Christopher Kodger wants Bishop Anthony M. Pilla of the Diocese of Cleveland to resign.

``Bishop Pilla is an evil, wicked man, and I demand his resignation,'' said Kodger, 35, of Alaska. ``If he and other leaders who participated in a cover-up don't resign, then we, good Catholics, must starve them out and take back our church. I believe this is a direct mandate of God.''

Kodger said he was molested by the Rev. F. James Mulica in 1981 at the Chapel of the Divine Word in Kirtland in Lake County, which is part of the Cleveland Diocese.

He returned to Northeast Ohio over the weekend ``to speak for the victims of sexual abuse by priests'' after a television report was aired about his situation.

Diocesan officials confirm they had knowledge of Kodger's claim of abuse, but deny that Pilla knowingly moved Mulica or any priest prone to pedophilia from parish to parish. Both Pilla and Mulica declined to comment.

Allegations of sex abuse within the Roman Catholic Church gained national attention in January during the trial of a former Boston priest who was accused of abusing more than 100 children while being shuffled from parish to parish. He was convicted of indecent assault and battery and sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for fondling a 10-year-old boy.

Since then, the number of allegations against priests throughout the nation has grown, and the public has been incensed that some church leaders apparently kept quiet about the problem and failed to resolve it.

In the midst of the scandal, some U.S. dioceses have paid out millions of dollars to settle victims' lawsuits. In others, allegations of abuse are being dealt with by the criminal justice system. And several dozen priests out of more than 47,000 nationwide have been suspended or forced to resign.

In the Cleveland Diocese, which has about 340 priests serving an eight-county area, including Summit, Medina and Wayne counties, 12 priests have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by the Cuyahoga County prosecutor's office.

The Diocese of Youngstown announced last week new allegations of past abuse involving five of its priests. The diocese, which serves six counties, including Stark and Portage, did not release the names of the priests or any information to indicate how many of those priests are in active ministry.

Although all of the recently reported cases are attached to incidents dating back 20 years or more, Kodger's is different because his was reported to the Cleveland Diocese and the Lake County prosecutor when it allegedly occurred in 1981.

His parents, Donald and Suzan Kodger of Brunswick, said they agreed to allow their then 14-year-old son to help Mulica with yardwork at the rectory so Mulica could counsel him about the importance of obeying parents.

Suzan Kodger said that while the family was on a camping vacation in Pennsylvania, she told her son to stay away from a culvert that contained a drainpipe. Despite her request, he and his cousin rode their bikes in the culvert, and Christopher Kodger fell, tearing the ligaments in his knee.

``I was so upset that Chris had not listened to me, and I was talking to Father Mulica about it because we considered him a friend. We played bridge with him at our house and at the rectory,'' Suzan Kodger said. ``Father Mulica suggested Chris could help with yardwork at the rectory and they could talk.

``So, when he called late one afternoon and said, `It's a really nice day, we can do some yardwork, swim and talk and I'll bring him home around 9 (p.m.),' I didn't think anything of it.... Now, I bear a lot of guilt.''

Suzan and Donald Kodger said their son went to the rectory about 4:30 p.m. When Donald Kodger picked his son up about 9 p.m., he learned what had happened.

Christopher Kodger, who was still recovering from his knee injury, said he and Mulica went to a convenience store, where Mulica bought beer. After returning to the rectory, the two went swimming in the pool there.

``After we finished swimming, we were sitting in the kitchen and he brings out a case of beer. We started drinking and he gets me pretty drunk. He reaches over and pulls my shorts down'' and began sodomizing the teen with his hand, Christopher Kodger said.

``He chases me into the back of the house and tackles me down to the ground. I don't know how, but I got away. I ran back into the kitchen, grabbed the keys to his car off the counter and jumped in his car and locked the door.

``He's pounding... pound, pound, pound,'' said Christopher Kodger, motioning with his fist. ``He's saying, `Unlock the door.' He's like a monster. I opened the garage door with the automatic opener and backed out of the garage. And I don't even know how to drive. I made it around the corner and parked in the church parking lot across the street. I figured my dad would be coming soon.''

Meanwhile, Donald Kodger got a phone call from Mulica, saying Chris had taken his car. Kodger asked why. Mulica said he didn't know. Kodger asked if he had called the police. Mulica said no. Kodger said he would be right over and went directly to the rectory.

``As Father Mulica opened the front door for me, Chris was coming in the side door -- apparently, he had seen my car pull into the driveway. I asked what was going on and Father Mulica said, `Don't worry about it. Chris is back. Let's just forget about it,' '' Donald Kodger said. ``I really didn't know what to think. I noticed that the house was in disarray and that Father Mulica's shirt was on inside out and his collar was skewed.

``When we got into the car, I turned to Chris and said `What really happened in there?' ''

When they got home, his mother was informed, and the Kodgers began trying to figure out what to do. They knew if they called the police, the church would be involved in a scandal. They called Donald Kodger's parents for advice. Call the bishop, they said.

``I called the bishop and was told he was asleep and couldn't be disturbed. I explained what had happened and said `either I can talk to the bishop or I can call the police,' '' Donald Kodger said.

Kodger contends that Pilla asked ``what do I have to do to keep you quiet until morning?'' The Kodgers asked Pilla to find Mulica.

``We didn't know what he was capable of doing. We didn't know if he would come to our house or what. Chris was hysterical,'' Suzan Kodger said.

The Kodgers said Pilla called them about 2 or 3 a.m., saying that they had found Mulica in a bar and that he had admitted attacking their son. Pilla immediately removed Mulica from his post at the parish and sent him to treatment.

In subsequent weeks, the Kodgers talked with the Lake County prosecutor, who said that Mulica would likely spend no time in jail and that Chris would have to tell his story in open court. The Kodgers didn't want to risk more damage to their son, knowing Mulica would likely get a slap on the wrist.

Instead of prosecuting, they entered into a settlement agreement with the diocese. The agreement included a monetary settlement of $43,500 and an assurance that Mulica would not be reassigned to a position with access to children.

``Looking back, I wish we would have prosecuted or gone to the police. At least Chris would have seen someone fighting for him,'' Donald Kodger said.

Less than five months after Chris was assaulted, the Kodgers said, Mulica was reassigned to the Chapel of the Divine Word. They said they received a letter, addressed to parishioners, inviting them to a welcome back party for Mulica. After they told Pilla that if Mulica returned, they would meet him at the county line with the sheriff, Mulica did not return, they said.

Robert Tayek, spokesman for the diocese, said he is not aware of a reassignment of Mulica to Divine Word, but pending the prosecutor's investigation, the diocese is not releasing biographical information on any priest. He said at the core of the Kodgers' dispute is whether they objected to Mulica being reassigned to another parish in 1983.

The Kodgers said they were not aware that he was being assigned at a parish at that time, and certainly would not have agreed had they known.

``Why wouldn't we object, if a sodomite was being put back with other prey?'' asked Christopher Kodger. ``There is no way we would agree that it was OK to send him back to a parish. They ruined my life and they're saying we didn't mind if they ruined a few more.''

Tayek said the Rev. Edward Weist, who was secretary for clergy and religious personnel in 1981, made it clear in a letter last week to Pilla that the Kodgers did not object to Mulica's reassignment in 1983. Weist was motivated to write the letter after Fox 8 News in Cleveland broke the Kodgers' story on Thursday. It was reported that Mulica was assigned to St. Jude in Elyria and Holy Redeemer in Cleveland, and that both parishes had schools. The dates of his assignment to those parishes could not be confirmed.

In his letter, Weist stated that he ministered to the Kodger family and treated them ``with compassion and dignity.

``The diocese sent Father Mulica for treatment within a day or two of the alleged transgression. He was out of the diocese for more than two years in which he served as chaplain of an alcohol rehabilitation center in the Detroit area.

``Upon the advice of professional counselors and after conferring with the Kodger family, Father Mulica was returned to ministry in our diocese in 1983. He served at a distant parish ministering mainly to persons with alcohol-related problems.''

Weist also expressed distress ``that others apparently do not believe that we did our best based on the information and advice available.''

The Kodgers say they feel betrayed by the church and its leadership. And they feel responsible for anyone else who may have been molested by Mulica. Christopher Kodger said he is disgusted that church leadership has not moved quickly with a zero tolerance policy that immediately removes any priest involved in sexual misconduct with a child.

``They have decided not to abide in justice because they choose not to root out this most wicked of evils,'' Christopher Kodger said. ``It is time for the good Catholics to stand up for the children. Every parish should have a special collection strictly for the victims because it seems that the church is concerned only with protecting the perverts and sodomites.

``Every diocese headed by a bishop who is guilty of providing further prey to a pervert must immediately resign or parishioners must cease offering one dollar. Every dollar that a person would have normally offered should go into a special collection for the victims.''

The following post from a freeper (letusprey) purporting to be Chris Kodger appeared on June 19:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1422213/posts?page=20#20

36 Parishioners sue diocese claiming funds were diverted: Pilla allowed $2 million diversion

Posted by letusprey to netmilsmom On Religion 06/19/2005 5:29:50 PM EDT · 20 of 20

Hello all.

This is Chris Kodger, the guy from Alaska who blew the whole abuse issue up in Cleveland on the TV, newspaper, and radio.

I have PM'd as many of you as I think are there in Cleveland, or who may have information for me. I did post my email addy to you. My attorney and I have been after him this whole while for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Last week the Hon. Judge Janet Burnside told Pilla's lawyer that "If (we) require these three gentlemans' depositions, then they will get these three (Pilla, Weist, and Tayek) gentlemens depositions." Also, that if there were motions yet to be ruled on on the table, that she expected the clients to be present at the appointed day and time regardless.

This Judge "gets it."

I would like to get everything you all have regarding the "issues" in Cleveland.

There is more afoot than rumors, as my attorney, Wm Crosby has prepared a subpoena for Anthony Pilla, to be serves ASAP. Bill knows what is going on in Cleveland. Any and all information anyone has is requested in preparation for the upcoming videotaped deposition. If I missed you, and you have something I should know about, PM me, and I will reply with an address for you on a very secure server.

Hang in there.

Remember how I called him, publicly, an "Evil, wicked man, and I demand his resignation."?

I have not got it yet, but it may not be too far out on the horizon.

If you are sick of him, now is the time to help me with any and all info.

Thank You!

Christopher D. Kodger

If Pilla offered to resign and you and many others have accepted this offer, why is he still here?

NewsNet5.com

Bishop Pilla Offers To Resign His Post

Diocese Leader Says There May Be Other Abuse Cases

POSTED: 5:18 p.m. EST April 2, 2002

CLEVELAND -- Bishop Anthony Pilla is breaking his long silence on the matter of sexually abusive priests in the diocese, and he sat down Tuesday and talked with NewsChannel5's Ted Henry.

Video

	Bishop Speaks Pilla Upset

Henry said that what Pilla said stunned him -- that there may be more sexually abusive priests in the diocese right now.

Furthermore, Pilla added that he has failed -- that he has not brought enough aid and comfort to the victims of his sexually abusive priests. He also said that he would resign his post as bishop if it would help.

Pilla: "Well, Ted, if I am ever convinced that it is better for the church for someone else to be bishop of the diocese, I would do that," he said.

Henry: "To your knowledge, is there anything left unsaid that we're all going to hear about soon?" Henry asked him.

Pilla: "Yes, I think there will be more cases because of the openness of this, of the greater discussion of this. People are coming forward, and I know we'll have to be prepared to deal with them forthrightly," he said.

Henry: "Will they involve possibly your men here in Greater Cleveland?"

Pilla: "Yes."

Henry: "Are you aware of any such cases now?"

Pilla: "Yes."

Henry: "What's being done with them?"

Pilla: "We will apply the policy, as we said. We will apply the policy as we have applied the policy."

Henry: "Part of your answer was to reply in the future tense; why are you not applying it all equally now?"

Pilla: "We are. We will."

The bishop said that both the police department and county agencies will have a role in the continuing scandal.

Henry said that he has covered Pilla in Cleveland ever since he was elevated to the position of bishop in the '80s and that he has never seen him so hurt, so angry and so determined to change the way his diocese handles these sex crimes and how he personally handles them.

Previous Stories:

April 1, 2002: Another Abuse Case Against Ex-Priest Surfaces
March 29, 2002: Admitted Molester Gets Job Working With Kids
March 29, 2002: Priest Asked To Withdraw Following Abuse Accusations
March 27, 2002: Bishop Pilla 'Angry' Over Sex Allegations Against Priests
March 26, 2002: Local Commission Will Investigate Abuse By Priests
March 26, 2002: Local Ex-Priest Admits To Being Sexual Predator
March 22, 2002: Woman Says She Was Sexually Abused By Priest
August 20, 2000: Shortage Of Priests Affects Nation

Anyway, what's with people when they cover up sex abuse? What are they hoping to achieve?

For Bishop Pilla, it is all about making him look good. He has hired the most expensive public relation firm (Dix & Eaton) and the most expensive law firm (Jones Day) in Cleveland to represent him. Last week, after assigning hundreds of thousands of dollars of legal work to Jones Day, Pilla was sitting in the Jones Day loge for an Indians game being wined and dined. Do you think he and other diocesan officials reimbursed Jones Day for the tickets? In the government and nonprofit world, it is illegal to take gifts from someone you are assigning work to. And of course, Pilla might get the Jones Day gifts, but the people in the pews will be paying the exorbitant Jones Day bills.

D&E HIRED FOR CLERGY ABUSE CASE

Dix & Eaton has been hired by the Cleveland Catholic Diocese to deal with the fallout stemming from allegations of sexual abuse by clergy.

Fifteen priests charged with abuse have been put on administrative leave by Bishop Anthony Pilla.

Since April, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor William Mason has been investigating allegations of abuse brought against 800 people (100 of them priests) that were on diocesan records.

He will soon present his findings to a grand jury. Mason believes there will be some indictments, though not many because many of the cases have been knocked out by the statute of limitations, according to a report in the Akron Beacon Journal.

Bob Tayek, the Diocese's director of media and PR, hired D&E because the Diocese faces a "complicated issue," and wanted an outsider's perspective.

Kevin Donahue, managing director at D&E, handles the Church's account.

By the way, I would note that D&E has done a remarkable job of keeping stories damaging to Pilla out of the Plain Dealer.

Yep.........with language like that......he's a Freeper alright

Marshmallow, read this man's account and then tell me you disagree with his assessment:

Suzan and Donald Kodger said their son went to the rectory about 4:30 p.m. When Donald Kodger picked his son up about 9 p.m., he learned what had happened.

He said when he realized what was happening, he ran.

``When we got into the car, I turned to Chris and said `What really happened in there?' ''

He reluctantly told his father what happened.

``I called the bishop and was told he was asleep and couldn't be disturbed. I explained what had happened and said `either I can talk to the bishop or I can call the police,' '' Donald Kodger said.

Kodger contends that Pilla asked ``what do I have to do to keep you quiet until morning?'' The Kodgers asked Pilla to find Mulica.

``We didn't know what he was capable of doing. We didn't know if he would come to our house or what. Chris was hysterical,'' Suzan Kodger said.

Authorities notified

Instead of prosecuting, they entered into a settlement agreement with the diocese. The agreement included a monetary settlement of $43,500 and an assurance that Mulica would not be reassigned to a position with access to children.

``Looking back, I wish we would have prosecuted or gone to the police. At least Chris would have seen someone fighting for him,'' Donald Kodger said.

<<Back

Man Calls For Indictments After Making Accusations Against Priest

BRUNSWICK, Ohio – A criminal investigation is underway after a man alleged that he was molested by a northeast Ohio priest more than 20 years ago, Action News' Tom Meyer reported.

The alleged victim, 35-year-old Chris Kodger, is angry, vocal and calling for indictments.

Kodger said that Father James Mulica molested him when he was only 14. Mulica served at the Chapel of Divine Word in Kirtland, Ohio.

"We had gone swimming, so I'm in swimming trunks, and we start drinking beer," Kodger said. "He gets me drunk and then he's assaulting me."

Kodger (pictured, above) now lives an isolated life in Alaska, but he flew back to his parents' home in Brunswick to break his silence. A painful process that included some negative words directed at Bishop Anthony Pilla.

"I think Pilla is far worse than a perpetrator because he shelters, feeds, clothes them and puts them where they can get more children," Kodger said. "Really, he's providing prey to these perverts."

Kodger said that Pilla promised that Mulica would never be in contact with children again, but then knowingly moved Mulica from one church and school to others, including Cleveland's Holy Redeemer.

The family was most upset when they said that the diocese tried to reassign Mulica to the Kirtland church.

"That's when I knew I was an absolutely worthless piece of human garbage and the church never cared for me at all," Kodger said.

Pilla declined to be interviewed, but a statement from the diocese said that Mulica received treatment within a day or two and, based on professional advice, he returned to ministry in the diocese in 1983 -- two years after the alleged incident.

Kodger said that he wants Pilla to resign. He gave a statement to Kirtland Police in the hopes that Pilla would be charged with criminal conspiracy.

"Bishop Pilla, you belong in prison with other predators," Kodger said. "This is worse than murder. Murder is forgivable, said Jesus, not the scandalizing of children."

Mulica has reportedly relocated to Arizona and could not be reached for comment.

Now it's up to the Lake County prosecutor to decide what, if any, charges will be filed.

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NewsNet5.com

Victim Of Priest Abuse Wants Changes To System

Local Man Meets With Bishop Pilla

POSTED: 5:45 p.m. EDT June 10, 2002

CLEVELAND -- The pressure is on for Cleveland Bishop Anthony Pilla and others who are meeting this week in Dallas to restore faith in the Catholic Church.


	CHURCH SCANDALS Highlights Of Sex Abuse Response Proposal Meeting Of Bishops: Will It Help? Timeline For Boston Archdiocese Church Too Lenient? Should Celibacy Be Optional? Explaining Pedophilia Discuss: What Can The Church Do? Your Thoughts On The Policy Recommendations?

The church officials are gathering to decide what to do about priests who sexually abuse children.

NewsChannel5's Tony Gaskins put that question to a man who was 14 years old when a priest violated his trust.

Despite intense counseling, Chris Kodger said that he still carries the deep wounds inflicted by a sexually abusive encounter with his priest 21 years ago.

"The way they dealt with it in the past -- they considered people (who) got hurt a liability and an embarrassment, but not the perverts," he said. "And there's all kinds of places they send perverts to get help; there's no place for the victims."

But Kodger now believes that the church is doing the right thing for victims of sexual abuse. So instead of filing lawsuits, he is turning the other cheek to help other victims.

Video

	Victim Reacts

On Friday, he sat down with Pilla looking for assurances that the diocese will never again turn its back on children abused by priests.

"There were mistakes in the past," Kodger said. "Bishop Pilla apologized, and he realizes there were mistakes. I (don't want) all these mistakes to happen anymore -- they've got to stop. I'm satisfied in this diocese that's what will happen."

Past victims like Kodger and the rest of the world will watch to see what policy the bishops will come up with to deal with abusive priests. What must the bishops do to restore faith? NewsChannel5 asked veteran public relations agent Mike Rogers what he would advise if asked by the church.

"Don't wait for the media to call you -- you call them," Rogers said. "Don't react. Take the lead in the story. Cover-ups haven't worked since Watergate. It's the cover-up that's hurt them."

The bishops' meetings in Dallas start Wednesday. Whatever policy they recommend will be sent to the Vatican.

Previous Stories:

May 30, 2002: Bishop Establishes Zero-Tolerance Sex-Abuse Policy
May 6, 2002: Bishop Apologizes For Handling Of Sex Scandal
April 10, 2002: Lawyer Says Bishop's Words Point To Cover-Up
April 3, 2002: Bishop Pilla Offers To Resign His Post
March 27, 2002: Bishop Pilla 'Angry' Over Sex Allegations Against Priests
March 26, 2002: Local Commission Will Investigate Abuse By Priests

The footnote concerning the Catechism was only added after a firestorm of complaints to the Diocese concerning its promotion of the gay agenda - including the rainbow gay pride banner and pink triangles which remain on its website and its promotion and participation in the Cleveland Gay Pride Parade which seems to have ended :

Rainbow Gay Pride Banner:

http://www.dioceseofcleveland.org/gayandlesbianfamilyministry/images/rnbwtile.gif

http://www.dioceseofcleveland.org/gayandlesbianfamilyministry/images/tooosgif.gif

http://www.dioceseofcleveland.org/gayandlesbianfamilyministry/images/glfmlogo.gif

The official logo for the Diocese of Cleveland Gay and Lesbian Ministry [Warning: This is not a joke]:

Go see for yourself:

http://www.dioceseofcleveland.org/gayandlesbianfamilyministry/mission/index.htm

From previous stories on Bishop Pilla:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1060132/posts

In March, 2002, about two years after leaving the diocese, Charlie [the bishop's former lawyer] says he met again with Bishop Gries. “I met with Bishop Roger and I told him as a friend that he needed to tell Pilla to step down. That's all I said.”

I prod him to continue. “Because of the manner in which all of this had been handled.”

Charlie later says, “The thing that really fried me was the way the church in Cleveland has agreed to ‘infanticize' Anthony. It's like he's a child. ‘Oh, he didn't know this, he didn't know that.' Wait a minute, oh merciful God. Then what's he in charge of one million Catholics for? Yes, Quinn did crazy stuff, but he was a lieutenant, you are the general. Why didn't you stop it?

_________________________________________________________

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/762432/posts

The following appeared in "The Wanderer's" From the Mail Section.:

In Cleveland, which has been racked with the most damaging sex abuse scandals outside of Boston and Los Angeles, diocesan officials, including Bishop Anthony Pilla, maintain a stiff upper lip as some homosexual activists in the chancery and parishes continue to transform parishes into gay-friendly communities. Consider:

The Diocese of Cleveland's official web site (www.dioceseofcleveland.com) greets the viewer with a rainbow flag, and gay activists at the diocese's Gay and Lesbian Family Ministry (GLFM) office are way out and way proud.

One member of the GLFM recorded his experience on an area gay web site of his participation in the Cleveland Gay Pride Parade, informing, "The catholic group had a very nice sized contingent. There were a whole ton of other religious groups as well...Oh, did I mention that I am in the same video as a pornstar?!...Our table was almost across from The Grid's table, so we got to watch Matt Rush shirtless signing autographs and posing for pictures most of the afternoon. I felt so uncouth ogling a pornstar and trying to be a respectable representative of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland...

"The Stonewall Democrats had the booth next to The Grid, and they had some mighty fine shirtless guys sitting at their table, too. After we took down our table at the pride festival, seven of us from the Catholic group went out to dinner...We also had the same waiter that we had last time...the cute one with attitude."

The author of that revealing letter is the apparent friend of Brian Halderman, a longtime gay activist of the Diocese of Cleveland who recently announced that he is joining the Society of Mary (Marianists) in Dayton.

In another Internet chat thread sent to FTM by a Cleveland reader, Halderman revealed that while a parishioner at Ascension Church (a church plagued by a number of predator priests), he was a chatechist involved in the sacramental preparation of second graders.

Reader, does all this help you understand what bishops such as Clark and Hubbard and Pilla mean by the "lay-run church.

You can contact the diocese of Cleveland toll free at 1-800-869-6525 or by e-mailing:

info@dioceseofcleveland.org

_________________________________________________________

---------------------------------------------------------

The following exchange appeared in an article on a gay convicted priest here in Cleveland. [Note: Burkhart is a gay detective and McBride is the gay priest]:

Burkhart and McBride dined on crab cakes and chatted lightly. After dinner, McBride turned the conversation to the recent Catholic Church scandal. He hoped that, when it was all over, the church would recognize that priests are sexual beings too -- and that some are gay.

"Back in the 1960s, would you have ever come to a place like this?" Burkhart asked. "I mean, in this town, where you were working?"

"Probably not, no," McBride said. "Realistically, in 1960, no."

"And in certain places it looks like the seminary on Saturday night now," Burkhart joked.

"Yeah, that really is how it is," McBride said.

They compared notes on seeing clergy in gay bars. Then Burkhart stammered as he asked McBride a personal question: "So, whenever you had sex . . . were you bound to go to confession and confess it before you said Mass, or . . .?"

"Well, you were supposed to, yes," McBride said.

"Do you think all these priests do?"

"No," McBride said. "I think they changed their minds and decided it's not a sin." The full article can be found at this link: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/992919/posts

Father Harvey's site does a good job explaining the probelm with Catholics using the word "gay" for same sex attraction- - not to mention using gay pride symbols like the pink triangle and gay pride rainbow:

http://couragerc.net/FAQs.html

Q. Why doesn't Courage use the terms "gay" and "lesbian"?

A. Courage discourages persons with same-sex attractions from labeling themselves "gay" and "lesbian" for the following reasons:

1) The secular world usually uses those terms to refer to someone who is either actively homosexual or intends to be. When a person decides to "come out" and say "I am gay" or "I am lesbian", the person usually means "this is who I am - I was born this way and I intend to live this way. I have a right to find a same-sex partner with whom to have a romantic sexual relationship." To "come out" as being "gay" or "lesbian" doesn't usually mean "I have homosexual attractions and I have a deep commitment to living a chaste life".

2) By labeling someone, we discourage those who may wish to try and move beyond homosexual attractions. Some people, especially young people, are able to further their psychosexual development with spiritual and psychological aid. If we labeled them "gay" and "lesbian", they might think there's no possibility of moving beyond these attractions.

3) There is more to a person than one's sexual attractions. Even if one experienced same-sex attractions for most of one's life, he or she is first and foremost a child of God created in His image. To refer to that person as "gay" or "lesbian" is a reductionist way of speaking about someone. We are even trying now to avoid using the term homosexual as a noun, or as an adjective directly describing the person (i.e. homosexual person). Although it takes more words, we prefer to speak of "persons with same-sex attractions". Fr. Harvey has said that, if he could, he would rename his first book "The Homosexual Person" to something else like "The Person With Homosexual Attractions".

There are people within the Catholic Church who might argue that those who label themselves "gay" or "lesbian" aren't necessarily living unchastely. That's true, but the implications of the terms in today's society don't commonly connote chaste living. Furthermore, they are limiting their own possibilities of growth by such self-labeling, and reducing their whole identity by defining themselves according to their sexual attractions. At Courage, we choose not to label people according to an inclination which, although psychologically understandable, is still objectively disordered.

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