Denver Catholic

Priest shares Church teaching on sexuality as synod debates family issues BY WAYNE LAUGESEN As a controversial document emerged from a Vatican synod Oct. 13 about homosexuality, divorce and birth control, Fa- ther Paul Check lectured stu- dents at the Augustine Institute in Greenwood Village about traditional Church teachings on sexual ethics. Father Check, executive di- rector of New York-based Cour- age International, was invited by Augustine professors Tim Gray and Christopher Blum to teach the week-long gradu- ate-level course titled "Theolo- gy 762 Nature, Sexuality and the Civilization of Love." "I've tried to begin with Christian anthropology, to help students better understand human sexuality in a context of Christ and the Holy Trinity," Father Check told the Denver Catholic Register. "Then the course moves into a discussion of virtue as a power that helps to express, perfect and fulfill the human person. From there it goes to a careful examination of the virtue of human chastity and then, ultimately, to take up the question of homosexuality." As Father Check lectured on Church teachings, the Vatican's Extraordinary Synod on the family released a mid-term re- port that some interpret as the indicator of a possible liberal- ization of Church views on con- traception, homosexuality and divorced and remarried Cath- olics receiving Communion. The non-binding, working document, relatio post discep- tationem, has been celebrated by some liberal observers while raising concerns among more conservative Catholics. Father Check said the doc- ument needs to be taken in proper context and not mis- construed as new, more per- missive doctrine. "I think there is some con- fusion in a couple of the para- graphs of the relatio that are going to be sorted out, but I'm not worried about that be- cause that's a document about what's being discussed. It's not a document of magisterial teaching," Father Check said. He expressed mixed feel- ings about the contents of the report. "I'm very happy for any- thing the Church is doing that is consistent with her under- standing of the human person to reach out to people who feel estranged from the Church," Father Check explained. "That is the focus of my apostolate, Courage. The Church offers to men and women with same- sex attractions much more than the word 'no.' But, the joy that we seek comes from our fidelity to our nature and to the grace that God gives us to live a holy life. And, so, the twofold expression of our humanity is male and female, not homo- sexual and heterosexual." In a lecture Oct. 15, Father Check emphasized that dig- nity, grace and joy result from pursuits of chastity. "Chastity is part of the good news," he explained after the lecture. "It's not just a conces- sion or a restraint that we have to endure through gritted teeth. As the Lord says, 'blessed be the pure of heart for they shall see INDEX Archbishop's Column ......................2 The Catholic Difference ..................4 Letters to the Editor .......................4 Vatican News ....................................6 Bulletin Board ...................................9 Crossword/Word Search ................9 Nun of the Above quiz .................. 10 Service Directory ....................... 10-11 Staying the course OCTOBER 22, 2014 114 Years of Service to the Gospel Volume XC - No. 36 www.DenverCatholicRegister.org I Follow us on INSIDE CATHOLIC LIFE PAGE 4 PAGE 8 Lebanese saint's relics to make historic Denver visit Guest column: Don't forget your angel See related story on Page 7 Happy feast day of St. John Paul II PHOTO BY FRANCO ORIGLIA/GETTY IMAGES POPE FRANCIS attends Mass for the closing of the Extraordinary Synod on the family at St. Peter's Square Oct. 19 in Vatican City. During the Mass, the Holy Father beatified Pope Paul VI, whom he described as a "great Pope," "courageous Christian" and "tireless apostle." See related coverage on this page and Page 6. See Course, Page 7 DCR FILE PHOTO BY JAMES BACA

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