Guidance About Homosexuality

Ideas prevalent in U.S. culture that are based on inaccurate reports by the media have led some people to mistakenly believe that, where human sexuality is concerned, the Catholic Church is operating on outdated information. Relevant information is often filtered out by politically charged opposition.

The Catholic Medical Association, the Society of Catholic Social Scientists, and the Christian Medical and Dental Associations have issued formal statements to the effect that “acting on homosexual attraction is voluntary” and “homosexual behavior can be changed.” Also, the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality asserts, “The public must be made aware that some homosexual people do seek and achieve change. The change is neither quick nor easy, but many believe — as we do — that the goal is a worthy one.” These organizations are among the many research-based organizations that oppose the claim that homosexuality is genetic.

Neuroscientist and “gay” activist Simon LeVay said recently, “Time and again I have been described as someone who ‘proved that homosexuality is genetic’…. I did not. Homosexuality is a behavior that anyone might be tempted to engage in.” He has supported re-orientation therapy for people with unwanted same-sex attractions.

Dr. Robert Spitzer was involved in the removal of homosexuality from the American Psychiatric Association’s list of mental disorders in 1973. As chief of the New York State Psychiatric Institute’s Biometrics Research Department, he recently began to promote re-orientation psychotherapy. His 2003 article, “Can Some Gay Men and Lesbians Change Their Sexual Orientation?: 200 Participants Reporting a Change From Homosexual to Heterosexual Orientation,” appeared with 26 peer commentaries in the Archives of Sexual Behavior (32: 399-472).