RSSJoe Garcia, 51, cannot remember a time his father, a military man, hugged him.
The first Filipino leader of Courage Philippines, a support group for homosexual people who want to live chaste lives, also described his mother as “domineering” and his siblings as “bossy.”
Growing up in such a family environment “made me feel not man enough,” he said adding that he believes homosexual tendencies can be a result of such experiences.
However, changing a person´s situation and relationships can help change his or her sexual orientation, if the person wants to, he claimed.
Garcia first joined Courage Philippines in 1996. In 2007, he formed his own group, Ichthus, which adopts Courage´s psycho-spiritual approach but caters only to men.
Courage Philippines, which serves homosexual Catholic men and women, is a chapter of Courage International, set up by the late Cardinal Terence Cooke in New York in 1980 with the help of Father John Harvey, an Oblates of St. Francis de Sales priest.
Courage Philippines spokesperson Rolando de los Reyes said the organization maintains that familial and societal factors cause homosexuality, and people who wish to change must be helped to “heal.”
Some studies, on the other hand, have suggested that sexual orientation is genetic.
Citing studies of Father Harvey, de los Reyes maintains, “No one is born gay, and it´s wrong to let people think there is no way out of SSA (same-sex attraction).”
He said this wrong notion is a main reason why the support groups reject an anti-discrimination law proposed in the Philippine Congress´ House of Representatives.
The act penalizes offences such as a refusal to hire people, rejecting applications to the military and schools, and harassment, on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church acknowledges that “the number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible.” Nevertheless, it describes “homosexual acts” as “intrinsically disordered” and “under no circumstances can they be approved.” It calls homosexual persons to chastity.
The Philippine Church´s Episcopal Commission on Family and Life recognizes Courage Philippines and three other support groups for homosexual people, as upholding Church teaching in this regard.
Another group, Gentlemen of the Lord, primarily serves members and beneficiaries of the lay-led Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation. The two other groups, Ichthus and Aftercall, cater to males of all faiths.
De los Reyes, 32, claims to have been “healed” since joining Courage in 2002. He said he attended weekly group meetings of 10-15 participants, prayer sessions and individual consultations geared to help people “heal their hurts” and find ways to satisfy emotional needs while living a chaste life. Membership is kept anonymous.
Like Garcia, de los Reyes said his homosexuality was due to his lack of male identity, which he attributed to familial factors. Recalling he had a domineering mother and submissive father, he said, “I never felt I was a man.”
Garcia recalled joining many sessions in Courage before he could declare, “I´ve been chaste the whole week.” With “hard work,” he has stayed chaste for years and even found himself feeling attracted to women, he added.
The founder of Aftercall, Matt Anjelo de Guzman, said he established the group as a “sanctuary” for people who are “bombarded” with messages saying their homosexuality is “okay” and cannot be resisted.
Garcia, de los Reyes and de Guzman say their groups reject the Anti-Discrimination Act. The groups are joining the Church´s Episcopal Commission on Family and Life in opposing the act at committee hearings in Congress and at forums.
De los Reyes said the act addresses only people´s fear of discrimination, noting it punishes even “perceived” discrimination against homosexuals. He insists it is the “wrong response” because it fails to consider the deeper needs of people with homosexual tendencies and the possibility of curbing them.
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