by Rev. Herbert Nichols

In the gospel Thursday as Jesus prepared to return to the Father he instructed his disciples to wait in prayer, for the arrival and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Tradition tells us that they were blessed with seven biblical gifts first spoken of by the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, and more recently by Our Holy Father Pope John Paul in organizing this Novena some dozen or more years ago.

The first is the gift of wisdom, which the Pope describes as the aversion to perishable thoughts of the world and the desire only after the things that are eternal. That sounds very much like Francis of Assisi; yet Francis had the wisdom to know that even many graced filled people could not live the intensity of that commitment unless truly gifted by God.

Nevertheless, not being able to live in full intensity does not excuse or preclude us from living in so far as we are able to concentrate our focus of heart and desire on the lord, the creator and not particularly in any one of his creations.

This is not because we are evil. A creation of God cannot be evil; though the misuse of God's gift may become morally evil, but what God has made is alive in Him.

More recently, Courage, a group founded in 1980 by Father John Harvey, an Oblate of St. Francis de Sales, modeled on the very successful 12-Step program initiated by AA and now widely used by others, is an international Vatican approved organization with more than 90 chapters in 70 dioceses across the US and in Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Great Britain.

Courage is neither a therapy group or a social action group, but rather, a spiritual support group that helps men and women to live a chaste life according to the Catholic Church's teachings on homosexuality.

The group’s goal is not to change a homosexual person into a heterosexual person but to bring them to Christ. The focus is not on change but on spiritual growth through relationship to Jesus Christ.

A common misassumption about homosexual people is that their sexuality must be repressed. Behind that assumption is a Freudian premise that everyone needs to have physical pleasure to be normal and happy. The idea that persons who take a vow of chastity are necessarily lonely and unfilled is a grave misunderstanding.

Along with Wisdom comes the gift of understanding, which John Paul, calls the enlightenment of our intellect by grace, and counsel, the power to discern, to know, to choose that which is good over bad, or better over good. This gift is linked with the virtue of humility in that it requires listening to the advice of others and not choosing arbitrarily and independently.

The position of Courage is to enable homosexuals to feel welcome in the Catholic Church. According to Church teaching it is not sinful to have same-sex attractions, but it is sinful to act on them.

Within this perspective, Bishop-elect George Coleman with the other three Ordinaries of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have asked that the following information be presented at all Masses this weekend:

"Dear Fellow Catholics,

Our public officials are debating the definition of marriage. As bishops of the four Catholic dioceses of Massachusetts, we wish to offer some reflections on this debate and to ask your help in this critical time in our Commonwealth.

First we will describe what is being discussed in the state courts and Legislature. Second we will share an overview of the Church's teaching on marriage; and thirdly, we urge you to contact your state legislators to support the Marriage Affirmation and Protection Amendment.

The State Supreme Judicial Court has a case presented before it which asks the judges to change the legal definition of marriage. The case is called Goodridge vs. Department of Public Health. The Court may issue its decision sometime during this summer.

Under present state policy only a man and a woman can apply for a marriage license. The plaintiffs want the court to declare that this policy violates the state constitution. They want this policy struck down so that any two adults, regardless of gender, can get married.

Many experts on both sides of this debate thinks that the odds are high granting the plaintiffs what they wish for, resulting in a ruling redefining marriage. Such an outcome would have devastating consequences locally and nationally.

In response to the Goodridge case, state lawmakers in Boston have filed the Marriage Affirmation and Protection Amendment. This proposal would amend the state constitution. It would reaffirm the legal definition of marriage as the union between one man and woman. It would reverse any decision in Goodridge that changes this definition. We strongly support this amendment.

The Church's teaching on marriage remains constant and clear We would like to share a summary of that teaching as issued on behalf of all the Catholic bishops in the US in a "Statement on Same-Sex Marriage" in 1996 which reads in part as follows:

The Roman Catholic Church believes that Marriage is a faithful exclusive and lifelong union between one man and one woman, joined as husband and wife in an intimate partnership of life and love. This union was established by God with its own proper laws. By reason of its very nature, therefore, marriage exists for the mutual love and support of the spouses and for the procreation and education of children.

These two purposes, the unitive and the procreative, are equal and inseparable. The institution of marriage has a very important relationship to the continuation of the human race, to the total development of the human person, and to the dignity, stability, peace and prosperity of family and of society.

Furthermore we believe the natural institution of marriage has been blessed and elevated by Christ to the dignity of a sacrament. This means that Christian marriage is more than a contract. Because they are married in the Lord, the spouses acquire a special relationship to each other and to society. Their love becomes a living image of the manner in which the Lord personally loves His people and is united with them. Living a Christian sacramental marriage becomes their fundamental way of attaining salvation.

Because the marital relationship offers other benefits, unlike any other, to society and to the church, we wish to make it clear and obvious that the institution of marriage, as the union of one man and one woman, must be preserved, protected, and promoted in both private and public realms. At a time when family life is under significant stress, the principled defense of marriage is an urgent necessity for the wellbeing of children and families, and for the common good of society.

Thus we oppose attempts to grant the legal status of marriage to a relationship between persons of the same sex. No same-sex union can realize the unique and full potential which the marital relationship expresses.

For this reason, our opposition to "same-sex marriage" is not an instance of unjust discrimination or animosity toward homosexual persons. In fact, the Catholic Church teaches emphatically that individuals and society must respect the basic human dignity of all persons, including those with a homosexual orientation. Homosexual persons have a right to and deserve our respect, compassion, understanding, and defense against prejudice, attacks and abuse.

We therefore urge Catholics and all our fellow citizens to commit themselves both to upholding the human dignity of every person and to upholding the distinct and irreplaceable community of marriage" -- This concludes the Statement of the National Bishops.

In light of this teaching, we are very concerned about what the Court may do in the matter of the Goodridge case. If legal marriage is redefined in Massachusetts so that any two people regardless of gender can be married, then the state will no longer be able to promote the union of a man and a woman as uniquely beneficial to society.

The Catholic Church and other private institutions with moral objections will be forced to change their employment and other policies to recognize other relationships as marriage, or face discrimination lawsuits.

The stakes are very high. Marriage as we know it will be irreparably harmed if we don't respond quickly. We face a critical moment in the history of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, requiring our urgent attention. How can you help?

We ask everyone in Church to write, to call or e-mail your state senator and state representative and get many of your friends do the same. Letters are especially effective: Urge your legislators to support House Bill 3190, the Marriage Affirmation and Protection Amendment. The House and Senate must meet together in joint session to approve this amendment twice before 2006. Getting the first favorable legislative vote now in 2003 would send a strong signal to the courts--to let the people decide--we are the commonwealth. Time is of the essence, so please act quickly.

Be sure to look in your parish bulletin to find more details on how to reach your legislators, how to join the Massachusetts Catholic Conference--Net for e-mails, and how to access the MCC website for still more information and assistance. Please act immediately before it is too late; and please don't forget to pray.

Next Sunday's feast of Pentecost -- the 50th day brings to completion the Lenten/Easter Cycle that began with cold ashes and embers. It is important to remember that salvation has come to us, not in the ashes but in the Blood, the Light, the Fire.