--- "Fr. Ivo Da C. Souza" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >Homosexuality is against human nature. Human being is >complete in male and female. Biologically, >psychologically, spiritually, emotionally we >experience this truth based on human nature itself, >not on "antiquated religious dogma". Marriage reveals >the truth of this tenet. Nobody can change the fact. >
The above post makes a lot of categorical assertions without providing any scientific or sociological justification to support them. It is very obvious that this is a strongly held religious view, despite claims to the contrary. Some of the assertions are not even internally consistent within the same religious doctrine. For instance, nobody would deny that enforced celibacy is not consistent with human nature, and yet its practice is regarded with such high esteem by the adherents of this doctrine. If "marriage reveals the truth" of the true human nature, then why are people who choose to remain unmarried for life considered to be sick? In any case, I would like to emphatically state that there is absolutely no scientific, clinical or sociological basis for any of the assertions made in the above post. Indeed, these assertions go against the public service recommendations of all major scientific and medical organizations, as well as against the practices of most international humanitarian agencies, including some religious ones. This is indeed a clear example of how strict adherence to religious dogma brings one in conflict with science, as well as with humanitarian ethics developed by painstaking scientific and sociological research. I provide below some public service FAQs from the American Psychological Association, which directly refute the various claims made in the above-referenced post. http://www.apa.org/pubinfo/answers.html IS HOMOSEXUALITY A MENTAL ILLNESS OR EMOTIONAL PROBLEM? No. Psychologists, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals agree that homosexuality is not an illness, mental disorder or an emotional problem. Over 35 years of objective, well-designed scientific research has shown that homosexuality, in and itself, is not associated with mental disorders or emotional or social problems. Homosexuality was once thought to be a mental illness because mental health professionals and society had biased information. In the past the studies of gay, lesbian and bisexual people involved only those in therapy, thus biasing the resulting conclusions. When researchers examined data about these people who were not in therapy, the idea that homosexuality was a mental illness was quickly found to be untrue. In 1973 the American Psychiatric Association confirmed the importance of the new, better designed research and removed homosexuality from the official manual that lists mental and emotional disorders. Two years later, the American Psychological Association passed a resolution supporting the removal. For more than 25 years, both associations have urged all mental health professionals to help dispel the stigma of mental illness that some people still associate with homosexual orientation. CAN THERAPY CHANGE SEXUAL ORIENTATION? No. Even though most homosexuals live successful, happy lives, some homosexual or bisexual people may seek to change their sexual orientation through therapy, sometimes pressured by the influence of family members or religious groups to try and do so. The reality is that homosexuality is not an illness. It does not require treatment and is not changeable. However, not all gay, lesbian, and bisexual people who seek assistance from a mental health professional want to change their sexual orientation. Gay, lesbian, and bisexual people may seek psychological help with the coming out process or for strategies to deal with prejudice, but most go into therapy for the same reasons and life issues that bring straight people to mental health professionals. CAN LESBIANS, GAY MEN, AND BISEXUALS BE GOOD PARENTS? Yes. Studies comparing groups of children raised by homosexual and by heterosexual parents find no developmental differences between the two groups of children in four critical areas: their intelligence, psychological adjustment, social adjustment, and popularity with friends. It is also important to realize that a parent's sexual orientation does not dictate his or her children's. Another myth about homosexuality is the mistaken belief that gay men have more of a tendency than heterosexual men to sexually molest children. There is no evidence to suggest that homosexuals are more likely than heterosexuals to molest children. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR SOCIETY TO BE BETTER EDUCATED ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY? Educating all people about sexual orientation and homosexuality is likely to diminish anti-gay prejudice. Accurate information about homosexuality is especially important to young people who are first discovering and seeking to understand their sexuality�whether homosexual, bisexual, or heterosexual. Fears that access to such information will make more people gay have no validity�information about homosexuality does not make someone gay or straight. Cheers, Santosh
