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S i d e b a r
COURAGE CHAPTER FORMING ONLINE TO HELP HOMOSEXUALS LEAD CHASTE AND HOLY LIVES
By David C. Morrison
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This Rock
Volume 5, Number 7/8
 July/August 1994 
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MEMBERS of Courage, the Catholic ministry of
support to homosexual-oriented men and women who seek to lead chaste
lives, have begun to form an online version of a local Courage chapter
via e-mail and the Internet. To the best of our knowledge, this is
the first time such a group has sought to form primarily through electronic
communication.
Much as a local Courage chapter, the online version will
aim to keep small the number of people in individual groups. This
will better enable support and friendships to form. Other features
will include general anonymity (except to the moderator), a chaplain
participating, and a commitment to prayer and to spiritual growth.
As is the case with local Courage chapters, members do
not have to be Catholic. All that is required is a willingness to
seek a chaste life in accord with the Catholic Church's teachings
on homosexuality.
The goal of Courage Online is not to supplant or interfere
with anyone's participating in a local, face-to-face Courage group,
but to support those homosexuals who may be geographically remote
from a local chapter or who, because of denominational or other uncertainty,
may feel unprepared to participate face to face.
Courage was established with these goals:
To live chaste lives in accordance with the Roman
Catholic Church's teaching on homosexuality.
To dedicate our entire lives 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 penance and the Holy Eucharist.
To foster a spirit of fellowship in which we may share
with one another our thoughts and experiences and so ensure that none
of us will have to face the problems of homosexuality alone.
To be mindful of the truth that chaste friendships
are not only possible, but necessary to celibate Christian life and
to encourage one another in forming and sustaining them.
To live lives that may serve as good examples to other
homosexually-oriented people.
Anyone interested in participating sincerely in this ministry
is invited to send e-mail to me. My address at American Online is
dcmorrison, and on the Internet it is dcmorrison@aol.com. Each correspondent's identity will be kept confidential.
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