Courage International

Courage International, also known as Courage Apostolate and Courage for short, is an approved apostolate of the Catholic Church that counsels "men and women with same sex attractions in living chaste lives in fellowship, truth and love". Based on a treatment model for drug and alcohol addictions used in programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Courage runs a peer support program aimed at helping gay people remain abstinent from same sex sexual activity. The apostolate was endorsed by the Pontifical Council for the Family in 1994 through the statement of Alfonso Cardinal López Trujillo. Courage has received criticism from LGBT advocacy groups, such as New Ways Ministry, which say that Courage's methods are "problematic and very dangerous to people's spiritual health". Courage faced resistance from its establishment from conservative Catholics who did not believe any such organisation should be directing its attention fully towards supporting openly gay and lesbian Catholics. However, Courage maintained a number of endorsements from senior bishops of the Church. In 2003, it became a member of Positive Alternatives to Homosexuality (now Positive Approaches to Health Sexuality). Father Harvey's successor was Father Paul Check. He states the program does not support conversion therapy. He has at times been asked to comment on the group experiencing protests from those who object to its belief homosexual activity is sinful. The current executive director of Courage, International is Father Philip Bochanski. Bochanski identifies the group's five goals as: living chastity; developing a life of prayer and dedication; helping one another by sharing experiences; forming chaste friendships; and giving good examples to others. Courage and Ignatius Press organized a Pre Synod conference, "Living the Truth in Love", which took place in Rome on 2 October 2015 to address the pastoral needs of gay Catholics. The conference featured George Cardinal Pell and Robert Cardinal Sarah, and Jennifer Roback Morse of the Ruth Institute, among other speakers; it also heard the testimony of Catholic homosexuals who followed the doctrine of the Church on sexuality.

Courage is officially recognized by the Church hierarchy, and was endorsed by the Roman Curia. Individual chapters are self supporting and exist with the permission of their diocesan bishop. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) recommended Courage as a ministry to gay Catholics in their 2006 publication, Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination. There are chapters in many U. S. cities and several foreign countries. The steps were adapted with the permission of the AA, but without further participation from the latter. Courage describes its goals as "chastity, prayer and dedication, fellowship, support, good example". The organization believes that physical and mental suffering can often be a consequence of moral corruption or vice, and that same sex attraction is a "cross to bear" and an opportunity to grow in holiness. However, Catholics point out that those institutions de pathologized homosexuality largely under political pressure from various pro LGBT groups and figures during the 1970s.

Courage has faced criticism over the years in its approach from Catholics who disagree with Church teachings on homosexuality and argue that the organization promotes "mandatory celibacy for gays and lesbians". and the National LGBTQ Task Force wrote in a report that the "ex gay industry" was "re framing its attack on homosexuality in kinder, gentler terms" in a way that undermines progress towards LGBT rights.