NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      STEUBENVILLE, Ohio (CWNews.com) -- The Franciscan University of Steubenville has presented the 1998 Courage in Faith Award to Father John Harvey, OSFS, the founder of the Courage, a group which helps homosexuals to live chaste lives.

      Father Michael Scanlan, TOR, the president of the university, cited Father Harvey's defense of the Church teaching on homosexuality and his loving support for those men and women who want to be chaste. "Father Harvey has been attacked and called names," Scanlan said. "He takes all the heat and yet never turns from giving a compassionate defense of the truth and the Catholic faith. He is an example to us all."

      In receiving the award, during a Defending the Faith conference on the Ohio campus, Father Harvey warned that proponents of legalizing same-sex "marriage" are on the offensive, using their power and influence to press for changes in the nation's law. He continued: "They would intimidate us with that power and influence into accepting that gay marriage is on the same level as Catholic marriage. Well, we won't be intimidated. "

      Franciscan University established the Courage in Faith Award in 1997 to honor those who demonstrate outstanding leadership in defense of Catholic teaching. Last year the honor went to Msgr. George Kelly, president emeritus of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars.