John F. Harvey

John Francis Harvey (April 14, 1918 – December 27, 2010) was a priest of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, a moral theologian of the Catholic Church, and the founder of the DeSales School of Theology in Washington, D.C. He wrote about homosexuality and Catholic moral teaching and founded the Courage Apostolate, an official Catholic organization that counsels gay or same-sex attracted Catholics to remain abstinent from same-sex sexual activities.

Early life and ordination

John Francis Harvey was born on April 14, 1918, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the third of four children of Patrick J. and Margaret (''née'' Harkins) Harvey. Patrick Harvey, a devout Catholic, was a native of Ireland. Margaret died when John Francis was an infant.

John Francis attended St. Columba Parish School, and after graduating from Northeast Catholic High School for Boys in 1936, he entered the Oblate Novitiate in Childs, MD, making his first profession of vows on September 8, 1937, and his perpetual vows on September 8, 1940. After earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy in 1941 from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., he continued his studies at that institution, earning a master's in psychology and philosophy, a licentiate in theology, and, ten years later, a doctorate in moral theology. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 3, 1944, at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia by Hugh L. Lamb, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia.

Harvey was a lifelong fan of the Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies.William E. May, "In Memory of Father John F. Harvey, OSFS," ''Fellowship of Catholic Scholars Quarterly'', Vol 34. No. 1, (Spring 2011), pp. 12-14

Retrieved 2015-06-30

Priestly ministries

Educational and ministerial background

After ordination, Father Harvey's served as a High school teacher at Northeast Catholic High School from 1945 to 1947. After this, he became a Graduate student at The Catholic University of America, which he attended from 1947 to 1951. This further education led to his becoming a Professor. He became a Professor of moral theology at Dunbarton College of the Holy Cross and worked there from 1948 to 1973. He also acted as a Professor of moral theology at DeSales Hall School of Theology, Washington, D.C. from the somewhat overlapping period of 1949 to 1987. He served as that school's president from 1965 to 1977. In addition, he served as professor of moral theology and president of Cluster of Independent Theological Schools in Washington, D.C. from 1980 to 1983. He also served as a visiting professor at several institutions, including Catholic Theological Union, Sydney, Australia, St. Joseph Seminary of the Archdiocese of New York, and Seton Hall University.

From 1990 to 2010 he was a Professor of medical and sexual ethics at the Allentown College of St. Francis de Sales (since 2001, DeSales University) where he lived at Wills Hall, a student residence. Additionally, he took on teaching duties at the Oblate House of Studies at The Catholic University of America, in Washington, D.C. until it was closed in 1997 due to a dearth of priestly candidates.

Courage Apostolate

Harvey is best known for urging the Catholics he called "same-sex attracted" to be chaste. The term "same-sex attracted" is often preferred by Catholics like him because they feel "gay" or "lesbian" is defining a person by their orientation in an inadvisable way. In November 1978, Fr. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R, recommended him to Terence Cardinal Cooke, Archbishop of New York, to start a new ministry for this purpose.Steve Weatherbe, "Remembering Father John Harvey," ''National Catholic Register'', January 5, 201

Retrieved 2015-06-29 Harvey started ''Courage'' Apostolate, a support group with five members. It had its first meeting on September 26, 1980, at the Church of St. Joseph in New York.

Harvey retired as executive director of ''Courage'' in 2008.

Publications and Reception

In his writings, Harvey defended the traditional Catholic position on sexuality, while strongly contending that same-sex attracted or LGBT Catholics deserve compassionate pastoral care. In 1987, he published his best-known book, ''The Homosexual Person: New Thinking in Pastoral Care.'' In it, he critiqued the views of those theologians who argue that the Church's longstanding prohibition of same-sex acts is wrong. Among others, he also wrote two other books, ''The Truth about Homosexuality'', and ''Homosexuality and the Catholic Church''.

Harvey's position on same-sex attraction has been praised by both Catholic commentators and high-ranking officials in the Catholic Church: in a forward to ''Homosexuality and the Catholic Church'', Archbishop Raymond Burke expressed approval of ''Courage'' support groups'','' stating that "Father Harvey helps us all to think more clearly and to act more rightly and lovingly in responding to our brothers and sisters with same-sex attraction."

He has also faced criticism for his statements about the Catholic Church's sexual abuse scandal. In 2018, the Catholic newspaper Crux reported that Harvey advocated for the return of abusive priests to ministry in the 1990s on the grounds that these priests should be treated with the same compassion and forgiveness deserving of all same-sex attracted individuals. In 1992, Crisis Magazine interviewed Harvey about remarks he made at a U.S. Bishops' Workshop in 1990, where he argued that "most riests who sexually abuse minorsshould be rehabilitated and returned to ministry".

Harvey's statements about the Church's sexual abuse scandal have garnered criticism from Catholics otherwise in support of ''Courage'''s mission to counsel same-sex attracted individuals in accordance with the Church's teachings on sexuality.

Retirement and death

Harvey retired to Annecy Hall, a retirement community for the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales in Childs, Maryland, in January 2010. He died on December 27, 2010, at the feast of St. John the Evangelist, at Union Hospital in Elkton, Maryland, and was survived by his sister, Margaret Smith, and many nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces and grand-nephews. He was predeceased by his siblings, Catherine Egan and James Harvey. The Mass for Christian Burial for Harvey was celebrated on Friday, December 31, 2010, at Our Lady of Light Chapel, 1120 Blue Ball Road, Elkton, Maryland. He is buried at the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales Cemetery, in Childs, Cecil County. Maryland.

Legacy

Harvey's approach won the endorsement of the Pontifical Council for the Family. Pope John Paul II said of this ministry, "''Courage'' is doing the work of God!" In 2011, at the 31st Annual Courage Conference, Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke, then the Cardinal Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, gave a tribute to the work of Harvey.

Honorary degrees

*Doctorate of Humane Letters (Honorary), Assumption College, 1986.
*Doctorate of Humane Letters (Honorary), Allentown College of St. Francis de Sales (now DeSales University), 1988.

Other recognition

*A chair in moral theology at DeSales University is named after Harvey.
*A residential building for juniors and seniors at DeSales University was named for Harvey.

Selected works

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See also

* Catholics United
*DignityUSA
*Homosexuals Anonymous
*Integrity USA
*New Ways Ministry
*Restored Hope Network

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harvey, John F.
Catholic University of America alumni
Clergy from Philadelphia
1918 births
2010 deaths