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Last Updated: Dec 28th, 2006 |
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force leader responds to the Committee on Doctrine of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishopsí proposed new guidelines, Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination
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Oct 19, 2006
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Statement from Matt Foreman, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
ìThereís plenty to be offended by in the new Catholic Church guidelines titled Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination, but a few things stand out. First, the bishops tried to sound more compassionate by writing that even though the Catholic Church believes ëthe homosexual orientation is objectively disordered,í that doesnít mean ëthe person as a whole is disordered.í However, they also stated that ëother inclinations can likewise be disordered, such as those that lead to envy, malice or greed.í Sorry, but itís still an insult to compare an orientation that leads to love to ëinclinationsí that lead to harm.
ìSecond, the guidelines state that ëno scientific consensus has been reached regarding the effectiveness of various therapiesí to change oneís sexual orientation. The authors probably saw this as a major concession to science. However, all medical and mental health professional associations do have consensus in warning of the dangers of so-called ëconversion therapyí programs. No scientific studies have found these programs to be effective. To the contrary, a growing body of research shows that they can cause profound psychological damage.
ìThird, the guidelines say the Church should take action to keep people who experience same-sex attraction from falling ëinto the lifestyles and values of a gay subculture.' Much of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community is working to protect our families, to be protected from discrimination and violence, and to have the freedom to serve in the U.S. military. So much for the ëimmoral lifestylesí we are supposedly creating.î
© This Week In Texas
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