Posted on 12/11/2003 5:09:00 AM PST by ckca
By: JOE MANDAK
(Wed, Dec/10/2003)
PITTSBURGH - A Roman Catholic diocese has ordered a priest to stop distributing a pamphlet it says "borders on the pornographic," but which the priest says supports the church's stance against same-sex marriage by detailing claims about the medical consequences of gay sex acts.
The Rev. John Nesbella, an assistant priest at Prince of Peace parish in Northern Cambria in the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese said Wednesday that he stopped distributing "Medical Consequences of What Homosexuals Do."
The seven-page document is authored by Paul Cameron, a sociologist who chairs the Family Research Institute in Colorado Springs, Colo. It graphically describes various gay sex acts, including contact with urine and feces, and refers to Cameron's own research, newspaper articles, medical journals and government statistics. Cameron concludes that, "Homosexuals are sexually troubled people engaging in dangerous activities."
Cameron is criticized by gay rights activists and scientists who support the view that homosexuality is partly, or wholly, inherited - like eye or skin color. Gregory Herek, a professor and expert on hate crimes and sexual prejudice at the University of California-Davis, says Cameron twists or misunderstands others' research and uses poor methods to do his own surveys.
"All things being equal, I don't see the risk" in gay sex as being greater than straight sex, said Dr. Georges Benjamin, an emergency room physician who is also the executive director of the American Public Health Association. Benjamin said gays and heterosexuals both partake in some behaviors that can cause health problems but knows of no studies that prove gays take more risks than others.
Sister Mary Parks, a spokeswoman for the diocese that covers west-central Pennsylvania, said the pamphlet "borders on the pornographic."
"The Bishop (Joseph Adamec) was concerned that the explicit nature of the material might lead us to become part of the problem rather than part of the solution," she said.
"I was stunned by the diocese's action," Cameron said. "The language (in the pamphlet) is all clinical. It's more stridently written, to be sure. It is after all an informational or propaganda piece written for an intelligent reader."
Nesbella, 41, gave out the pamphlet with materials urging parishioners and other Catholics to write letters to lawmakers in support of the Federal Marriage Amendment. The Constitutional amendment defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman only, and supporters say it's needed to thwart various states' efforts to legalize gay marriage or civil unions.
In July, the Vatican issued a statement condemning same-sex marriage and the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops says Catholics should oppose it politically.
Parks said the diocese is in "complete agreement about the sanctity of marriage" with Nesbella and other Catholics and just at odds with Nesbella's methods.
Ordained 18 months ago, Nesbella said he has been writing editorials and letters to the editor against same-sex marriage for about five years.
"I really believe that God wants me to do this," Nesbella said. "I just believe that the medical consequences of homosexuality are so serious and horrific that somebody has to say something about it."
Dr. Brian Kopp, a Johnstown podiatrist who attends another parish involved in Nesbella's effort, said he's checked out Cameron's research.
"I'm a trained physician, I know how to evaluate medical literature," said Kopp, vice president of the Catholic Family Association of America, a grass-roots anti-abortion group. "He's coming under fire for essentially the same reasons that pro-life activists come under fire for showing picket signs of aborted babies: He is revealing to the public a grim reality that the mainstream media doesn't want to reveal."
[Kopp is Freeper Polycarp--ckca]
"The issue here is that lay Catholics and a good priest tried to do something ... and instead of trying to support them, the diocese ... (is) squashing conservative activism and promoting homosexual activism."
---
On the Net:
Family Research Institute: http://www.familyresearchinst.org/
Professor Gregory Herek's home page: http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/index.html
Article's URL:
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/103-12102003-211093.html
December 10, 2003
ANOTHER CATHOLIC COVER-UP ?
Colorado Springs -- Dr. Paul D. Cameron of the Family Research Institute (FRI) -- a Colorado think tank that specializes in studies on homosexuality -- charged Bishop Joseph Adamec of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, with repressing medical research that reflects badly on homosexuals.
"Health officials are always proclaiming the need for explicit and detailed information about homosexual activity," said Cameron, "but when scientific facts reveal its very real dangers, then gay rights supporters do whatever is necessary to repress it."
Cameron referred to a letter sent to Father John Nesbella, a priest in Northern Cambria, PA, ordering him to cease the dissemination of "Medical Consequences of What Homosexuals Do" (a pamphlet produced by Cameron's institute) "or any other similar material."
Nesbella had used the research in rallying support for a constitutional amendment forbidding same-sex marriage. The letter, written by Larry R. Sutton, Director of Finance and expressing the position of Bishop Adamec, warned Father Nesbella that distribution of the pamphlet might be illegal. Sutton specifically mentioned "various prohibited action that you are bordering upon, such as discrimination, pornography, or defamation."
"The pamphlet is nothing more or less than a summary of scientific studies, thoroughly documented," Cameron said. "Facts don't discriminate. The material -- which concentrates on diseases that proceed from homosexual behavior -- is anything but pornographic. And it is absurd to suggest that you can defame homosexuals as a class, particularly when you are quoting scientific authorities.
"If Mr. Sutton is a lawyer, he is a poor one. If he is not a lawyer, then he may be practicing law without a license. I plan to send his letter and the pamphlet to the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Meanwhile, you would think that Catholic bishops would stop trying to cover up the unpleasant consequences of homosexual behavior. It has cost them millions of dollars and the respect of a large segment of their own people."
Contact: Paul Cameron, Ph.D. Chairman, Family Research Institute 303 681 3113
The phamphlet in question can be viewed and downloaded at:
www.familyresearchinst.org
The letter to Father Nesbella follows:
_______________________________________
Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
Temporalities Secretariat
Office of Finance
126 Logan Boulevard
HollidaySburg, PA 16648
Telephone: (814) 695-5579
Fax: (814) 695-8894
Website; diocesealtjtn.org
November 24, 2003
Reverend John Nesbella
Prince of Peace Parish
811 Chestnut Avenue
Northern Cambria, PA 15714
Dear Father Nesbella:
Your efforts to garner support for a constitutional amendment against same-sex marriages has included the dissemination of graphic sexual material. This creates a very real legal risk to you and the Church. By campaigning on one legal issue, you may break other laws with the use of this material. At the very least, it invites legal action against you, the Parish, the Diocese, and the Bishop.
It is my duty, as Secretary for Temporalities, to provide legal advice to the Bishop. After consulting with attorneys on this particular concern, I am writing on behalf of Bishop to instruct you to cease certain activity.
Specifically, do not disseminate "Medical Consequences of What Homosexuals Do" or any other similar material. The sexual content is too strong, and the audience is too random. It is very conceivable that minors are being exposed to your material. That is unacceptable.
It also invites legal action against you, the Parish, the Diocese, and the Bishop for various prohibited action that you are bordering upon, such as discrimination, pornography, or defamation. These could be construed when the message is too negative, or too graphic. Even if that is not what is in your heart, it may be up to a court to decide.
When you "enlist" the volunteers at every parish, you extend the liability to others. Even though you are acting as an individual, it appears to be an official act of the Church as an entity. Your ordination makes you an inseparable part of the entire Church entity, so you can no longer act as an individual without representing the Church. Therefore, please discuss any future campaign or political activity with your Dean, or Monsignor George Flinn, before taking action.
With regard to your good intentions, I am,
Respectfully,
Larry R. Sutton, Director of Finance
Cc: Most Rev. Joseph V. Adamec, DD, STL
Rev. Msgr. Stanly B. Carson, VG
Rev. Msgr. George B. Flinn, VG, STL _____________________________________
AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION OF PENNSYLVANIA
http://www.afaofpa.org
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 9, 2003
CONTACT: Diane Gramley 1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355
Bishop Joseph Adamec 1.814.695.5579
Father John Nesbella 1.814.948.5130
PRO-FAMILY GROUP BAFFLED BY BISHOP'S ACTIONS
(Harrisburg) -- Today a statewide pro-family organization expressed bewilderment in the actions of Bishop Joseph Adamec of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. The recent decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Court declaring that the state was acting unconstitutionally by not permitting same-sex marriage has intensified the efforts in support of passage of a Federal Marriage Amendment. The faith community has united to defend marriage as between one man and one woman. As Father John Nesbella, also of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, has led the way in his area by showing support for and educating his parishioners on the need for a Federal Marriage Amendment, he has come under fire from the Bishop himself.
"This situation is totally bewildering. In July we applauded the Vatican's statement strongly opposing same-sex marriage and we hope that all in the Catholic Church would agree on the wisdom of the Pope's document," said Diane Gramley, president of the American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA).
In a faxed statement to Bishop Adamec, AFA of PA expressed concern about the Bishop's apparent lack of support for the efforts of Father Nesbella. The statement also requested that the Bishop remove the 'cease and desist' order.
The controversy began with the distribution of literature supporting the Federal Marriage Amendment. The informational packet included "Medical Consequences of What Homosexuals Do." http://www.familyresearchinst.org/FRI_EduPamphlet3.html
Distribution of this written description of homosexual activity resulted in the 'cease and desist' letter from Bishop Adamec to Father Nesbella.
"Homosexual activists are following the plan laid out in the 1989 book After the Ball which directed them to divert Americans' attention away from homosexual sex acts. The idea is to gain the nation's approval by pulling the victim card and claiming theirs is a civil rights issue. This is in the hopes that we will not concentrate on the unnatural sex acts that are part of their lifestyle," Gramley asserted.
Continuing, Gramley said, "To be compassionate is to be honest about the dangers of any lifestyle. Father Nesbella is showing compassion by working to preserve marriage as between one man and one woman. He knows that legalization of same-sex marriage is not for the common good of our society."
Specifically the July document states, "The present Considerations do not contain new doctrinal elements; they seek rather to reiterate the essential points on this question and provide arguments drawn from reason which could be used by Bishops in preparing more specific interventions, appropriate to the different situations throughout the world, aimed at protecting and promoting the dignity of marriage, the foundation of the family, and the stability of society, of which this institution is a constitutive element."
"The Church teaches that respect for homosexual persons cannot lead in any way to approval of homosexual behaviour or to legal recognition of homosexual unions. The common good requires that laws recognize, promote and protect marriage as the basis of the family, the primary unit of society. Legal recognition of homosexual unions or placing them on the same level as marriage would mean not only the approval of deviant behaviour, with the consequence of making it a model in present-day society, but would also obscure basic values which belong to he common inheritance of humanity. The Church cannot fail to defend these values, for the good of men and women and for the good of society itself."
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20030731_homosexual-unions_en.html
# # #
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Letter from AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION OF PENNSYLVANIA to Bishop Adamec: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION OF PENNSYLVANIA Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
126 Logan Blvd.
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
December 8, 2003
Dear Bishop Adamec:
As a statewide pro-family organization we fight for traditional values on a daily basis. In recent months, with the pending Massachusetts Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage looming over the nation's collective heads, our greatest concern has been in preserving the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman. The July 2003 statement from the Vatican opposing same-sex marriage was a bold step on the part of the Pope to make the uncompromising position of the Catholic Church known. My immediate response was and still is "Bravo!"
As I attended a meeting in Washington, D.C. on November 11 and 12 to organize in support of a Federal Marriage Amendment, little did I know that the efforts were already beginning in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown! My "hat goes off to" the Reverend John Nesbella. To truly show compassion on the issue of homosexuality requires being honest about the dangers of the lifestyle. An uncompromising description is found in the "Medical Consequences of What Homosexuals Do." This honest appraisal of their lifestyle is neither of a discriminatory or defamatory nature. Homosexual activists, following the plan laid out in the 1989 book After the Ball, attempt to divert our attention away from the sex acts that define them as homosexuals. The Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) has a list of recommended books for children as young as 6th grade which tell, in graphic detail, the homosexual encounters of men with boys or young teens.
It is my understanding that what could be considered a 'cease and desist' order has come from your office. In light of the Pope's strong statement opposing same-sex marriage, I would hope, instead, that your office would join in all efforts to get a Federal Marriage Amendment passed. The public must know that acceptance of same-sex marriage (and I've always heard that silence is acceptance) is endorsement of the sex acts described in "Medical Consequences of What Homosexuals Do." I would hope, sir, that you will reconsider your "cease and desist" order and instead commend the Reverend Nesbella for taking the initiative to 'put feet' to the Pope's July statement.
Awaiting your reply.
Sincerely,
Diane Gramley
President
Letter in which Adamec forbids clergy from opposing homosexual marriage without prior chancery permission: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
Office of the Vicar General
126 Logan Boulevard
Hollidaysburg., PA 16648
Telephone (814) 695-5579
M E M 0
TO: Clergy of the Diocese
FROM: (Rev. Msgr.) George B. Flinn, V.G.
RE: Controversy surrounding "same-sex unions"
DATE: December 2, 2003
Upon his return from the Fall meeting of the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops in Washington, DC, Bishop Joseph shared with us a report on specific
actions taken by the Conference, which included a document entitled, "Between Man and
Woman: Questions and Answers about Marriage and Same Sex Unions." In this
document, the bishops respond to the current social discussion regarding so-called "same-
sex marriages."
On the state level, the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference is carefully monitoring a
number of pieces of legislation which purport to protect the rights of homosexuals but in
point of fact put in jeopardy the church's right to proclaim the gospel message and
discriminate on the basis of"sexua1 orientation" or "gender identity expression."
At both the national and state level, when the support of our clergy and
laity is needed our representatives will inform you about what appropriate action is called
for. On the other hand, efforts to get our people involved in initiatives to defeat or
support legislation that has not even been proposed, tends to dilute and. weaken our
efforts, when the time comes to call upon the faithful to follow the lead of our bishops in
promoting Catholic values at the state and national level. .
Because of the sensitive nature of this issue and the need to present a
united front, pastors are cautioned to wait for information from the Chancery or check
with Chancery officials, before calling upon the faithful to support or oppose any
particular piece of legislation that deals with this issue.
Here's your screw up. You've framed it and acted upon it as political instead of biblical. (conservative activism)
Oh, for heaven's sake! This is not about the Catholic Church "abandoning long-held doctrine"! It's about Brian Kopp and his disciples shoving explicit descriptions of sexual acts in the faces of Catholics (including some Catholic minors).
Jim Robinson pulled down every thread that Dr. Kopp posted on Free Republic that contained this same information. Every single one of them.
The stuff this priest is handing out--if it's the same stuff Kopp posted here--is over the top and gratuitously salacious.
Girls keep better secrets
And, yes, Dr. Kopp and I had very public disagreements over his exploitation of this pornographic material on Free Republic.
He's no longer here (of his own volition) because he wanted the freedom to post anything he wanted, and Jim said no.
Polycarps point though was that it IS appropriate fodder for the site as we are supposed to be conservatives.
For Heavens sake, theyve co-opted Gods rainbow, changed the meaning of the word "gay" and now framed the discussion of what homosexuality actually is on FR by claiming frequently and loudly that its "hate speech".....to the point where society as a whole begins to accept the notion (us included)
This may be a forum - but it sure aint conservative - If anything, its Republican....and if that comment gets me banned, so be it
Only you and Bishop Adamec and other liberal apologists would call it pornographic. Glad to see where you're coming from, "deacon." You'd fit right in Adamec's chancery office reign of terror.
You think detailed, graphic descriptions of anal sex are appropriate for a website that is frequently viewed by minors?
I'm glad Jim's in charge and not you.
How much dissent is tolerated is dependent upon which Diocese you are in.
For instance, in Lincoln, Nebraska, Bishop Bruskewitz excommunicated all members of Call to Action and other extremist dissenter groups.
We need more like him.
Here's a doctor to avoid seeing.
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