Chastity is not only possible, but beautiful,
joyful and meaningful.
Resources
Support
Courage International: Spiritual support for men and women with same-sex attractions, who strive to live according to the Church's teaching on homosexuality.
Desert Stream Living Waters: A twenty-week program for Catholics and Christians of any denomination who seek healing from their brokenness (not limited to unwanted same-sex attractions).
Chastity Project: Awesome website by Jason Evert
Into the Wild Retreat Weekends (A Catholic Outdoor Experiential Retreat for men) By The Kings Men.
Tools for finding Catholic/Christian therapists
This section is not about finding therapists that specialize in same-sex attractions. Instead, it's about finding counselors that respect one's values and beliefs as a Catholic/Christian. In this way, one can feel safe that one isn't going to be told to live according to the world's culture and values. Catholic/Christian counseling can help a person eliminate shame, anxiety, trauma, maladaptive coping skills such as sex addiction and so much more.
This section is meant to offer tools to help you find a counselor/therapist that is a good fit for you. The tools do not guarantee that you will have a good therapist that possesses the qualities you look for, that it will be a good fit or that he/she does share your values and beliefs. It is meant as a start, to help you find a counselor who possesses the qualities, skills, and values that you are looking for in a therapist. It is important that you feel comfortable with your therapist. If you don't feel safe or comfortable, it is okay to stop and try another one.
Catholic Therapists.Com Website for finding therapists near you that support all the teachings of the church.
Catholic Psychotherapy Association Another website you can use to find Catholic therapists.
Christian Care Connect Website by the American Association of Christian Counselors. Find therapists near you.
Christian Counselors Network Website by Focus on the Family that lists Christian counselors near you.
Christian Counselor Directory Website for finding Christian counselors for you.
Psychology Today Christian counselor directory. (although it's a secular website, they do offer a Christian counselor search) I know a number of people who use this successfully.)
Catholic teachings on same-sex attractions
Catechism of the Catholic Church: (references to homosexuality) paragraphs 2357 to 2359.
"Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination: Guidelines for Pastoral Care." USCCB Website. Other articles on homosexuality as well.
The Bible: (all references to homosexuality found in scripture)
Gen 19 (Sodom and Gomorrah), Lev 18:22, Lev 20:13, Rom 1:24, Rom 1:26-27, I Cor 6:9-10, I Tim 1:10
Dr. Mary Healy. Scripture, Mercy and Homosexuality . ( El Cajon, CA: Catholic Answers Press 2016)
Family resources
EnCourage: Spiritual support for family members and loved ones of those who experience same-sex attractions.
Allison Ricciardi and David Prosen. "Mom... Dad, I'm Gay: How a Catholic Parent Should Respond." The Raphael Remedy (free e-book)
Allison Ricciardi and David Prosen "Mama... Papa, Soy Gay:" The Raphael Remedy (free e-book) (Spanish translation of above.)
Same-sex Attraction: A Parents Guide. Edited By John F. Harvey, OSFS and Gerard V Bradely. (South Bend, Indianna: St. Augustine's Press 2003)
Leila Miller with Trent Horn. Made This Way: How to Prepare Kids to Face Today's Tough Moral Issues. (El Cajon, CA: Catholic Answers Press 2018)
"Invited to Courageous Love" Five-disc DVD film series by Courage Intl. (See films dealing with same-sex attractions below) (Disc 4 deals with the family.)
David Prosen, "Helping Young People Understand Tough Teachings on Sexuality." OSV Newsweekly, May 15, 2019.
Pastoral
Fr. Phillip Bochanski, "No one Lives on a Bridge: How to Accompany those with Same-Sex Attractions." National Catholic Register, October 24, 2018.
Leila Miller with Trent Horn. Made This Way: How to Prepare Kids to Face Today's Tough Moral Issues. (El Cajon, CA: Catholic Answers Press 2018)
Living the Truth in Love: Pastoral Approaches to Same-sex Attraction. Edited by Janet Smith and Fr. Check. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2015.)
Dr. Jean C. Lloyd. Seven Things I wish my Pastor knew about my Homosexuality. Public Discourse; The Journal of the Witherspoon Institute. (author page... check out her other articles too. This one is my favorite)
Truth and Love: Website with resources for bishops, priests, lay leaders and any who minister to those with same-sex attractions.
Online PDF booklet: Executive Summary: Living the Truth in Love (Given out at the conference held in Rome Italy.)
2020 Truth and Love Presentation Reference List Click Here
Catholic/Christian books and articles on the topic of same-sex attractions
Fr. Mike Schmitz, Made for Love, Same-sex Attractions and the Catholic Church.
Daniel Mattson, Why I Don't Call Myself Gay... How I reclaimed My Sexual Reality and Found Peace. Ignatius Press
Excellent articles by Daniel Mattson in Crisis Magazine
Janelle Hallman, The Heart of Female Same-sex Attraction. A comprehensive counseling source.
Excellent and inspiring articles, books and resources by Andrew Comiskey: speaker, author and creator of Desert Stream Living Waters program. Check out Andrew's blog.
Great articles and more by Hudson Byblow.
Avera Maria Santo, Inside My Holy of Holies. (Excellent blog by a young woman who experiences same-sex attractions.)
David Prosen "I am Not Gay... I am David." Life Site News, March 12, 2015 (Reprinted with permission from Lay Witness Mag.)
David Prosen "Bullied 'Out of the Closet' and (Almost) Bullied Back In." Crisis Magazine, July 9, 2015.
Church Teaching on Transgenderism
USCCB Church Document, Male and Female, He Created Them. June 2019. USCCB Website
Ryan T. Anderson, "When Harry Became Sally," Love and Fidelity network, November 2018 (video of lecture)
Robert A.J. Gagnon, "How should Christians Respond to the Transgender Phenomenon?" First Things, October 16, 2015.
An Interview with Walt Heyer, "Speaking Out About the Transgender 'Delusion' " National Catholic Register, May 6
Other helpful Catholic books and resources
Conrad W. Baars MD, Feeling and Healing Your Emotions. Edited by Suzanne M. Baars PH.D & Bonnie N. Shayne, MA
Conrad W. Baars MD, Born Only Once. Edited by Suzanne M. Baars, PH.D and Bonnie N. Shayne, MA
Christopher West, Theology of the Body Explained. Foreword by George Weigel
Novena for Abandonment to God : Beautiful prayer novena. It's listed by Focus TV. Check it out.
Woman and Pornography addiction: This is a topic that is rarely thought about or discussed and is very real and hurting the lives of women who fall into this trap. Check out a recent episode of Woman: Strong Faith, True Beauty . This episode is a must watch that candidly and personally exposes the damage of pornography and the truth how women can struggle with this trap as well, but more importantly, points to the hope we find in Christ.
Shalom World TV: This gem is priceless and is filled with Catholic programs that can help enrich our lives. There is so much here; Truth & Lies, Real Men, Hope to Heal our Darkness and Woman: Strong Faith, True Beauty as discussed above, has many topics important to women. (I wanted to highlight that very important episode on pornography). There are so many more shows and so many topics, all of which are Catholic. (I'm just beginning to explore) It can be watched online, but also through Roku, Smart TV and other devices.
Films dealing with same-sex attractions
Courage Intl: Desire of the Everlasting Hills (Documentary of the story of three individuals who experience same-sex attractions and their journey to God through the Roman Catholic Church)
Courage Intl, Invited to Courageous Love: (Set of 5 DVDs that explore different aspects of homosexuality: chastity, sex and sexuality in the divine design, insights from the medical and social sciences, same-sex attraction and the family and providing pastoral care.)
John-Andrew O'rourke, The Third Way: Homosexuality and the Catholic Church. Blackstone Films.
(The three paragraphs of the Catechism of the Catholic Church are brought to life by testimonies of people, scholars and Catholic Speakers)
Reconciliation: A Christian fiction film that deals with the topic of same-sex attractions in its beautiful story of a reconciliation between an estranged father and son.
Other films (not about same-sex attractions, but Christian, uplifting and inspiring)
Little Boy: Beautiful story about one boy's journey of obtaining faith.
Courageous: A beautiful Christian film that deals with a group of male friends as they explore what true fatherhood is about.
The Heart of Man: Documentary that explores the Heavenly Father by a re-telling of the parable of the "prodigal son" featuring the sharing of real stories of real people along with beautiful cinematography. (currently available on Netflix)
The Reluctant Saint: Story of Saint Joseph of Cupertino (features Ricardo Montalban)
To check out all of David's works:
articles, books, podcasts and his appearance in The Third Way: Homosexuality and the Catholic Church- click Publications
