John F. Harvey

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 three years old.Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke, "The Memory of Fr. John Harvey, OSFS and the Future of Courage and EnCourage," keynote address at the 31st Annual Courage and EnCourage Conference, held at the University of St Mary of the Lake in the Archdiocese of Chicago, July 29 – August 1, 2011. [http://couragerc.org/resource/memory-fr-john-harvey-osfs-future-courage-encourage/]

He 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. He made first profession of vows on September 8, 1937, and his perpetual vows on September 8, 1940.Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, DeSales World, Vol. 23, No. 2, Fall 2010/Winter 2011, p. 2 [http://oblates.org/development/newsletter_winter2011.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041105/http://oblates.org/development/newsletter_winter2011.pdf|date=2016-03-04}} Retrieved 2015-06-30 After earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy in 1941 from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, he continued his studies at that institution, earning a masters in psychology and philosophy, a licentiate in theology, and, ten years later, a doctorate in moral theology.Obituary, Reverend John F. Harvey, [http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/mcall/obituary.aspx?pid=147478582 The Morning Call], Dec. 29, 2010. Retrieved 2015-06-29

He was ordained to the priesthood of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales 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. [http://www.catholicscholars.org/PDFFiles/v34n1spr2011.pdf] Retrieved 2015-06-30

After ordination, Harvey worked as an English teacher at Northeast Catholic High School from 1945 to 1947. 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, DC from the somewhat overlapping period of 1949 to 1987. He served as that school's president from 1965 to 1977.

He was a professor of moral theology, and president, of Cluster of Independent Theological Schools in Washington, DC (DeSales Hall School of Theology, Dominican House of Studies and Oblate College) from 1980 to 1983."The Church and Father Curran," Fellowship of Catholic Scholars Newsletter, Vol. 9, No. 4 (September 1986), p. 8. [http://www.catholicscholars.org/PDFFiles/v9n4sep1986.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122212639/https://www.catholicscholars.org/PDFFiles/v9n4sep1986.pdf |date=2022-11-22 }} During this time he also served as a visiting professor at several institutions, including Catholic Theological Union in Sydney, Australia, the St. Joseph Seminary of the Archdiocese of New York, and Seton Hall University in New Jersey.[http://wipfandstock.com/author/view/detail/id/9943/ Wipf and Stock Publishers, "John F. Harvey," 2014]

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).Jamie Rankis and Jenna Turner, "Retired from DeSales, Rev. Harvey was 'A Blessing for us All'," The Minstrel, Vol. 44, No. 6, 2010. {{cite web|url=http://www4.desales.edu/~minstrel/issue-44-6/fr.harvey.html |title=Retired from DeSales, Rev. Harvey was "A Blessing for us All." |accessdate=2015-07-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702202836/http://www4.desales.edu/~minstrel/issue-44-6/fr.harvey.html |archivedate=2015-07-02 }} 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 lack of candidates for the priesthood.

{{Main|Courage International}}

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 inadvisably.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/gays-queers-homosexuals-and-same-sex-attracted/ |title="'Gays,' 'Queers,' Homosexuals and Same-Sex Attracted By Their Labels Shall You Know Them?" by Janet Smith at National Catholic Register |access-date=2015-07-17 |archive-date=2015-07-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722173646/http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/gays-queers-homosexuals-and-same-sex-attracted/ |url-status=dead }}

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, 2011.[http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/remembering-father-john-harvey] 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.Courage International, "Twenty-Eighth Annual COURAGE Conference, July 30 – August 2, 2015."[http://couragerc.org/wp-content/uploads/Conference-2015-brochure-final.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703072910/http://couragerc.org/wp-content/uploads/Conference-2015-brochure-final.pdf |date=2015-07-03 }} The official Courage website, however, states that the meeting took place at the Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Lower Manhattan. (Courage International, "About")[http://couragerc.org/courage/about/]

Harvey retired as executive director of Courage in 2008.Matthew A.Rarey, "Courage Continues Mission of Its Founder, Father Harvey," National Catholic Register, October 17, 2011. [http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/courage-continues-mission-of-its-founder-father-harvey/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928225410/http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/courage-continues-mission-of-its-founder-father-harvey |date=2015-09-28 }} Retrieved 2015-06-29

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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.catholicsocialscientists.org/CSSR/Archival/2011/Documentation%20-%20Batule%202.pdf |title=Batule, op. cit. |access-date=2015-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923200904/http://www.catholicsocialscientists.org/CSSR/Archival/2011/Documentation%20-%20Batule%202.pdf |archive-date=2015-09-23 |url-status=dead }} 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 on the subject, The Truth about Homosexuality, and Homosexuality and the Catholic Church.

Harvey's position on same-sex attraction has been praised by both Catholic commentators [http://humanumreview.com/articles/for-those-who-believe-in-rational-argument-in-memoriam-john-harvey-osfs Scalia, Idem.] and high-ranking officials in the Catholic Church: in a foreword 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."Most Rev. Raymond L. Burke, quoted in Matt C. Abbott, "Homosexuality and the Catholic Church", RenewAmerica, December 4, 2009.[http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/abbott/091204] Retrieved 2015-07-16

He has also faced criticism for his statements about the Catholic Church's sexual abuse scandal. In 2018, the Catholic newspaper Crux reported Harvey advocated for the return of abusive priests to ministry in the 1990s because these priests should be treated with the same compassion and forgiveness deserving of all same-sex attracted individuals.{{Cite web |url=https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2018/10/08/courage-founder-pushed-bishops-to-resist-zero-tolerance-on-abuse |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=cruxnow.com |title=Archived copy |archive-date=2022-09-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220911135020/https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2018/10/08/courage-founder-pushed-bishops-to-resist-zero-tolerance-on-abuse |url-status=dead }} In 1992, Crisis Magazine interviewed Harvey about remarks he made at a U.S. Bishops' Workshop in 1990, where he argued that "most [priests who sexually abuse minors] should be rehabilitated and returned to ministry".{{Cite web |last=Dreher |first=Rod |date=2018-10-08 |title=An Awful Truth About Courage Founder |url=https://www.theamericanconservative.com/awful-truth-about-courage/ |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=The American Conservative |language=en-US}}

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 Union Hospital in Elkton, Maryland, and was survived by his sister, Margaret Smith, and an extended family. He was buried on December 31, 2010, at the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales Cemetery, in Childs, Cecil County, Maryland.Obituary, op. cit. Retrieved 2015-06-29

Harvey's approach won the endorsement of the Pontifical Council for the Family.Batule, op. cit.[http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/remembering-father-john-harvey]. See also, EWTN, op. cit., [https://www.ewtn.com/library/ISSUES/COURAGE.TXT] citing the statement made by Cardinal Alfonso López Trujillo of the Pontifical Council for the Family, speaking on behalf of the Holy See. Retrieved 2015-06-29 Pope John Paul II said of this ministry, "Courage is doing the work of God!".Catholic Social Teachings, Diocese of Sioux Falls.[http://www.sfcatholic.org/respectlife/Content.aspx?id=348&office=OfficeofRespectLife] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924100804/http://www.sfcatholic.org/respectlife/Content.aspx?id=348&office=OfficeofRespectLife|date=2015-09-24}} Retrieved 2015-06-29

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.[http://couragerc.org/resource/memory-fr-john-harvey-osfs-future-courage-encourage/ Burke, op. cit.]

• Doctorate of Humane Letters (Honorary), Assumption College, 1986.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}
• Doctorate of Humane Letters (Honorary), Allentown College of St. Francis de Sales (now DeSales University), 1988.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}

• Harvey was the Lineacre Quarterly writer of the year in 1984.https://www.epublications.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3322&context=lnq {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}
• A chair in moral theology at DeSales University is named after Harvey.{{cite web|publisher=DeSales University |title=Dr. Brian Kane |url=http://web1.desales.edu/default.aspx?pageid=6974 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312173735/http://web1.desales.edu/default.aspx?pageid=6974 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 12, 2013 |accessdate=July 1, 2015 }}
• A residential building for juniors and seniors at DeSales University was named for Harvey.{{citation|title=Letter from the President|magazine=DeSales University Magazine|date=Fall 2014|page=2|url=http://www.desales.edu/docs/default-source/desales-university-magazine/fall-2014.pdf?sfvrsn=2|accessdate=July 1, 2015}}

Before and after Harvey's death in 2010, there was widespread recognition and appreciation of his life and ministry.Various authors '[https://www.frjohnharvey.com/featured-articles Featured Articles - Remembering Father John F. Harvey OSFS]' In 2023, the Father John Harvey Guild was officially established to promote the opening of Harvey’s cause for beatification and canonization. Catherine Smith '[https://www.ncregister.com/blog/father-john-harvey-man-of-courage-apostle-of-charity-and-chastity Father John Harvey — Apostle of Charity and Chastity, Man of Courage]' November 27, 2023. Also see '[https://www.frjohnharvey.com/guild The Father John Harvey Guild]'

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• {{cite thesis|author1=Harvey, John F.|title=Moral Theology of 'The Confessions' of Saint Augustine|degree=Doctoral|location=Washington D.C.|publisher=Catholic University of America Press|orig-year=1951|year=2009|isbn=978-1606084236}}
• {{citation|author1=Harvey, John F.|title=Counselling the Homosexual|editor=John R. Cavannagh|location=Huntington, IN|publisher=Our Sunday Visitor|year=1977|isbn=978-0879737610|url=https://archive.org/details/counselinghomose0000cava}}
• {{citation|author1=Harvey, John F.|author2=May, William E.|title=On Understanding Human Sexuality|location=Cincinnati, OH|publisher=Franciscan Press|year=1978|isbn=978-0819907202}}
• {{citation|author1=Harvey, John F.|title=A Spiritual Plan to Redirect One's Life: For Today's Homosexual|location=Boston, MA: Pauline Books & Media|year=1979|isbn=978-0819869326}}
• {{citation|editor1=Harvey, John F.|title=The Homosexual Person: New Thinking in Pastoral Care|location=San Francisco, CA|publisher=Ignatius Press|year=1987|isbn=978-0898701692|url=https://archive.org/details/homosexualperson00harv}}
• {{citation|author1=Harvey, John F.|author2=DiIenno, Joseph A.|author3=Smith, Herbert F.|title=Homosexuality: The Questions; Scriptural, Church & Psychiatric Answers|location=Boston, MA: Daughters of St. Paul, an imprint of Pauline Books and Media|year=1989|isbn=978-0819833327}}
• {{citation|author1=Harvey, John F.|title=The Truth about Homosexuality: The Cry of the Faithful|location=San Francisco, CA|publisher=Ignatius Press|year=1996|isbn=978-0898705836}}
• {{citation|editor1=Harvey, John F.|editor2=Bradley, Gerard V.|title=Same Sex Attraction: A Parents' Guide|location=South Bend, IN|publisher=St. Augustine Press|year=2003|isbn=978-1587317514|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/samesexattra_xxxx_2003_000_7220444}}
• {{citation|author1=Harvey, John F.|title=Homosexuality & the Catholic Church: Clear Answers to Difficult Questions|location=West Chester, PA|publisher=Ascension Press|year=2007|isbn=978-1932927627}}
• {{citation|author1=Harvey, John F.|url=http://www.kofc.org/un/en/resources/cis/cis385.pdf|title=Same Sex Attraction: Catholic Teaching and Pastoral Practice|editor=Fr. Gabriel B. O'Donnell, O.P.|location=New Haven, CT|publisher=Knights of Columbus Supreme Council|year=2007|isbn=978-2-35389-402-4}}

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• Courage International
• Courage UK
• Catholics United
• DignityUSA
• Homosexuals Anonymous
• Integrity USA
• New Ways Ministry
• Restored Hope Network

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Category:Catholic University of America alumni

Category:Clergy from Philadelphia

Category:1918 births

Category:2010 deaths