Anglican Mainstream

By David Pruden, NARTH

From NARTH

Senate Bill 1172 introduced by Senator Ted Lieu, will be reviewed at a hearing in Sacramento on Monday and NARTH has sent an official delegation to speak to the bill and lobby legislators.

For many years gay activists have been trying to convince the public the homosexual attractions cannot be changed. Since the evidence proves otherwise, they then moved on to trying to convince us that change therapies are “dangerous”, but once again even the American Psychological Association agrees that no such evidence is available. Now in what is apparently a move of desperation they are trying to accomplish through fines and sanctions aimed directly at individual clients and their therapists what they could not accomplish through misinformation.

If you want to read the legislation for yourself complete information about the bill can be found by clicking here
 
While this is a direct assault on everyone’s freedom it is also a not so subtle attack on religious liberty. Individuals of faith often seeking to live lives congruent with their religious convictions are often motivated to seek help for their homosexual attractions. This type of legislation would in effect criminalize those formerly ethical relationships between a client and their therapist unless those interactions were supervised by agents of the state.

Read NARTH's objections here

by QC

Imaginary conversation between myself & a friend [in italics]

By Matthew Cullinan Hoffman, LifeSite News

Juan Antonio Reig Plà, the Catholic bishop of the Spanish diocese of Alcalá De Henares, has responded to recent attacks by homosexual groups by posting testimonies on his website of individuals who rejoice in their abandonment of the homosexual lifestyle.

From The Christian Institute

By David Pruden, NARTH

Press Release

Anglican Mainstream and Core Issues Trust, the Evangelical Groups behind the bus adverts ‘Not Gay! Ex-gay. Post-gay, and proud. Get over it!’ banned by London Mayor, Boris Johnson, have challenged the views of liberal bishops and senior clergy promoting same sex marriage (The Times, 21-4-12). They accuse them of seeking to impose a neo-pagan worldview that reflects what are merely their personal opinions, and would unacceptably redefine Judeo-Christian belief.

Pointing to the findings of current scientific research which says there is no gay gene and that sexuality is much more fluid and malleable than is usually thought, Anglican Mainstream and Core Issues Trust welcome the endorsement by Matthew Parris in The Times (21-4-12) that ‘same sex male attraction is something you do, not something you are … (and) that there are not two male tribes.’

Both groups recognise the rights of individuals to identify as gay and to live according to their own values. They have never spoken of 'cure' for homosexuality, but maintain that a range of therapeutic approaches and modalities do exist to help those who, for whatever reason, are unhappy with same sex attraction. They defend the absolute right of such people to seek help to develop their heterosexual potential. 

Canon Dr Chris Sugden, Executive Secretary of Anglican Mainstream, said, “The view expressed by some senior serving clergy, and retired bishops, would redefine Christian belief. They do not have the standing either to rewrite or reinterpret the clear teaching of the Bible, which the church has always understood to prohibit any and all sexual relations outside the union for life of one man and one woman.”

Dr Mike Davidson, Director of Core Issues Trust stated “Not even the gay community is agreed that homosexuality is innate and immutable,’ drawing attention to Matthew Parris’ comment that the 20th century re-categorisation of a whole section of males as “homosexuals” was ill-founded and a mistake. The columnist described same-sex attraction as ‘a kind of habit, a diversion to which any man might be prone and into which any might be led.’

Anglican Mainstream and Core Issues Trust reject absolutely the accusation of Boris Johnson that they are intolerant, labeling homosexuality a disease. They affirm the right of individuals to seek change, and to reduce homosexual behaviours, feelings and desires, using both pastoral support and counselling, and psychological therapies administered by professionals. They are actively considering an action for judicial review against the Mayor on the basis that his decision was unlawful, and an interference with their rights under Articles 9 and 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, guaranteeing freedom of religion and expression.

ENDS

For further information:
Dr Mike Davidson M: 07833 098998 L: 02892639631 Canon Dr Chris Sugden M:07808 297043 L: 01865 883388
Revd Lynda Rose M: 07933 305914 L: 01865 554421 Alan Craig M: 07939 547198

By Cole Moreton, Telegraph

"I don’t want to be outrageous,” says Dr Mike Davidson softly – but it is hard to believe him. The 57-year-old Christian counsellor and campaigner has upset a lot of people lately, with his claims that homosexuals can become straight if they get enough help, therapy and prayer. The doctor has been called deluded and his work condemned as “inflammatory, homophobic and harmful”.

Matthew Parris writes in his Saturday column in the Times that it seems that, depending on your point of view, God, a stroke or a broken neck can turn you gay, help you to be gay or make you straight. On one thing, though, these opinions all agree — people can change.

And (gulp) I think that’s true. I will be misinterpreted; I may give comfort to wrongheaded evangelicals; gay friends may think I’m letting the side down … but I do believe that male sexual orientation is less fixed than we suppose. It may alter. We gays fought that idiotic “section 28” on dishonest grounds. Homosexuality can, as the statute implied, be “promoted”. So can heterosexuality. It always has been, with much success.

The elevation of a habit to the status of an identity, “gay” or “straight”, would have struck our ancestors as weird. It is weird. It flies in the face of the evidence staring us in the face.

Most gay men manage the considerable intellectual contortion of believing that there’s nothing they could do to alter their own sexuality while at the same time believing (not without evidence) that there’s quite a lot they might do to alter a straight man’s sexuality (“five pints of lager” is the usual prescription).

Both sides — straights and gays — have strong reason to deny (not least to themselves) that they ever had a choice: the straights because gay inclinations were disapproved of; the gays because infinitely their most persuasive way of commanding tolerance has always been the (I believe) subtly self-oppressive: “It’s the way I am — nothing I can do about it — part of my identity — it isn’t my fault.”

“I can’t help it”. The very words carry a kind of whimper. I hate this plea. It isn’t accepted as an argument for paedophilia and shouldn’t be. I’d want to be gay whether I could help it or not. The day that the battle for homosexual equality is won and over will be the day a man, straight or gay, can boast that he chose.

Read here (£)

By Hilary White, LifeSite News

While most medical ethics throughout the western world has adopted the primacy of patient autonomy as its guiding principle, the psychiatric and psychological professions in the UK are becoming increasingly authoritarian in matters of sexuality, according to one would-be therapist.

From Christian Newswire

Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX) is urging students, parents, and educators to distribute ex-gay flyers on April 20 to their schools with Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) or other gay-themed student clubs.

April 20 is the annual "day of silence" when student and teacher members of homosexual clubs in schools across the country remain silent for the school day in order to bring attention to intolerance against homosexuals.

"Since members of these gay affirming clubs agree to remain silent for the day, April 20 is the time to distribute ex-gay information without interference or harassment from any gay activist faculty or GSA clubs,' said Greg Quinlan, President of PFOX.

"PFOX is calling on students to distribute flyers promoting acceptance of ex-gays. Former homosexuals and their supporters are ridiculed and forced to live in silence. Our nation's schools deny students with unwanted same-sex attractions any support or fact-based information that feelings can and do change."

Read here

By QC

So, you’re saying that homosexual acts may be committed involuntarily, semi-voluntarily, or voluntarily?]

By Dawn Wilde, LifeSite News

Bryce J Christensen and Robert W Patterson, from Family Education Trust

When homosexuality was deleted from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in 1973, the American Psychiatric Association was motivated not by the scientific evidence but by a therapeutic desire to weaken prevailing social attitudes that allegedly damage the self-esteem of homosexuals. Consequently, much of the discussion of homosexuality by public-health officials and professional associations ignores the large body of empirical literature that casts homosexual behavior in an unfavorable light.

Yet the inaugural issue of the journal of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality offers a review of experimental evidence, clinical studies, and empirical research published in peer-reviewed journals over the course of 125 years that leads to a ‘singular’ conclusion:

‘Homosexuality is not innate, immutable, or without significant risk to medical, psychological, and relational health.’ 1

The review of 600 reports and studies contains three review essays, two of which refute claims of the American Psychological Association that sexual orientation is fixed and that attempts to change it can be harmful. The third review finds that the literature demonstrates, contrary to another claim of the APA, that ‘problematic behaviors and psychological dysfunctions are experienced among homosexuals at about three times the prevalence found in the general population—and sometimes much more’.

Among the significantly increased risks for mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders:

• Despite knowing the AIDS risk, homosexuals repeatedly and pathologically continue to indulge in unsafe sex practices.
• Homosexuals represent the highest number of STD cases.
• Many homosexual sex practices are medically dangerous, with or without protection.
• More than one third of homosexual men and women are substance abusers.
• Forty per cent of homosexual male adolescents report suicidal histories.
• Homosexuals are more likely than heterosexuals to have mental health concerns, such as eating disorders, personality disorders, paranoia, depression, and anxiety.
• Homosexual relationships are more violent than heterosexual relationships.
• Social bias and discrimination do not, in themselves, contribute to the majority of homosexual maladaptivity.

Although conceding the methodological limitations of older studies, the authors include them because the research not only met the research standards of the time but also, perhaps more important, their conclusions are largely supported by the most current and more rigorously quantitative studies. These findings may not lead to a revision of the DSM, yet they illustrate the degree to which the mental-health establishment appears animated more by political science than by hard science

Reference

1. James E. Phelan et al, ‘Response to the APA Claim: There is No Greater Pathology in the Homosexual Population Than in the General Population’, Journal of Human Sexuality 1 [2009]: 53-87.

From A Line in the Sand

By Ed Thornton, Church Times

CHURCH House, Westminster, has issued a defence this week of Pro­fessor Glynn Harrison, a lay member of the Crown Nominations Commis­sion (CNC), after it was alleged that he believed that sexual orientation could be changed.

Professor Harrison is Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at the Univer­sity of Bristol, and one of the three members of the House of Laity of the General Synod sitting on the CNC, which will nominate the next Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the co-author of a booklet published by the Christian Medical Fellowship, Unwanted Same-Sex Attraction: Issues of pastoral counselling and support (News, 13 January).

A report published in The Guar­dian on Tuesday said that Professor Harrison “believes some gay people can be counselled to suppress or possibly change their sexual orienta­tion”.

The Church House statement said: “Professor Glynn Harrison does not believe in concepts of ‘gay cure’ or ‘gay conversion’ and has never been involved in offering any formal counselling or ‘therapy’ in this area himself. Such descriptions, because they depend on inappropriate no­tions of ‘sickness’, convey simplistic and stigmatising views.”

Read here

By Dale O'Leary, LifeSite News

Pope Benedict XVI and others have recently drawn attention to the fact that simply putting forward the Church’s unchanging teachings on marriage and sexual morality puts a person in the position of being accused of “hate.” In particular, GLBT (gay lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered) activists are demanding that Catholics and those of other religions change 4,000-year-old teachings about marriage and sexual morality. When believers answer that they are not authorized to make such changes in what God has revealed, the GLBT activists accuse them of “hate,” even going so far as to charge them with “hate crimes.”

It doesn’t matter how gently the words are spoken or how carefully the message is phrased, the GLBT activists only hear “hate.”

Although there is no one cause for same-sex attraction (SSA), in many instances it can be linked to childhood gender identity disorder — the failure to identify strongly with one’s own same-sex parent or peers in the first two years of life. Some persons with SSA as children wanted to be other sex or pretended to be the other sex, while others simply felt ‘different’ from their same-sex parent and peers.

Read here

Press Association

Adverts which suggested gay people could be cured have been banned from London buses, transport chiefs have said.

The campaign was due to run for two weeks on the side of vehicles serving five routes in the capital, including top tourist destinations such as St Paul's Cathedral, Oxford Street, Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus.

The posters, by Christian group Core Issues Trust, stated: "Not gay! Post-gay, ex-gay and proud. Get over it!" and were believed to mock pro-gay group Stonewall's recent campaign which featured adverts saying: "Some people are gay. Get over it."

But following a huge public outcry which labelled the Core Issues' campaign homophobic, London Mayor Boris Johnson, who chairs Transport for London (TfL), tonight ordered the adverts to be pulled.

Mr Johnson, who is standing for re-election next month, said: "London is one of the most tolerant cities in the world and intolerant of intolerance. It is clearly offensive to suggest being gay is an illness someone recovers from and I am not prepared to have that suggestion driven around London on our buses."

The doomed campaign, which was backed by Christian group Anglican Mainstream and cleared by industry regulator the Advertising Standards Authority, claimed therapy could change sexual orientation. It was due to run on London buses from Monday.

Core Issues' co-director Mike Davidson criticised the decision to axe the adverts, saying: "I didn't realise censorship was in place. We went through the correct channels and we were encouraged by the bus company to go through their procedures. They okayed it and now it has been pulled. I would be interested to know on what basis they have done that."

He added: "It is of deep concern that there can only be one point of view and that is the point of view of individuals who are determined to push through gay marriage and apparently believe that homosexuality cannot be altered in any possible way. That is not a universally held view. This is a disturbing development and it is disappointing the UK finds itself in this position."

But Stonewall spokesman Andy Wasley welcomed the move, saying: "We are delighted by TfL's clear commitment to diversity. It is fantastic that no adverts will be promoting voodoo, gay-cure therapy in London."

A TfL spokeswoman said: "The adverts are not currently running on any London buses and they will not do so. This advertisement has just been brought to our attention by our advertising agency, CBSO, and we have decided that it should not run on London's bus or transport networks. We do not believe these specific ads are consistent with TfL's commitment to a tolerant and inclusive London."

Read here

Read Daily Mail article here

Read Daily Telegraph article here

by Thaddeus Baklinski, LifeSite News

A study of the mental health of homosexual Australians, called the Private Lives 2 survey, purports to show that the much higher rate of psychiatric treatment sought by homosexuals, compared to heterosexuals, is due to discrimination and lack of societal “acceptance.” At the same time, other studies have come to repeated conclusions indicating that “the male homosexual lifestyle itself” is a primary cause of these mental health issues.

By QC

You’re saying that regarding Biblical questions, there are two forms of truth: Biblical truth and `gay truth’. Biblical truth is absolute as it is received – comes from God himself – whereas `gay truth’ is subjective, and rejects anything that doesn’t serve gay-ideology.

Imaginary conversation between myself & a friend [in italics]

Back again, I see. Ready to pursue your obsession?

Have you prayed?

Yes!

Today, I should like to examine my assumptions about truth.

Fine. Fire away!

I’ve only time for a fleeting glance at the issues. You and your team must tell me which ones to explore in greater depth.

Will do.

Just to remind you, I’m operating within the 50-70% probability of correctness range. My contentions are not empirical, but merely speculative, therefore.
With cooperation on your part we can raise that probability to nearer 90%.

But only with divine assistance, can we know the absolute truth (even with divine assistance, can we ever know absolute truth in this life? I would suggest not. Perhaps swap ‘know’ for ‘approach’?) on the subjects.

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