January 18th, 2011, 4:18 pm · 23 Comments · posted by
In my Colorado Springs Gazette story posted today on www.gazette.com, I write about the Twelve Steps of Courage. Started in 1980 by the Catholic Church, it is a 12-step program for homosexuality, based on Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step program. The program is coming to the Catholic Diocese of Colorado Springs.
Below are the Twelve Steps of Courage taken from the Courage International website www.couragerc.net.
The Twelve Steps of Courage
(taken from the Courage Handbook)
We admitted that we were powerless over homosexuality and our lives had become unmanageable.*
We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
We made a decision to turn our will and our lives to the care of God as we understood Him.
We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of our character.
We humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings.
We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make direct amends to them all.
We made the direct amends to such people whenever possible except when to do so would injure them or others.
We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for the knowledge of God’s Will for us and the power to carry it out.
Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
*Based on the original Twelve Steps of A.A.:
The Twelve Steps are reprinted with permission of Alcoholics Anonymous World Service, Inc. Permission to reprint and adapt the Twelve Steps does not mean that A.A. is in any way affiliated with this program. A.A. is a program of recovery from alcoholism – use of the Twelve Steps in connection with programs and activities which are patterned after A.A., but which address other problems, does not imply otherwise.
1: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol – that our lives had become unmanageable.
2: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5: Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7: Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8: Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9: Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10: Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11: Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
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Is this serious?
I cannot fathom the mentality responsible for this outright insult to the lives and self esteem of homosexual americans.
Programs like this go a long ways towards letting young people trapped in this lifestyle know that there IS a way out of it. Hope like this serves to stop the suicides caused by people being told they are gay and there is no hope of escape. I mean, how desperate and miserable do you have to be to kill yourself out of hate for your lifestyle? Sexuality like this feeds sexual addiction that is very hard to break away from. We need more centers like this in our area!
Maybe if it weren’t for the HATE and prejudice being aimed at them from the xian homophobes, these people wouldn’t feel that there was something “wrong” with them to begin with.
“Sexuality like this feeds sexual addiction…” Sexual addiction is present in the hetero culture also, therefore, your comment bears no weight. Suicides may also come from societal pressure, familial pressure, religious pressure telling homosexual persons that they are sick (the APA says they are not). Twelve step programs are about much more than addiction. They are about accepting the reality of what you are, they are about finding and utilizing a Higher Power, they are about atonement, and service to fellow man. A 12 step program already exists for those with sexual addiction (SA). To target the homosexual community is just another way to promote the heterosexual agenda.
programs like these gives people traped in the sexual sin of homosexual hope.
Oh look, the child molesters are running a 12 step program.
When dealing with sexual sins, there is not easy solution or answer to help someone over come such issues. They are middle of 2 different groups telling them 2 different things.
Those who are stuck in such sexual sins are being told by one group of people (and Society) that they are ok an do not need help. An that God has made them that way and that they do not need to repent. (which view are not support by God’s Word)
Then there is God’s Word that tells us that any sexual relationship out side of marriage (which is between one man and one woman) is called a sexual sin. An people who are involved in the sexual sins need to repent an turn to Christ. (Which is support by God’s Word.)
The problem for people who are trapped in the sexual sin is dealing with, and finding the strength to resist the temptation that happens. This is where I believe the Church has failed people. The Church seems to struggle with people who are fight against temptation. You have one group that tells the people if you are being tempted and surrender to the temptation then you are not saved to begin with. (they have no support from God’s Word on this issue)
Then you have another group, who says you are not praying hard enough. This is why you are being tempted. That by praying more you can find the strenght to over come. An then when the person fails to overcome the sexual sin. This group only answer again is that they need to pray even harder. (they have no support from God’s Word on this issue)
What is the answer? there is no easy solution or answer… Jesus never told us that it would be easy to service Him ad obey God’s Word. Man’s sinful nature has a desire to control.
What most people here do not want to understand is Christian’s are to try an obey God’s Word and the Word of God tells us what sexual behavior is approved by God and what is not. Christian’s are not to change God’s Word to support society view on sexual behavior
The twelve step program was designed to treat the disease of addiction. Does this mean that according to the Catholic church homosexuality is a disease? If so how could being gay ever be a choice?
[...] if you’re looking for a good laugh check out the 12 steps republished by The Gazette here. My favorite is step two: “We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could [...]
Brennan said. “They are not comfortable with the gay agenda and not comfortable with family oriented (events).”
Possibly the most disturbing thing of all is the fact that an educated community like ours still believes that there is a “Gay Agenda”. This is a ridiculous lie brought to life by the fundamentalist movement headed by some of the most dangerous fascists in America. Robertson and Dobson come to mind immediately and there is no denying their influence. Individually they reach millions of people through their “ministries” and their mass media.
Please, at least quietly resist.
If it doesn’t make sense for heterosexuals to practice these principles then it doesn’t make sense for homoesexuals either. This rediculous hate campaign is obscene.
What the Catholic Church really needs is a 24 Step Program on how NOT to sexually abuse boys.
stop demonizing the LGBT community—–Mykelb stop demonizing the Christian Community
Don’t even try to play the victim, Pastor.
At least not while you enjoy equal rights, and are not being told that you are sick, immoral, damned, and disgusting for simply being you.
wharmaster – do one is tell them that they are sick, immoral, damned, and disgusting for simply being you.
Stop playing the victim….
You and other here have had spend a lot of time demonizing the Christian Community
Steve – what is the gay Agenda?
Of course this infuriates gay people. It continually proves that gay people can change their ways enough to make it to heaven! And yes, it does matter to a lot of people being told they are trapped in the gay lifestyle. The unfortunate thing is that when a story like this becomes public, many gay activists will make it their job to not only harass this church and these people, but also harass the ones they find to be being helped with this program as well. At least it helps stop them temporarily from trying to silence Christians over the truths about homosexuality.
So, Did anybody actually read Mykelb’s post above? Is someone actually moderating this?
I have deleted Mykelb’s inappropriate post. I apologize for the post slipping by me.