Diocese tells priest to stop distributing anti-gay sex pamphlets [Freeper quoted]

The Associated Press ^ | 12/11/03 | JOE MANDAK

[Salvation]

Free speech is OK as long as we agree with gays?????

But speak out against them and all of a sudden all Hell breaks loose!

[B Knotts]

I just googled it up and scanned through it. There are no "detailed, graphic descriptions" of any kind of sex.

It's gross, but only because of the topic discussed, and the fact that they are clearly not tip-toeing around the issues.

[Salvation]

BTTT!

[ckca]

when the Catholic's first cousin (EUSA) confirmed a gay bishop; and was considering conversion into the RC community. But, now, I see both churches abandoning long-held doctrine

There is a difference.

This Catholic bishop is in dissent from Rome, which has unequivocally spoken out against gay rights, marriage, and adoption, while the Episcopals have changed doctrine itself to accomodate homosexuality:

________________

Johnstown Tribune Democrat, 12/9/03

Opinion

Catholic crusade battling immorality

The Federal Marriage Amendment, introduced in the US Senate on November 25, defines marriage as between one man and one woman only. To support this Amendment area Catholics have begun the "Catholic Crusade to Defend Marriage and the Family."

Several thousand packets containing flyers, pre-printed letters to our representatives and President, and a clinical abstract outlining the medical conditions and behaviors common to the gay lifestyle, have been distributed in local churches.

This summer a Vatican document opposing homosexual unions was released. The Pope stated, "… all Catholics are obliged to oppose the legal recognition of homosexual unions … the Catholic politician must oppose it … it is his duty to witness to the truth."

In September the US Bishops voted to support the Federal Marriage Amendment.

Our current campaign is a prudent and faithful response to these urgent admonitions of our Pope and Bishops.

Unfortunately, diocesan offices have already sent a letter to the Rev. John Nesbella, the priest giving us guidance with this campaign. Stating that the materials we are handing out may be inviting legal action, they have ordered Fr. Nesbella to cease and desist his involvement.

After many years of disturbing silence on this issue, the diocese has instructed its clergy to continue to do nothing till told what to do by the chancery office.

Bishop Adamec and his diocesan officials need to be reminded that Catholic laity, by virtue of their Baptism, are called to faithful evangelization. We are already well prepared to fulfill our baptismal duties to preach the Gospel and fight immorality, and need not wait on a chancery office to permit or instruct us to do our duty in the eyes of our Pope and Jesus Christ.

Those laity who realize there is simply no time left to wait may join this campaign now, or obtain our free educational packets, by stopping by or calling my Richland office.

Dr. Brian Kopp
Richland Township

[TheCrusader]

"And, yes, Dr. Kopp and I had very public disagreements over his exploitation of this pornographic material on Free Republic."

hmmmmm, I've seen big, full colored closeups on FR of dead American soldiers, a burnt severed foot, rotting Iraqi corpses from mass graves, skulls with bullet holes in them, you name it. But now, a written explanation of how homosexuals corrupt the human sex act, using clinical language, is "exploitation" and too hard for us to take? Thanks for the laugh, I needed it.

[d-back]

Thanks for the update.

Come back, Polycarp! You added much to the dialogue here at Free Republic.

Note how Polycarp's enemies dance on his grave, on this very thread. Open discourse among conservatives? Depends, it seems, on what you're saying.

[Steve_Seattle]

Sister Mary Parks, a spokeswoman for the diocese that covers west-central Pennsylvania, said the pamphlet "borders on the pornographic."

Shut up, sister, you're lying. If it really were pornography, you'd probably defend it.

[sinkspur]

I don't make the rules around here. Jim doesn't feel that such stuff belongs on a conservative political website.

[TheCrusader]

"You think detailed, graphic descriptions of anal sex are appropriate for a website that is frequently viewed by minors?"

YES, just so long as these verbal descriptions are factual and they are used to expose and condemn the disgusting thing that they describe. The homosexual community endeavor to make their deadly activity appear attractive by using words like "gay", and "alternative lifestyle". So exposing these lies with a dose of reality is just what is needed.

And know this, sinkspur; the public schools use graphic illustrations of sex, including written and photographic images of homosexual "lovers", to educate our minors. They even introduce books like "Heather Has Two Mommies" for kindergarten age children. They hire female comedians to wear giant condoms on stage to implore our children to have "safe sex". They distribute free condoms to our minors, with explicit instructions on how to use them. They even tell the girls to carry them, and tell them how to put them on boys. By the time our minor children are in middle school they know as much graphic detail about sex as most gynocologists and urologists... so who the hell are you kidding?

[B Knotts]

My comment had little or nothing to do with Jim's banning of the content.

I was just pointing out that the description you gave of the pamphlet is, well, subjective.

Jim can ban whatever the heck he wants. In this case, I think he was wrong, but it's his site, so what I think doesn't amount to a whole lot.

[Revelation 911]

You think detailed, graphic descriptions of anal sex are appropriate for a website that is frequently viewed by minors?

stats please

do you think the gay crowds move to indoctrinate people into the lifestyle is appropriate on television, radio, schools, music, movie theaters? If they hear Polycarps stuff, that is most likly the tamest thing they will see....for Gods sake, my kids get ads for viagra etc right in thier mailbox, and youre worried about some facts regarding the truth about anal homosexual intercourse?

....and IF they were offended - what the hell are they doing surfing unsupervised?

This is '03 sink'....our last president introduced our kids and my 9 and 10 yr olds to hummers, and we all witnessed our brothers and sisters splattered in NYC - inncocence has been lost for sometime.

I'd really be doubtful as well that this site is visited by minors - not enough colors or bright flashy thingies, no sound, and theyre constantly hitting you up for money.

Besides - anyone intentionally coming here is aware of what goes on and is discussed here.

Its amusing you want to protect the chillun' from Polycarps tracts and seem all too comfortable enabling this incessant onslaught of indecency and moral depravity - proving yet again, my initial contention was correct - this aint no conservative site.

[Happy2BMe]

What Homosexuals Do

The major surveys on homosexual behavior are summarized below. Two things stand out 1) homosexuals behave similarly world-over, and 2) as Harvard Medical Professor, Dr. William Haseltine,³³ noted in 1993, the "changes in sexual behavior that have been reported to have occurred in some groups have proved, for the most part, to be transient. For example, bath houses and sex clubs in many cities have either reopened or were never closed."

Homosexual Activities (in %)

		US16 US13  US    US18 Denmark20 US19  London27  Sydney/London26                                                            Canada25                                                      
		1940s1977 83/84  1983  1984   1983    1985       1991                       
		ever ever  ever in yr in yr  in mo   in mo   last 6mo                                                                                  
oral/penile       83   99  100/99  99    86             67                 
anal/penile       68   91   93/98  95    92     95     100                 
oral/anal         59   83   92/92  63           69      89       55/65       
urine sex         10   23    29/                                              
fisting/toys      22   41/47 34                                       
fecal sex-eating        4     8                                                       
enemas        	       11    11                                               
torture sex       22   37    37                                              
public/orgy sex   61   76    88                                               
sex with minors   37   23    24/                                          

ORAL SEX Homosexuals fellate almost all of their sexual contacts (and ingest semen from about half of these). Semen contains many of the germs carried in the blood. Because of this, gays who practice oral sex verge on consuming raw human blood, with all its medical risks. Since the penis often has tiny lesions (and often will have been in unsanitary places such as a rectum), individuals so involved may become infected with hepatitis A or gonorrhea (and even HIV and hepatitis B). Since many contacts occur between strangers (70% of gays estimated that they had had sex only once with over half of their partners^17,27), and gays average somewhere between 106 and 1105 different partners/year, the potential for infection is considerable.

RECTAL SEX Surveys indicate that about 90% of gays have engaged in rectal intercourse, and about two-thirds do it regularly. In a 6-month long study of daily sexual diaries,³ gays averaged 110 sex partners and 68 rectal encounters a year.

Rectal sex is dangerous. During rectal intercourse the rectum becomes a mixing bowl for 1) saliva and its germs and/or an artificial lubricant, 2) the recipient's own feces, 3) whatever germs, infections or substances the penis has on it, and 4) the seminal fluid of the inserter. Since sperm readily penetrate the rectal wall (which is only one cell thick) causing immunologic damage, and tearing or bruising of the anal wall is very common during anal/penile sex, these substances gain almost direct access to the blood stream. Unlike heterosexual intercourse (in which sperm cannot penetrate the multilayered vagina and no feces are present),⁷ rectal intercourse is probably the most sexually efficient way to spread hepatitis B, HIV syphilis and a host of other blood-borne diseases.

Tearing or ripping of the anal wall is especially likely with "fisting," where the hand and arm is inserted into the rectum. It is also common when "toys" are employed (homosexual lingo for objects which are inserted into the rectum--bottles, carrots, even gerbils⁸). The risk of contamination and/or having to wear a colostomy bag from such "sport" is very real. Fisting was apparently so rare in Kinsey's time that he didn't think to talk about it. By 1977, well over a third of gays admitted to doing it. The rectum was not designed to accommodate the fist, and those who do so can find themselves consigned to diapers for life.

FECAL SEX About 80% of gays (see Table) admit to licking and/or inserting their tongues into the anus of partners and thus ingesting medically significant amounts of feces. Those who eat or wallow in it are probably at even greater risk. In the diary study,⁵ 70% of the gays had engaged in this activity--half regularly over 6 months. Result? --the "annual incidence of hepatitis A in...homosexual men was 22 percent, whereas no heterosexual men acquired hepatitis A." In 1992,²⁶ it was noted that the proportion of London gays engaging in oral/anal sex had not declined since 1984.

While the body has defenses against fecal germs, exposure to the fecal discharge of dozens of strangers each year is extremely unhealthy. Ingestion of human waste is the major route of contracting hepatitis A and the enteric parasites collectively known as the Gay Bowel Syndrome. Consumption of feces has also been implicated in the transmission of typhoid fever,⁹ herpes, and cancer.²⁷ About 10% of gays have eaten or played with [e.g., enemas, wallowing in feces]. The San Francisco Department of Public Health saw 75,000 patients per year, of whom 70 to 80 per cent are homosexual men....An average of 10 per cent of all patients and asymptomatic contacts reported...because of positive fecal samples or cultures for amoeba, giardia, and shigella infections were employed as food handlers in public establishments; almost 5 per cent of those with hepatitis A were similarly employed."¹⁰ In 1976, a rare airborne scarlet fever broke out among gays and just missed sweeping through San Francisco.¹⁰ The U.S. Centers for Disease Control reported that 29% of the hepatitis A cases in Denver, 66% in New York, 50% in San Francisco, 56% in Toronto, 42% in Montreal and 26% in Melbourne in the first six months of 1991 were among gays.¹¹ A 1982 study "suggested that some transmission from the homosexual group to the general population may have occurred."¹²

URINE SEX About 10% of Kinsey's gays reported having engaged in "golden showers" [drinking or being splashed with urine]. In the largest survey of gays ever conducted,¹³ 23% admitted to urine-sex. In the largest random survey of gays,⁶ 29% reported urine-sex. In a San Francisco study of 655 gays,¹⁴ only 24% claimed to have been monogamous in the past year. Of these monogamous gays, 5% drank urine, 7% practiced "fisting," 33% ingested feces via anal/oral contact, 53% swallowed semen, and 59% received semen in their rectum during the previous month.

OTHER GAY SEX PRACTICES

SADOMASOCHISM as the Table indicates, a large minority of gays engage in torture for sexual fun. Sex with minors 25% of white gays¹⁷ admitted to sex with boys 16 or younger as adults. In a 9-state study,³⁰ 33% of the 181 male, and 22% of the 18 female teachers caught molesting students did so homosexually (though less than 3% of men and 2% of women engage in homosexuality³¹). Depending on the study, the percent of gays reporting sex in public restrooms ranged from 14%¹⁶ to 41%¹³ to 66%,⁶ 9%¹⁶, 60%¹³ and 67%⁵ reported sex in gay baths; 64%¹⁶ and 90%¹⁸ said that they used illegal drugs.

Fear of AIDS may have reduced the volume of gay sex partners, but the numbers are prodigious by any standard. Morin¹⁵ reported that 824 gays had lowered their sex-rate from 70 different partners/yr. in 1982 to 50/yr. by 1984. McKusick¹⁴ reported declines from 76/yr. to 47/yr. in 1985. In Spain³² the average was 42/yr. in 1989.

Medical Consequences of Homosexual Sex

Death and disease accompany promiscuous and unsanitary sexual activity. 70%25 to 78%x,¹³ of gays reported having had a sexually transmitted disease. The proportion with intestinal parasites (worms, flukes, amoeba) ranged from 25%¹⁸ to 39%¹⁹ to 59%.²⁰ As of 1992, 83% of U.S. AIDS in whites had occurred in gays.²¹ The Seattle sexual diary study³? reported that gays had, on a yearly average:

1. fellated 108 men and swallowed semen from 48;
2. exchanged saliva with 96;
3. experienced 68 penile penetrations of the anus; and
4. ingested fecal material from 19.

No wonder 10% came down with hepatitis B and 7% contracted hepatitis A during the 6-month study.

Effects on the Lifespan

Smokers and drug addicts don't live as long as non-smokers or non-addicts, so we consider smoking and narcotics abuse harmful. The typical life-span of homosexuals suggests that their activities are more destructive than smoking nd as dangerous as drugs.

Obituaries numbering 6,516 from 16 U.S. homosexual journals over the past 12 years were compared to a large sample of obituaries from regular newspapers.²³ The obituaries from the regular newspapers were similar to U.S. averages for longevity; the medium age of death of married men was 75, and 80% of them died old (age 65 or older). For unmarried or divorced men the median age of death was 57, and 32% of them died old. Married women averaged age 79 at death; 85% died old. Unmarried and divorced women averaged age 71, and 60% of them died old.

The median age of death for homosexuals, however, was virtually the same nationwide--and, overall, less than 2% survived to old age. If AIDS was the cause of death, the median age was 39. For the 829 gays who died of something other than AIDS, the median age of death was 42, and 9% died old. The 163 lesbians had a median age of death of 44, and 20% died old.

Two and eight-tenths percent (2.8%) of gays died violently. They were 116 times more apt to be murdered; 24 times more apt to commit suicide; and had a traffic-accident death-rate 18 times the rate of comparably-aged white males. Heart attacks, cancer and liver failure were exceptionally common. Twenty percent of lesbians died of murder, suicide, or accident--a rate 487 times higher than that of white females aged 25-44. The age distribution of samples of homosexuals in the scientific literature from 1989 to 1992 suggests a similarly shortened life-span.

The Gay Legacy

Homosexuals rode into the dawn of sexual freedom and returned with a plague that gives every indication of destroying most of them. Those who treat AIDS patients are at great risk, not only from HIV infection, which as of 1992 involved over 100 health care workers,²¹ but also from TB and new strains of other diseases.²⁴ Those who are housed with AIDS patients are also at risk.²⁴ Those who are housed with AIDS patients are also at risk.²⁴ Dr. Max Essex, chair of the Harvard AIDS Institute, warned congress in 1992 that "AIDS has already led to other kinds of dangerous epidemics...If AIDS is not eliminated, other new lethal microbes will emerge, and neither safe sex nor drug free practices will prevent them."²⁸ At least 8, and perhaps as many as 30 ²⁹ patients had been infected with HIV by health care workers as of 1992.

The Biological Swapmeet

The typical sexual practices of homosexuals are a medical horror story --imagine exchanging saliva, feces, semen and/or blood with dozens of different men each year. Imagine drinking urine, ingesting feces and experiencing rectal trauma on a regular basis. Often these encounters occur while the participants are drunk, high, and/or in an orgy setting. Further, many of them occur in extremely unsanitary places (bathrooms, dirty peep shows), or, because homosexuals travel so frequently, in other parts of the world.

Every year, a quarter or more of homosexuals visit another country.²⁰ Fresh American germs get taken to Europe, Africa and Asia. And fresh pathogens from these continents come here. Foreign homosexuals regularly visit the U.S. and participate in this biological swapmeet.

The Pattern of Infection

Unfortunately the danger of these exchanges does not merely affect homosexuals. Travelers carried so many tropical diseases to New York City that it had to institute a tropical disease center, and gays carried HIV from New York City to the rest of the world.²⁷ Most of the 6,349 Americans who got AIDS from contaminated blood as of 1992, received it from homosexuals and most of the women in California who got AIDS through heterosexual activity got it from men who engaged in homosexual behavior.²³ The rare form of airborne scarlet fever that stalked San Francisco in 1976 also started among homosexuals.¹⁰

Genuine Compassion

Society is legitimately concerned with health risks-- they impact our taxes and everyone's chances of illness and injury. Because we care about them, smokers are discouraged from smoking by higher insurance premiums, taxes on cigarettes and bans against smoking in public. These social pressures cause many to quit. They likewise encourage non-smokers to stay non-smokers.

Homosexuals are sexually troubled people engaging in dangerous activities. Because we care about them and those tempted to join them, it is important that we neither encourage nor legitimize such a destructive lifestyle.

[jimt]

Having Googled it up and read it, calling it pornographic is ludicrous.

Graphic, certainly. But I can see why opponents don't like it. People would start losing their enthusiasm for "gayness" if the truth is known.

[Desdemona]

I can see why opponents don't like it. People would start losing their enthusiasm for "gayness" if the truth is known.

Yep. Thus the smear campaign.

It's not pleasant, but the truth needs to be known in order to be able to do any sort of persuading. Until that happens, it's a battle of reason, not one of morals.

[ckca]

He said he already wrote another article to take its place. See my next post.

[ckca]

Its posted on the Catholic Citizens website, http://www.catholiccitizens.org/press/contentview.asp?c=10416

Till Death Do Them Part: The Deadly Consequences of Homosexual Unions

12/5/2003 8:59:00 PM
By Dr. Brian Kopp

A large body of scientific evidence suggests that homosexual marriage is a defective counterfeit of traditional marriage and that it poses a clear and present danger to the health of the community. The political and social goals of homosexual activists include:

* Acceptance of homosexual partnerships on an equal footing with heterosexual marriages (this would extend to insurance benefits, family leave, adoption, etc.)--i.e. a redefinition of family.

Special "minority class" status for homosexuals and bisexuals.

Repeal of all laws concerning private consensual adult sexual behavior (e.g. sodomy) and elimination of all consent laws, including those involving age of consent for minors.

* Requiring "anti-homophobia training" in law enforcement, education, health care, etc.

* Forcing schools to teach acceptance of homosexuality and to set up "support services" for homosexuals.

Permitting and encouraging homosexuals to take roles as counselors in education, scouting, churches, youth groups, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, etc.

* However, homosexuality is neither normal nor benign. Rather, it is a lethal behavioral addiction. The defining features of male homosexuality consist of a variety of dangerous behaviors, including extreme promiscuity, a higher incidence of pedophilia and sexual abuse, and same-gender sex.

The average gay man has over 50 lifetime partners, while as many as 83% reported having over 50 partners in their lifetime. By contrast, average sex partners per year for all adult Americans is 1; the average American claims 4 lifetime sexual partners. While 83% of heterosexuals are monogamous, only 2% of homosexuals claim to be monogamous.

Child molestation and pedophilia occur far more commonly among homosexuals than among heterosexuals on a per capita basis. Since 98-99% of the population is heterosexual, it is technically correct to say that most molestations are done by heterosexuals. However, homosexuals comprise only a small percentage (1 to 2%) of the population, yet account for about one-third of the total number of child sex offenses.

Three kinds of scientific evidence point to the proportion of homosexual molestation:

1) survey reports of molestation in the general population,

2) surveys of those caught and convicted of molestation, and

3) what homosexuals themselves have reported. These three lines of evidence suggest that the 1%-to-3% of adults who practice homosexuality account for between a fifth and a third of all child molestation. Studies have indicated that 60% or more of practicing homosexuals first encountered homosexuality as young people who were approached by an older, often adult, homosexual; 73% admitted having sex with boys.

Sex among homosexual males typically includes: oral and anal sex; rimming (mouth-to anus contact); fisting (insertion of the hand and arm into the rectum); golden showers (urination); insertion of objects such as bottles, flashlights, and even gerbils into the rectum; sadomasochism (beatings with whips, chains, etc.); and other practices. The Gay Report, one of the largest surveys ever conducted of homosexual sex practices, by two homosexual researchers, reported that 99% engaged in oral sex; 91% had anal intercourse; 83% engaged in rimming; 22% had done fisting; 23% admitted to participating in golden showers; 76% admitted to public or group sex; 73% admitted having sex with boys; and 4% admitted to eating feces.

There are lethal medical consequences of engaging in these defining features of male homosexual behavior. These various behaviors cause trauma to the rectum; contribute to the spread of AIDS; increase incidences of oral and anal cancer; and result in serious infections due to the ingestion of fecal matter. Anal intercourse tears the rectal lining of the receptive partner, regardless of whether a condom is worn, and the subsequent contact with fecal matter leads to a host of diseases. Other diseases to which active homosexuals are vulnerable can be classified as follows:

Classical sexually transmitted diseases (gonorrhea, infections with Chlamydia trachomatis, syphilis, herpes simplex infections, genital warts, pubic lice, scabies); enteric diseases (infections with Shigella species, Campylobacter jejuni, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, ["gay bowel disease"], Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and cytomegalovirus); trauma (related to and/or resulting in fecal incontinence, hemorroids, anal fissure, foreign bodies lodged in the rectum, rectosigmoid tears, allergic proctitis, penile edema, chemical sinusitis, inhaled nitrite burns, and sexual assault of the male patient); and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Increased morbidity and mortality is an unavoidable result of male-with-male sex--not to mention the increased rates of alcoholism, drug abuse, depression, suicide and other maladies that so often accompany a homosexual lifestyle.

A 1998 study suggested that a homosexual lifestyle, on the average, shortens one’s lifespan by roughly 20 years. It is more deadly than smoking, alcoholism, or drug addiction. This is tragic, when it is known that homosexuality can be prevented, in many cases, or substantially healed in adulthood when there is sufficient motivation and help.

Society has a vested interest in prohibiting behavior that endangers the health or safety of the community. Because of this, homosexual liaisons have historically been forbidden by law.

Homosexuals contend that their relationships are the equivalent of marriage between a man and woman. They demand that society dignify and approve of their partnerships by giving them legal status as 'marriages.' They further argue that homosexuals should be allowed to become foster parents or adopt children.

The best scientific evidence suggests that putting society's stamp of approval on homosexual partnerships would harm society in general and homosexuals in particular, the very individuals some contend would be helped. A large body of scientific evidence suggests that homosexual marriage is a defective counterfeit of traditional marriage and that it poses a clear and present danger to the health of the community. Traditional marriage improves the health of its participants, has the lowest rate of domestic violence, prolongs life, and is the best context in which to raise children. Homosexual coupling undermines its participants' health, has the highest rate of domestic violence, shortens life, and is a poor environment in which to raise children.

Christians have a moral obligation to fight the homosexual agenda and protect the institution of marriage.

The CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH recently published a statement, "CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING PROPOSALS TO GIVE LEGAL RECOGNITION TO UNIONS BETWEEN HOMOSEXUAL PERSONS." According to this statement,

"Those who would move from tolerance to the legitimization of specific rights for cohabiting homosexual persons need to be reminded that the approval or legalization of evil is something far different from the toleration of evil. In those situations where homosexual unions have been legally recognized or have been given the legal status and rights belonging to marriage, clear and emphatic opposition is a duty…"

"…The principles of respect and non-discrimination cannot be invoked to support legal recognition of homosexual unions. Differentiating between persons or refusing social recognition or benefits is unacceptable only when it is contrary to justice. The denial of the social and legal status of marriage to forms of cohabitation that are not and cannot be marital is not opposed to justice; on the contrary, justice requires it."

"…When legislation in favor of the recognition of homosexual unions is proposed for the first time in a legislative assembly, the Catholic law-maker has a moral duty to express his opposition clearly and publicly and to vote against it. To vote in favor of a law so harmful to the common good is gravely immoral."

"…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 the common inheritance of humanity."

###

In HOMOSEXUALITY AND HOPE: STATEMENT OF THE CATHOLIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, SAME-SEX ATTRACTION AS A SYMPTOM notes,

Individuals experience same-sex attractions for different reasons. While there are similarities in the patterns of development, each individual has a unique, personal history. In the histories of persons who experience same-sex attraction, one frequently finds one or more of the following:

· Alienation from the father in early childhood because the father was perceived as hostile or distant, violent or alcoholic (Apperson 1968[17]; Bene 1965[18]; Bieber 1962[19]; Fisher 1996[20]; Pillard 1988[21]; Sipova 1983[22])

· Mother was overprotective (boys) (Bieber, T. 1971[23]; Bieber 1962[24]; Snortum 1969[25])

· Mother was needy and demanding (boys) (Fitzgibbons 1999[26])

· Mother emotionally unavailable (girls) (Bradley 1997[27]; Eisenbud 1982[28])

· Parents failed to encourage same-sex identification (Zucker 1995[29])

· Lack of rough and tumble play (boys) (Friedman 1980[30]; Hadden 1967a [31])

· Failure to identify with same/sex peers (Hockenberry 1987[32]; Whitman 1977[33])

· Dislike of team sports (boys) (Thompson 1973[34])

· Lack of hand/eye coordination and resultant teasing by peers (boys) (Bailey 1993[35]; Fitzgibbons 1999[36]; Newman 1976[37])

· Sexual abuse or rape (Beitchman 1991[38]; Bradley 1997[39]; Engel 1981[40]; Finkelhor 1984; Gundlach 1967[41])

· Social phobia or extreme shyness (Golwyn 1993[42])

· Parental loss through death or divorce (Zucker 1995)

· Separation from parent during critical developmental stages (Zucker 1995)

In some cases, same-sex attraction or activity occurs in a patient with other psychological diagnosis, such as:

· major depression (Fergusson 1999[43])

· suicidal ideation (Herrell 1999)

· generalized anxiety disorder

· substance abuse

· conduct disorder in adolescents

· borderline personality disorder (Parris 1993[44]; Zubenko 1987[45])

· schizophrenia (Gonsiorek 1982) [46]

· pathological narcissism (Bychowski 1954[47]; Kaplan 1967[48])

In a few cases, homosexual behavior appears later in life as a response to a trauma such as abortion, (Berger 1994[49]; de Beauvoir 1953) or profound loneliness (Fitzgibbons 1999).

SAME-SEX ATTRACTION IS PREVENTABLE

If the emotional and developmental needs of each child are properly met by both family and peers, the development of same-sex attraction is very unlikely. Children need affection, praise and acceptance by each parent, by siblings and by peers. Such social and family situations, however, are not always easily established and the needs of children are not always readily identifiable. Some parents may be struggling with their own trials and be unable to provide the attention and support their children require. Sometimes parents work very hard but the particular personality of the child makes support and nurture more difficult. Some parents see incipient signs, seek professional assistance and advice, and are given inadequate, and in some cases, erroneous advice.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV (APA 1994[50]) of the American Psychiatric Association has defined Gender Identity Disorder (GID) in children as a strong, persistent cross gender identification, a discomfort with one's own sex, and a preference for cross sex roles in play or in fantasies. Some researchers (Friedman 1988, Phillips, 1992[51]) have identified another less pronounced syndrome in boys -- chronic feelings of unmasculinity. These boys, while not engaging in any cross sex play or fantasies, feel profoundly inadequate in their masculinity and have an almost phobic reaction to rough and tumble play in early childhood often accompanied by a strong dislike of team sports. Several studies have shown that children with Gender Identity Disorder and boys with chronic juvenile unmasculinity are at-risk for same-sex attraction in adolescence. (Newman 1976; Zucker 1995; Harry 1989[52])

Early identification (Hadden 1967[53]) and proper professional intervention, if supported by parents, can often overcome the gender identity disorder. (Rekers 1974[54]; Newman 1976) Unfortunately, many parents who report these concerns to their pediatricians are told not to worry about them. In some cases the symptoms and parental concerns may appear to lessen when the child enters the second or third grade, but unless adequately dealt with, the symptoms may reappear at puberty as intense, same-sex attraction. This attraction appears to be the result of a failure to identify positively with one's own sex.

It is important that those involved in child care and education become aware of the signs of gender identity disorder and chronic juvenile unmasculinity and have access the resources available to find appropriate help for these children. (Bradley 1998; Brown 1963[55]; Acosta 1975[56]) Once convinced that same-sex attraction is not a genetically determined disorder, one is able to hope for prevention and a therapeutic model to greatly mitigate, if not eliminate, same-sex attractions.

AT-RISK, NOT PREDESTINED

While a number of studies have shown that children who have been sexually abused, children exhibiting the symptoms of GID, and boys with chronic juvenile unmasculinity are at risk for same-sex attractions in adolescence and adulthood, it is important to note that a significant percentage of these children do not become homosexually active as adults. (Green 1985[57]; Bradley 1998)

For some, negative childhood experiences are overcome by later positive interactions. Some make a conscious decision to turn away from temptation. The presence and the power of God's grace, while not always measurable, cannot be discounted as a factor in helping an at-risk individual turn away from same-sex attraction. The labeling of an adolescent, or worse a child, as unchangeably "homosexual" does the individual a grave disservice. Such adolescents or children can, with appropriate, positive intervention, be given proper guidance to deal with early emotional traumas.

THERAPY

Those promoting the idea that sexual orientation is immutable frequently quote from a published discussion between Dr. C.C. Tripp and Dr. Lawrence Hatterer in which Dr. Tripp stated: "... there is not a single recorded instance of a change in homosexual orientation which has been validated by outside judges or testing. Kinsey wasn't able to find one. And neither Dr. Pomeroy nor I have been able to find such a patient. We would be happy to have one from Dr. Hatterer." (Tripp & Hatterer 1971) They fail to reference Dr. Hatterer response:

"I have 'cured' many homosexuals, Dr. Tripp. Dr. Pomeroy or any other researcher may examine my work because it is all documented on 10 years of tape recordings. Many of these 'cured' (I prefer to use the word 'changed') patients have married, had families and live happy lives. It is a destructive myth that 'once a homosexual, always a homosexual." It has made and will make millions more committed homosexuals. What is more, not only have I but many other reputable psychiatrists (Dr. Samuel B. Hadden, Dr. Lionel Ovesey, Dr. Charles Socarides, Dr. Harold Lief, Dr. Irving Bieber, and others) have reported their successful treatments of the treatable homosexual." (Tripp & Hatterer 1971)

A number of therapists have written extensively on the positive results of therapy for same-sex attraction. Tripp chose to ignore the large body of literature on treatment and surveys of therapists. Reviews of treatment for unwanted same-sex attractions show that it is as successful as treatment for similar psychological problems: about 30% experience a freedom from symptoms and another 30% experience improvement. (Bieber 1962[58]; Clippinger 1974[59]; Fine 1987[60]; Kaye 1967[61]; MacIntosh 1994[62]; Marmor 1965[63]; Nicolosi 1998[64]; Rogers 1976[65]; Satinover 1996[66]; Throckmorton[67]; West [68])

Reports from individual therapists have been equally positive. (Barnhouse 1977[69]; Bergler 1962[70]; Bieber 1979[71]; Cappon 1960[72]; Caprio 1954[73]; Ellis 1956[74]; Hadden 1958[75]; Hadden 1967b[76]; Hadfield 1958[77]; Hatterer 1970[78]; Kronemeyer 1989[79]) This is only a representative sampling of the therapists who report successful results in the treatment of persons experiencing same-sex attraction.

There are also numerous autobiographical reports from men and women who once believed themselves to be unchangeably bound by same-sex attractions and behaviors. Many of these men and women (Exodus 1990-2000[80]) now describe themselves as free of same-sex attraction, fantasy, and behavior. Most of these individuals found freedom through participation in religion based support groups, although some also had recourse to therapists. Unfortunately, a number of influential persons and professional groups ignore this evidence (APA 1997[81]; Herek 1991[82]) and there seems to be a concerted effort on the part of "homosexual apologists" to deny the effectiveness of treatment of same-sex attraction or claim that such treatment is harmful. Barnhouse expressed wonderment at these efforts: "The distortion of reality inherent in the denials by homosexual apologists that the condition is curable is so immense that one wonders what motivates it." (Barnhouse 1977)

Robert Spitzer, M.D., the renowned Columbia University psychiatric researcher, who was directly involved in the 1973 decision to remove homosexuality from the American Psychiatric Association's list of mental disorders, has recently become involved with research the possibility of change. Dr. Spitzer stated in an interview: "I am convinced that many people have made substantial changes toward becoming heterosexual...I think that's news... I came to this study skeptical. I now claim that these changes can be sustained." (NARTH 2000).

[ckca]

Until that happens, it's a battle of reason, not one of morals.

Its also a battle against the self-censorship of the mainstream media. The article posted to this thread is apparently the original unedited Associated Press feed. This full version contains the quote from Dr. Kopp highlighted above. This full version was found in 3 out of 36 large market newspapers via Google search. In one paper, the line about the mainstream media was censored, and this was left:

"Brian Kopp, a Johnstown podiatrist who attends another parish involved in Nesbella's effort, backed Cameron's research.

''I'm a trained physician, I know how to evaluate medical literature,'' said Kopp, vice president of the anti-abortion Catholic Family Association of America. ''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.''

Notice they edited out

""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."

The rest of the newspapers removed all references to and quotes of Dr. Kopp. How convenient to the homosexual agenda and the mainstream media!

[Desdemona]

Its also a battle against the self-censorship of the mainstream media. The article posted to this thread is apparently the original unedited Associated Press feed. This full version contains the quote from Dr. Kopp highlighted above. This full version was found in 3 out of 36 large market newspapers via Google search.

Par for the course, unfortunately. In various jobs I've had, I've had to file both the press release and any "hits" in various newspapers. No two articles are ever the same, and half the time, they're never picked up by the majors. One of the big factors is print space. But, another big thing is editorial judgement. THAT is where hearts and minds need to be persuaded.