[maryz]

I think parts of this letter to the bishops from the Catholic Medical Association have been quoted in other posts, but this is the first time I've seen the whole thing, and it is well worth reading through.

[livius]

Wow! It's great. I hadn't seen the whole thing before, either. Thanks for posting.

Unfortunately, I bet the kind of "counseling" popular with bishops has an entirely different objective. And that's the whole problem.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

"They were unwilling to admit and address the profound emotional pain they experienced in childhood of loneliness, often in the father relationship, peer rejection, lack of male confidence, poor body image, sadness, and anger. This anger, which originated most often from disappointments and hurts with their peers and/or fathers, was often directed toward the Church, the Holy Father, and the religious authorities. Rejecting the Church’s teachings on sexual morality, these men for the most part adopted the utilitarian sexual ethic which the Holy Father so brilliantly critiqued in his book, Love and Responsibility. They came to see their own pleasure as the highest end and used others — including adolescents and children — as sexual objects."

Bingo!

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Thanks for the ping. Very good article. Now why can't we get guys like this screening seminary candidates?

[Dr. Scarpetta]

As the revelations of abuse have become public it has become increasingly clear that almost all the victims are adolescent males, not prepubescent boys. The problem of priests with same-sex attractions (SSA) molesting adolescents or children must be addressed if future scandals are to be avoided.

If the media stops being politically correct and admits the problem is one of "same-sex attraction to adolescent males," progress will be made.

[ninenot]

I believe that CMA made only one error: they allow for the possibility of admitting homosexuals to the priesthood, as long as they are 'undergoing' or 'have undergone' treatment.

In my opinion, this is a risk the Church should not take, period. There is the potential of scandal; the potential of criminal activity; and the potential of financial damage (awards being paid.)

'Tis better to use the Roman proscription of homosexuals, period.

[ThomasMore]

To those who wish to be free from same-sex attraction it can be said with confidence that God didn’t make them that way and He wants them to be free. The good news is that SSA attraction can respond to therapy and that membership in a support group such as Courage can help a person to find healing and freedom.

Explain this to the sodomite sympathetic bishops! I think they reject statements like these because it tells them there is something wrong with themselves.

[ThomasMore]

Our experience over 25 years has convinced us of the direct link between rebellion and anger against the Church’s teaching, and sexually promiscuous behaviors. This appears to be a two way street: those who are sexually active dissent from the Church’s teaching on sexuality to justify their own actions, while those who adopt rebellious ideas on sexual morality are more vulnerable to become sexually active, because they have little to no defense against sexual temptations.

Our bishops must be deaf, dumb and blind!

[ThomasMore]

The previous attitude of “winking” at homosexuality in priests must end. Otherwise, all Church teaching on sexual morality is undermined. Also, complaints by priests of aggressive homosexual behavior in rectories and religious communities should be addressed and no longer ignored.

I don't know of anyone on this forum who would disagree with this. Why don't the bishops get it?

[ThomasMore]

The Church should not take the moral risk of allowing someone with SSA to enter the seminary.

Excellant advice! Too bad most bishops haven't followed this advice; especially since it was given in 1961!