Catholic "Courage Apostolate" is a Silly Same-Sex Celibacy

The poorly-named “Courage Apostolate” wants members to overcome the “thorny affliction of their same-sex attractions” through celibacy, as the Raleigh News and Observer reported February 16th. But both the perceived problem and solution are flawed.

Same-sex attraction is a morally-neutral and harmless biological variation. Those who think otherwise are often both the victims and afflicters of thorny religious doctrines written before science illuminated our understanding of human sexuality.

Even if there were anything unnatural about a consistent variation in sexuality found across the world, the solution is ridiculous.

Completely suppressing a natural part of biology just drives it underground. Could the relatively high prevalence of child molestation by Catholic priests be related to celibacy? Many think so. Likewise, research suggests that ministries aimed to “cure” gays and lesbians just does not work.

True courage comes in efforts to enlighten religious leaders on the unnecessary pain these so-called “ministries” create. I suggest the movie “For the Bible Tells me So” and the book “Crisis.”

Only when we see the problem as religious-based bigotry can productive solutions be found to reform the church, not its people.