In a resolution adopted on a 125-to-4 vote by the APA's governing council, and in a comprehensive report based on two years of research, the 150,000-member association put itself firmly on record in opposition of so-called "reparative therapy" which seeks to change sexual orientation.
No solid evidence exists that such change is likely
The APA is merely claiming that that there is no evidence that homosexuals have changed from some “reparative therapy.” Ok? I have no idea what “reparative therapy” is, but all that means is the method of “reparative therapy” hasn’t been shown effective. So, perhaps other therapy methods are effective. How can they possibly claim a person’s life cannot be improved by being counseled to not engage in homosexual acts?
Here are testimonies from many who have in fact done just that. I have no idea what kind of therapy they received, but whatever it was they all report to be psychologically healthier and happier once they made the conscious decision to not engage in a homosexual lifestyle.
www.couragerc.net click on member testimonies in the sidebar.
I do hope you will take the time to read the personal testimonies. They are very interesting. I particularly found it interesting how one individual’s testimony mentioned he kept encountering therapists who encouraged him to pursue a gay lifestyle – to not fight it. If a therapist shouldn’t encourage one not to act on same-sex attraction, why should they be permitted to encourage patients to act on them? Especially since there is no evidence that homosexuals are happier living a homosexual lifestyle vs. not?
And in fact, isn’t one of their recommendations that a therapist could advise celibacy?
Instead, the APA urged therapists to consider multiple options – that could range from celibacy to switching churches – for helping clients whose sexual orientation and religious faith conflict
Huh? Sounds like what the Church advises?
Well look at that. Trying to "fix gays" does harm to the person... just like many of us have said.
Wow! You all really do just make up what you want to hear. Is that what the APA said? I believe the APA attempted to say there was no proof the therapy worked. They did not report any conclusive studies proving it was harmful. Please show me such evidence and when you do, I’ll show you the evidence that those who engage in homosexual acts fair worse than heterosexuals when it comes to AIDS, depression, alcohol/drug abuse, and suicide.
The Catholic church is just awful on the issue of homosexuality. As bad as the fundies.
Be more specific please. Just awful because???? And please, I don’t plan to accept your opinion on what it is you think the Church has to say regarding homosexuality. The Church teaches we are to treat homosexuals with love and compassion. What Church teachings would you like to cite as awful?
Please show me what the Church teaches that is so awful. The Church believes homosexual acts are wrong. The Church bases its decision on natural law, logic, science, biology, facts, observation and right reason. You believe homosexual acts are good. What do you base such a decision on? I could say atheists are just awful on the issue of homosexuality. Almost as bad as the APA.
There are some areas where the church can be fairly progressive (such as social justice, or accepting evolution) and but never in anything related to sexuality. It seems to freak them out, they're at war with it.
Hmmm? Could this be because truth exists and cannot change – don’t worry, I don’t expect you to understand. If the Church gets so many other things right (as you admitted) have you ever considered they may be right about this too?
think they're so sensitive about it because so many priests are repressed (or not-so-repressed) gays themselves.
Quote
Fr. Donald Cozzens, psychologist and seminary professor in Cleveland, Ohio, estimates 50% of the priests and seminarians have homosexual inclination, and...100% of bishops come from the ranks of the priests.
Maybe it's sort of like the homophobic tough guy who always bashes gays, then gets caught blowing a guy in a toilet
From
www.religioustolerance.org/hom_rcc.htm -:
The following diverse quotes were extracted from reviews of a book by Father Donald Cozzens, titled "The Changing Face of the Priesthood:"
"It would be highly unlikely that a homosexual man in direct contradiction with God's law and even that of other faiths such as Judaism...would go through the steps of becoming a priest."
"The presence of large numbers of homosexuals in the clergy is probable, although the 50% that Cozzens suggests seems far too high."
It is important to keep in mind that the vast majority of priests, with a heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual orientation, do not molest or sexually abuse young people. In fact, the percentage of pedophiles -- adults who molest young children -- among the Catholic priesthood appears to be lower than the average for all males.
What percentage of priests have a homosexual orientation?
Nobody knows, with any degree of accuracy.
Some estimates of the percentage of current priests with a homosexual orientation:
Analysis of the estimates of others:
According to Bill Blakemore of ABC News, "...nobody knows what percentage of the American priesthood is gay; estimates range from less than 10% to more than 30%." 4
Actual surveys:
In the Fall of 1999, the Kansas City Star sent a questionnaire to 3,000 priests in the U.S. 73% did not reply. The low response rate could be anticipated. One would expect homosexuals and bisexuals to be reluctant to respond to the questionnaire since it deals with such a sensitive issue, and originated from a newspaper. Homosexual and bisexual priests would probably be less likely to reply to the survey. Among the 801 priests who did reply: 75% said they had a heterosexual orientation
15% homosexual;
5% bisexual
www.religioustolerance.org/hom_rcc.htm -
New Oxford Review: Notes: It just so happens that surveys of the sort Buffer wants have been done, and with very little effect. The latest one was done by the Los Angeles Times, as reported in its October 20 and 21, 2002 issues. (The Times says it's the "most extensive" survey of priests done since its previous survey in 1994.) Of the 45,382 priests in the U.S., the Times sent surveys to 5,000, of whom 1,854 responded. The Times pronounces this "statistically representative." The results?
A combined 15 percent of priests say they are "gay" (9 percent) or "on the homosexual side" (6 percent).
catholicintl.com/epologetics/articles/pastoral/homosexual-priests1.htm
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Oh yeah, it's completely unscriptural and downright wacky. It is, however, practical and expedient, and has been used for years to convince gay Catholic boys that their lack of interest in women is actually a sign from God to enter the priesthood
Uhh, well, since scripture is the one who tells us to listen to the Church you can’t really say what the Church says is unscriptural. LOL!
Also, Newsflash! The Church has no desire for those who think they have a same-sex attraction to enter the priesthood. You are so ignorant and I’d like to see evidence of such an anti-catholic statement. The Church continually tries to improve its screening of potential candidates. The Church tries to make sure a person is not simply becoming a priest to escape their unfulfilling lives they may currently be experiencing.
Force yourself to date women even if you don't feel like doing it. This is what God wants you to do, and eventually you'll get the hang of it, just like riding a bicycle, and end up a happy married straight guy who never looks back
Not at all what the therapy does, but good job perpetuating a stereotype. One testimony from the group I cited earlier mentions there is a 12-step process he was advised to follow. Somehow, I doubt one of the steps was telling him to marry a girl, even if he wasn’t sexually attracted to her. You all are pathetic. Your spouting of lies and misinformation is disgusting. Simply because the Church is in disagreement with you regarding homosexual acts, you have to paint her as a monster yelling “turn or burn” at a patient struggling with a disorder. You have no evidence that any of your comments are even remotely based on facts.
How exactly is therapy for changing sexuality supposed to work? You watch straight porn long long enough? But pron is wrong.... So....they say you're going to hell long enough to....scare the gay out??
That is exactly the core principle behind that type of "therapy". I refuse to call it therapy as it in no way helps a person.
This is absurd. Where are you getting your information, pinkmilk?
As long as his "dirty little secret" could be kept in the closet (pun intended), he would have continued on with his behavior. The fact is that you can not "cure" homosexuality. To suggest there is a cure suggests that homosexuality is a problem. It is only a problem if you are religious or are homophobic.
This is completely unprofessional of you. If your client thinks it is a problem for him/her – then it is a problem. How dare you dismiss the client’s own feelings regarding the matter and be so biased and prejudiced to actually suggest it is only a problem if you are religious or homophobic. You, Pinkmilk, are religiousphobic and I seriously think it could cause problems for you in your career if you do not get it under control. I realize homosexuality may not be your realm of expertise, but if you honestly are so biased against religion, it is unfair of you to council others according to your personal agenda.
Oh yeah, it's completely unscriptural and downright wacky. It is, however, practical and expedient, and has been used for years to convince gay Catholic boys that their lack of interest in women is actually a sign from God to enter the priesthood.
That would explain a lot.
Yes it would, if it were based on an ounce of truth, but as usual you all simply eat up the lies you tell one another in an attempt to validate your own erroneous view regarding the issue.
I'm really glad that the APA voted the way they did in this matter. It would have first of all contradicted the code of ethics by which all psychologists are bound if they had voted for it. It is very clearly outlined in the code of ethics that psychologists are not to force their own views and/or way of life onto their clients.
You might want to look in the mirror and take your own advice here.
To suggest that a clients way of life is wrong and needs to change in order to save their immortal soul is a complete violation of this. Not to mention that it is also against the ethical code to create or make a matter worse for a client.
What if the client believes it is wrong? What if the client personally sought out a Christian therapist because in fact they are a believer themself? What if a client insists to you that they accept the truth that homosexual acts are immoral, and would like help in dealing with their same-sex attraction?
If a client is in therapy to deal with their homosexuality, telling them it's wrong or suggesting that they need to "pray the gay away" is in no way helping the matter and will only make things worse.
How do you know it is not wrong? You still have not proven any such thing? And Pinkmilk, just because you do not believe in prayer, does not mean that one of your clients wouldn’t. How very wrong of you to discount their worldview and beliefs. It would be wrong for you to force your opinions and beliefs on someone else. Talk about really screwing up a client! Shame on you.
How does one gather data for this? Is it not difficult to determine the sexuality of someone who is supposed to be celibate?Actually it´s quite simple. The researchers just have to ask the altar boys and girls.
Completely inappropriate anti-Catholic comment. Is there a moderator in the house?
The following is some factors that really ought to be looked into further and not swept under the rug. If psychologist really wanted to help a person struggling with a same-sex attraction, they ought to give some credence to the following . . .
Study: Childhood Sexual Abuse Often a Factor in Sexual Disorientation
By Bob Ellis on July 7th, 2009
dakotavoice.com/2009/07/study-childhood-sexual-abuse-often-a-factor
And a final note, I suppose with your logic, it would be impossible to rehabilitate pedophiles? I mean if one can’t change who they are sexually attracted to, then I guess there is no hope for pedophiles – too bad.
Why do people sexually abuse children?
There are many different kinds of abusers, and it’s not clear why people molest children. What’s been found in recent research is an overwhelming majority of people guilty of child molesting, were molested themselves. We used to think this statistic was much smaller, but with more detailed research, we’ve discovered this statistic to be very high. Statistics involving men in New Jersey prisons convicted of sexual abuse, found that over 95% of the men, were in fact abused themselves. And we don’t know, but it could be that the 5% of non-abused men in that case don’t remember being abused as children; they may have amnesia or a traumatic dissociation.. Some abuse may be the attempt to relive one’s own abuse, with power roles reversed. Another reason may be these people have learned that abuse is a way of feeling in control. Fundamentally, in all cases of abuse, it certainly is about power and control.
www.allaboutcounseling.com/sexual_abuse.htmAhh, more wonderful benefits we owe to lovely pornography . . . .
Does pornography promote sexual abuse?
There are lots of studies about the effects of pornography. Does viewing child pornography create a greater desire in perpetrators to abuse children? Yes, it seems to. There have been studies that seem to demonstrate arousal of perpetrators from viewing child pornography, particularly pedophile. We can’t say absolutely if pornography makes them act on their arousal, but it seems to be part of the constellation about what causes them to abuse.
It’s also found that viewing violent or sexual materials can affect attitudes involving adult rape. There are studies demonstrating males who view continuous violent pornographic movies, will have much more tolerance for the rape of a women. Whether this means it makes a person rape (date rape or stranger rape), is not absolute. And there’s a correlation with viewing violent pornography and repeat rapists, but we don’t know there is a causation between the two.
www.allaboutcounseling.com/sexual_abuse.htmStill waiting to hear from someone how exactly they can know homosexual acts to be right or good? Still waiting . . .
