press – October 8, 2005 * Benedict XVI -> SILENCING TRUTH

The Vatican thirst for power divides Christianity and damages Catholicism – Hans Kung - guardian.co.uk