8 Responses to Catholic Lobbyist Claims Satan Makes People Gay

1. 

   Patrick OMalley

   November 3, 2011 at 1:04 pm

   The devil is responsible for:

   - pedophile priests raping thousands of children (in the Unites States alone)
   - bishops moving more pedophiles to places where they raped more children
   - bishops covering it up
   - bishops lying about it
   - all Catholics shunning the victims

   The devil is also responsible for making people think that God hates gays more than God hates child rapists and liars in His church.
2. 

   ageofknowledge

   November 3, 2011 at 11:39 am

   Oh it’s the devil allright. Satan is responsible for tempting people into the gross sin of homosexuality. Then they are responsible for denying it’s sinful and staying in it. No doubt about that.
3. 

   Keppler

   November 3, 2011 at 9:41 am

   So, if Satan makes people gay, what makes priests diddle little children? And what makes bishops and archbishops conceal the crimes of those priests so they can commit them again?

   Just wondering what gives the church the moral authority to opine on the origins of “sin”.
4. 

   Anthony

   November 3, 2011 at 2:18 am

   Satan makes people gay???? Well it stands to reason along their same line of thought then that RELIGION MAKES PEOPLE FUCKING MORONS!!!!!
5. 

   Dr. Norman Murphy

   November 2, 2011 at 1:47 pm

   Science: Gender and Sexual Orientation
   During fetal development, if androgens (male sex hormones) are not present, are insufficient in quantity, or are unusable, the brain, body, or both will feminize due to the lack of sufficient male hormones or intolerance to male hormones. If androgens are present, sufficient in quantity, and usable, the brain, body or both will masculinize due to the presence of sufficient tolerated male hormones. In humans, genital-gender/sex arises in the 2nd to 3rd months and brain-gender/sex in the 4th to 5th months of fetal development. The time disparity between the development of neurological and genital sexuality increases the probability of cross-gendering leading to homosexuality and other brain based anomalous gender/sex behaviors.
   Genetics and teratology.
   Based on an extensive review of the literature on the etiology of homosexuality, biological events predominantly explain the origins of sexual orientation. While some question the ethics of studying genetic issues related to homosexuality, in-utero genetic or neuroendocrinological events play a critical role in cross-gendering. Genetic and in-utero chemically induced sex-altered groups illustrate the paradigm: Turner’s Syndrome, Androgen Insensitives, Testicular Feminizing Syndrome, Klinefelter’s Syndrome (XnY), progestin-administered females, Adrenogenital Syndrome, “super-males” (XYn), etc. More than 450 “species”in every major geographical region and every major animal group”, in the wild and captivity, exhibit “homosexual” behavior. Particularly primates appear to have differing degrees of “homosexual” behavior. The first evidence of the sex-behavior center came from research on mammals. Most research involved surgical interventions and the administration or denial of sex hormones during critical brain differentiation periods. In human female fetuses at risk for masculinizing effects from male hormones, German physicians, using in-utero anti-androgens, have forced female genitalia and brain-gender/sex. Although discussed by Dörner, the use of androgens to force male brain-gender is complex and can potentially result in brain damage, attention deficit disorder, learning disabilities, hyper-activity, and hyper-aggression.
   Physiology, anatomy, and psychophysiology.
   Numerous studies show male homosexuals in many ways approximate females, and significantly differ from male heterosexuals. Comparing male homosexuals to female heterosexuals, similarities include muscle structure, sleep patterns, pelvic openings, carry angle of arm, perception, finger dexterity, noticeable acoustic style, visuo-spatial ability, verbal performance, language lateralization, eating disorders, throw-to-target ability, mental rotation task, E.E.G. readings, response to male pheromones, etc. Compared to heterosexual males, some studies suggest homosexual males appear more prone to left-handedness, stuttering, and reading difficulties, differing brain anatomy related to auditory input, atypical gender and sex behavior, differing lipid levels, more empathy and altruism, larger penile dimension, etc. Among other research showing brain differences between homosexual and heterosexual males, anatomical research at Salk Institute comparing male heterosexual and homosexual brains suggests a differing development of the sex-behavior center in male homosexuals. A more recent UCLA study of the male homosexual brain shows broader differences discriminating male homosexuals from both male and female heterosexuals. Research on transsexuals has also revealed significant differences in brain anatomy and gonadotropin secretions.
   Hormonal anomalies.
   Direct hormonal evidence shows that male homosexuals and heterosexuals significantly differ from one another. In blind analysis, Margolese and Janiger accurately predicted sexual orientation. Some depressives, unknown to be homosexual, may have a similar difference in sex hormone ratio. Dörner and Gooren injected estrogen into male homosexuals, male heterosexuals, and female heterosexuals with removed ovaries. They found the luteinizing hormone response of male homosexuals almost identical with these females and significantly different from male heterosexuals. Similar results are found in male-to-female transsexuals. Studies, using stringent classification of research subjects, show adult male heterosexuals have significantly higher levels of male hormones than do male homosexuals. In animals with litters along a placental line, female mammals between male mammals cause post-natal sex-stereotypic male behaviors (e.g., sexual mounting and aggression) in these females. Dörner hypothesizes that various in humans prenatal and postnatal hormonal administrations may be used to establish specific brain sex/gender outcomes.
   Upsetting a female mammal during gestation can produce cross-gendered offspring. Stress apparently lowers androgens in humans and crowding causes stress resulting in anomalous social behavior and cross-gendered behavior in mammals. A similar phenomenon occurs in post hoc research on some homosexual research subjects. Twice the numbers of male homosexuals were born in war-ravaged Germany during World War II than the six years before or after the war.

   Pheromones and Sexual Orientation
   The vomeronasal system, adjacent to the olfactory system, mediates sexual interest for both males and females. Findings indicate pheromones play an important role in the identification of sexual objects at a subconscious level. For male homosexuals research has shown a clearly female neurological and social response to pheromones produced by males. In addition, preference for human body odors are influenced by gender and sexual orientation.
   Genetics and Neuroendocrinology.
   Augmenting decades old and contemporary research showing more homosexuals are born as the age of the mother increases, recent research implicates H-Y antigens (resulting from previous male births) increase the probability of adult homosexuality and lack of heterosexual cohabitation by as much as 33 percent. The sibling sex ration, without implicating H-Y antigen, suggests that approximately 10% of the variance in male homosexual behavior can be accounted for sibling sex-ratio. Androgen-insensitives (XY females) and partial-androgen insensitives, illustrate the power of genetics in creating a divergence of genetic gender from both behavioral and anatomic gender. XX females born with male genitalia and behavioral masculinization present a clear case for biologically induced cross gendering. Many chromosomal anomalies (e.g., X deletion ring, ring X or isochrome X, missing X, XXXX, XYY, XX/XY, X0/XY, XXY/XX, XXY/XY, X0/XX, etc.) are contributing factors to sexual orientation, level of intellect, performance of tasks, etc. Identical twins are usually concordant in sexual orientation. Identical twins discordant for sexual orientation can be explained by biological events and reluctance of some to reveal their homosexuality. There is one study, dealing with 61 pairs of twins and three sets of triplets. In one case all the triplets were homosexual. Genetic linkage analysis, using extended families, of the X chromosome suggests some familial male homosexuality is likely genetic and passed down the maternal line. A recent study using only homosexual siblings, found through advertisements in Gay newspapers and magazines, using a limited number of markers without the comparisons in extended families called into question the genetic theory of homosexuality. Studies of the genetic contribution to homosexuality are often marred by poor subject selection, precise definitions of behavior, over generalization, inadequate methodology, etc. Based on many studies of male homosexual twins, using very conservative statistical formulae, heritable factors may account for 44 percent of cases. Research on twins, families, and the adopted implicates genetic or neurohormonal origins for sexual orientation.
   The argument against genetic factors because homosexuals seldom marry is fallacious. Male homosexuals, subjected to social pressure to marry, often have offspring. Even if homosexuals did not reproduce, the gene pool would still contain recessive traits, sport genes, and neuro-hormonal influences in-utero leading to cross-gendering.
   Surgery and brain compromise.
   Evidence from neurosurgery challenges the archetypic myth that persons, based on genital sex determination at birth, will exhibit “gender appropriate” or “heterosexual” behavior in adolescence and adulthood. The first such evidence comes from data on pre-frontal lobotomy patients , some being treated for agitated depression. Following surgery, some patients became “spontaneously” homosexual. In line with Money’s comments about sex hormone ratios in some depressives, many of these patients had significant depressive illness. Apparently, when the frontal area of the brain could no longer suppress underlying homosexual drives, these pseudo heterosexuals reverted to their normal homosexual preoccupation. In follow-up, patients reported being able to suppress homosexual urges over a long period. Clinical data shows that as the brain deteriorates with aging, some pseudo heterosexuals are unable to mask their underlying homosexuality.
   In some countries, homosexuals have been “treated” surgically to force heterosexual behavior. Psychosurgery of the sex behavior center reduces or eliminates homosexual responding in some homosexual males. Many patients, without psychotherapeutic intervention, become heterosexually active after surgery. Some become asexual and have no sexual interest. Psychosurgery in lesbians results in fewer behavioral changes. After these psychosurgeries, failure to follow-up patients and adverse side-effects are common–including death. A German government commission has called for the elimination of these surgeries. Psychosurgeries to change sexual orientation are not available in the United States.
   Some males are accidentally mutilated during circumcision. Because of the ease of a male to female change, they are often sexually reassigned as females. Some of these “females” are masculine in behavior and many are “lesbian” during adulthood.
   Research shows changes in sexual orientation can result from viral attack of the human sex-behavior center, head injuries, and tumors. Psycho social stressors leading to pseudosexuality and neurological insult or injury are apparently the only means of significantly altering the expression of sexual orientation. Excepting neurological changes, no credible sex researcher in the last fifty years has suggested sexual orientation changes after childhood. Most agree biological factors often mediate sexual orientation.
   Psychophysiology.
   Autonomic pupillary and penile reflexes, minimally controlled by conscious processes, reliably differentiate between male heterosexuals and homosexuals. Male homosexual behavior can be reduced or eliminated using painful electric shock or apomorphine vomiting with or without desensitizing male homosexual to females. Ego-dystonic homosexuals “self-referred” or sent by “government social service agencies” often have psychopathology and marked homophobia. “Homophobia” is best characterized as a revulsion related to homosexual practices or openly homosexual persons. Many “cured” male homosexuals continue to have powerful homosexual urges without erectile function with sexual partners. Despite protracted aversive intervention, male homosexuals continue to have autonomic pupil responses to male stimuli. Aversion therapy and other invasive treatments are punitive and pose serious ethical concerns.
   Studies of lesbians.
   Lesbians have not been the subject of much scientific research. The lack of material on lesbians may be the result of tolerance of masculine behavior in women, the lower status of women in the culture, their paucity in numbers and grant monies being
   controlled by white heterosexual males. While lack of usable fetal male hormones promotes a feminized brain development in males, for female fetuses a rise in male hormones leading to a masculinized brain is less likely. This may explain why the number of male homosexuals is about 50% higher than the number of lesbians. In lesbians, assertive behavior and male stereotypic behavior may reflect increased brain masculinization. Lesbians, most likely because of masculinizing hormones during fetal
   development, compared to female heterosexuals, have: higher levels of male hormones, greater stature and shoulder width, weight gain, premature aging, differing cochlear (otoacoustic) response, better throw-to-target ability, and are more masculine as measured on scales of androgyny, etc. “Butch” compared to “Femme” lesbians recall more gender-atypical behavior and had higher waist-to-hip ratios, higher saliva testosterone levels, and less desire to give birth. Artificially androgenized female mammals weigh more and die earlier than their uninjected female litter-mates. Recent studies, including those of identical and fraternal twins, convincingly implicate genetic antecedents to some lesbianism. “Butch” compared to “femme” lesbians have higher levels of testosterone. Lesbians and heterosexual females, most likely due to some pseudolesbians in the lesbian group, can be differentiated in many cases with measures of sexual arousal using vulvoplethysmographic reactions. In clinical practice, pseudolesbians appear more prevalent than do pseudohomosexual males. Violence against women, perceived superior status for males, or even the feminist movement may explain these observations. Comparing heterosexual women and lesbians, level of adjustment is unrelated to their perception of how they were parented. Unlike male homosexuals, birth order appears to have no effect on the etiology of lesbianism. Lesbians who engage in self-disclosure to family and others tend to have less anxiety and better personal adjustment. Heterosexual and lesbian women, who have not been abused, have similar satisfaction in long-term relationships. Abused lesbians, compared to abused heterosexual women, report significantly higher levels of satisfaction in their long-term relations.
   Modern Technology and Anti-homosexual Measures
   As shown above, there are now accurate methods to identify gender and sexual minorities. These methods could be used to select persons for brain washing, psychosurgery, prenatal gender monitoring, genetic manipulation, and gender and sex behavior reprogramming, etc. Using genetic and fetal monitoring, some parents might choose to abort a potentially homosexual child or choose not to have a child. In some societies, physicians might be pressured to euthanize cross-gendered infants or do “heroic” abortions beyond the first trimester.
   Using psychiatric interviews, psychological tests, neurophysiological technology, observation of cross-gendered behavior and interests, and emerging biotechnology, homosexuals can be actively pursued and very accurately identified. With advances in biotechnology and its application to selection, homosexuals who successfully avoid detection would be rare.
   Some of these technologically sophisticated mechanisms (e.g., penile plethysmography and pupillary dilatation) were accurate when used by the Canadian government. The Canadian Court and citizens found these procedures unacceptable. Nonetheless, using an ambitious screening program with follow-up, even those who suffer neurological insults causing a change in sexual orientation could be identified. With modern technology, homosexuals can be effectively excluded by groups seeking to promote heterosexual exclusivity. Medical geneticists, where genetic components are involved, could evaluate chromosomal structure to decrease male homosexuallity. Once genetic linkage for lesbianism is found, the chromosomal anomaly could be detected for couples referred for genetic screening. The pharmaceutical companies may be able to create gene splicing techniques to develop tools to increase the probability of heterosexual male offspring.
   The Nazi’s did not recognize lesbians as criminals and were not particularly successful in identifying male homosexuals for punishment under Paragraph 175. While not subject to the “final solution” as were Jews, homosexuals wore a pink inverted triangle and homosexual Jews wore a pink triangle over their Star of David. At Auschwitz, with four crematoria, homosexuals along with gypsies, Slavic peoples, political prisoners, and other “undesireables” were exclusively placed in crematoria No. 4–Juden Verboten. Homosexuals, considered beneath other non-Jewish concentration camp inmates, faced conspicuously vicious punishment, and died at a disproportionate rate. When World War II ended:
   “… some American and British jurists of the liberation armies, on learning that an inmate had been jailed and then put into camp for homosexual activities, ruled that, judicially, a camp did not constitute a prison. If therefore, someone had been sentenced to eight years in prison, had spent five years in jail and three in a camp, he still had to finish three years in jail after liberation. In at least one instance, a homosexual camp detainee was given a stern lecture by an American colonel, informing him that the United States also considered what he had done criminally offensive. … None of the lucky few who came out alive was (sic) granted any compensation when the new post-war West German government, bowing to American pressure, set up a cumbersome but functional legal bureaucracy to grant restitution …”
   Psychology and Sexual Orientation
   While social and psychological theories, based on work with mental patients and severely ego-dystonic homosexuals explained sexual orientation for some clinicians, no responsible research or analysis corroborated the resulting armchair speculation. Schools of psychology had a body of beliefs ranging from child rearing practices to learning models. When psychological theories were in vogue to “cure” homosexuals, reports of “cures” were extremely rare and supported by weak criteria such as “seriously thinking of going with the opposite sex.” Most psychoanalysts who saw homosexuality as a neurotic manifestation caused by faulty family interactions now reject this hypothesis. Sigmund Freud, founder of the psychoanalytic movement, never condemned homosexuality.
   Studies do not support theories about father absence or faulty family interactions causing homosexuality. For example, no research supports there are more African-American homosexuals, where father absence is relatively higher than for caucasians. There are no more homosexuals in father-present versus father-absent families. There is a weak link to poor relationships with fathers, most likely the result of rejection of a gender incongruent child and emerging homosexuality. Particularly when comparing bisexuals, transsexuals, transvestites, and self-accepting and ego-dystonic homosexuals, researchers cannot ignore familial, community, religious, and social influences on sexual orientation expression. Even with a genetic or biological predisposition to homosexuality, cultural and personal influences should be considered when discussing sexual orientation.
   In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality as a mental disease or personality disorder from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. Ego-dystonic homosexuality, unwanted homosexual urges in natural homosexuals, is psychopathological. Many psychologists and psychiatrists see homophobes as pathological with disordered personality traits. Using psycho physiological instruments, many homophobes become sexually aroused when viewing homoerotic materials. They are either unaware of the arousal or deny it. Homophobia is an important issue and often needs to be addressed to preserve the self-esteem of homosexuals. Through stigma management, some homosexuals establish personal growth and better self-esteem. Many researchers show self-accepting homosexuals are as psychologically healthy as heterosexuals. Particularly when introduced to materials about the biological basis for sexual orientation, attitudes toward homosexuals can be changed. Religiosity and level of education are negatively correlated with attitudes toward homosexuals and women and those who know sexual minority individuals appear to have more positive attitudes toward homosexuals and bisexuals than do men. Homophobia in some appears to be a developmental issue related to defensive styles used to manage a range of psychosexual developmental anxieties in boys and men. Homophobic males appear to have difficulty relating to males in general.
   Most mental health professionals treat ego-dystonic homosexuals by helping them adjust to their underlying sexual orientation, practicing coping skills to survive the anti-homosexual milieu, and finding meaningful social contacts within the Gay community. In clinically valid cases of life threatening immutable ego-dystonic homosexuality, teaching pseudoheterosexuality, while helping the client to understand their underlying homosexuality, may be a legitimate therapy.
   Social Psychology.
   Using clearly defined sexual orientation groups with hundreds of subjects, an in-depth research did not support social learning theory as significantly causal of sexual orientation. The researchers, before analysis of their data, did not hypothesize biology influenced sexual orientation. Social learning theoreticians, they concluded, “Among both men and women in our study, there is a powerful link between gender nonconformity and the development of homosexuality.” They go on to say, “At the moment, a large body of convincing research appears to suggest a biological foundation for homosexuality.” These findings confirm small and large scale studies of effeminized male children who, at adolsescence, became male homosexuals and, simultaneously, masculinized female children who became lesbians. In clinical practice, in females pseudolesbianism appeared in cases of brutalization by the opposite sex and in males dependent personality and sociopathy tended to accompany pseudohomosexuality.
   Early sexual experience.
   Based on the erroneous assumption that homosexual behavior in youth can change sexual orientation, various laws exist regarding consensual sexual behavior. It is not uncommon that the ages of 16 to 18 are considered appropriate for heterosexuals and ages 18 to 21 are considered appropriate for homosexuals. The assumption that one can be taught sexual orientation lacks foundation. Yet, research shows that more heterosexual (62%) than homosexual (39%) males reported their first sexual experience to be homosexual. Bell et al. (1981) state:
   “We found no support for the notion that homosexual males are likely to have been ‘seduced’ by older men . . . in fact, [homosexuals compared to heterosexuals] were somewhat more likely to describe their partners as friends and acquaintances . . . and slightly less likely to say they were strangers.”
   These findings confirm other research showing homosexuals initial homosexual experiences are with peers.
   Sexually Predatory Males
   Among predatory sexual deviates, irrespective of the sex of the victim, heterosexuals predominate; thus, children are unlikely to be molested by identifiably gay or lesbian individuals. Using questionable data regarding numbers of homosexuals in the general population, Freund and Watson, while indicating, “the resulting proportion of true pedophiles among persons with a homosexual erotic development is greater than that in persons who develop heterosexually.” they go on to say, “This of course, would not indicate that androphilic [homosexual] males have a greater propensity to offend against children.”
   Since the undeveloped genitalia of pre-pubescent children are ambiguous, if not somewhat female in sexual appearance, male heterosexual pedophiles, most of whom are sexually immature and inadequate in terms of adult relationships, seek out pre-pubescent children. These predatory male heterosexuals, unlike ghettoized Gays, have easy access to children of either sex. “The typical heterosexual molester of male children, . . . appeared masculine and robust. However, he was religious, moralistic, guilt-ridden, and lonely . . . able to feel in control of a sexual situation only with children.” Heterosexuals also predominate as phebophiles, those sexually attracted to adolescents at or about the time of puberty.
   Among incarcerated offenders who molest male victims, the vast majority are male heterosexuals. Groth and Birnbaum, after examining 275 cases of male child molestation, say, “In any case, in over 12 years of clinical experience, we have yet to see any regression from an adult homosexual orientation.” In patient populations of ego-dystonic homosexuals, seduction of youthful males by older males is exceptionally rare. After surgical destruction of the female mating center to reduce a professional man’s interest in male children, his pedophilia became insatiable. Later destruction of his male mating center stopped the unwanted sexual behavior.
   Macho heterosexuals in prison:
   ” . . . view other people as objects to be used or destroyed. The ['wolf' or 'jock'] was heterosexual outside prison; on the inside he uses weaker prisoners, dominating then and, in effect, womanizing them and masturbating in their bodies. . . . affirming masculinity through violence and conquest. . . . The “punk” or “lamb,” probably entered prison heterosexual . . . It seems that sexual deprivation is far from the chief motive for prison homosexuality. Rather, homosexuality becomes an instrument for establishing rank and status, validating masculinity, and creating protective-dependent relationships.”
   Religion and the Homosexual
   Western Traditions.
   Contrary to popular belief, homosexuals were not fully accepted in either Greek or Roman culture. Throughout the Roman and Greek civilizations, gender incongruent males were ridiculed. Solon, as a practical matter, legalized homosexuality to tax the earnings of homosexual prostitutes. Roman law punished homosexual behavior as early as the third century B.C., later protecting minors and forbidding the use of premises for homosexual activity upon pain of death, even by burning.
   In the Old Testament, the Ten Commandments do not include homosexual behavior (Deuteronomy 5.11-21) and the seven acts most detestable to God (Proverbs 6.16-19: “haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and a man who sows discord among brothers” do not mention sexual misconduct. In the New Testament, Christ never mentioned homosexuality and asked for understanding and restraint of condemnation in sexual matters (John 8.1-11). The Bible never discusses homosexuality in the context of committed relationships or within the Gay community. In I Corinthians 6.9-10, as translated by some into English, St. Paul (coming from a cross-cultural Hebrew, Greek, and Roman perspective) discusses pagan sanctioned temple (cult) male prostitutes (πὁρνοι, pornos), effeminate males or catamites (μαλακοί, malakos), and homosexuals (ἀρσενοκοὶται, arsenokoites). St. Paul’s statements taken literally, as translated into English, would condemn celibate effeminate homosexuals. Boswell, using Koine Greek contemporary to St. Paul, translations into other languages, and early Christian scholarship and commentaries on I Corinthians 6.9-10 argues St. Paul was not discussing homosexuals or homosexuality.
   Saint Augustine, considered Pauline, admitted homosexual practices with much anguish. When Saints John Chrysostom and Augustine–both vehemently opposed to homosexuality–comment on I Corinthians 6.9-10, neither mentions homosexuality. St. Augustine’s major apologist, Martin Luther, wrote derisively of homosexuals, but translated “ἀρσενοκοὶται” as “Knabenschänder,” or child molester. The Christian Emperor, Justinian, who herded whole villages into rivers to be baptized so they could die in Christ, believed homosexuality caused earthquakes, famines, and pestilence and legislated homosexual behavior should be subjected to penance much like adultery. His wife, Theodora, avoiding abortion, had many of her illegitimate children murdered.
   Bible, Torah, and Koran advocate male supremacy. The books of the Bible appear to have been generally accepted about the time of the Council of Carthage in 397. Until A.D. 858, Christians debated whether women had souls. The Council of Trent “condemned to anathema anyone who said marriage was as virtuous as celibacy.” In Christian, Hebrew, and Moslem texts male homosexuals are seen as effeminates who adopt female sexual behaviors. The “sin” of homosexuality and legal prohibitions against homosexuals relates to cross-gendered behavior. Unlike the Bible, the Koran mentions lesbian behavior. The Koran calls for the punishment of lesbians. Male homosexuals can go through a purification ritual. Lesbians could be forever locked away. While Sunnis appear to follow the Koran, Shiites have adopted an extreme form of punishment for homosexuals. The first such punishment was to throw homosexuals from minarets. This distasteful practice has been replaced with hangings, beatings, being thrown from cliffs using Shariah, a strict code of law derived from “hadith, ijma, and qiyas” not found in the writings of Mohammed the Prophet.
   Christian, Jewish, and Moslem passages against homosexuals may derive from the stories of “Sodom and Gomorrah” and “Ham.” Based on many Bible passages, the most illustrative to explain God’s wrath at Sodom and Gomorrah are found in Ezekiel 16:
   “49. Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, surfeit of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. 50. They were haughty, and did abominable things before me; therefore I removed them, when I saw it.” (RSV)
   Homosexuals per se are not mentioned either in the original story of Sodom and Gomorrah or in later biblical explanations. Linguistic scholars of Koine, Aramaic, classical Greek, Latin, and Hebrew convincingly argue “temple prostitutes” and being unclean during religious ceremonies–not homosexuals per se were the topic of biblical discussions regarding “unnatural” sexual practices. It is unlikely St. Paul or the rabbinical scholars he studied understood the relationship between differences in brain anatomy and natural sexual orientation. In biblical times, natural sexual practices based on brain sex/gender would have appeared unnatural–particularly because procreation was not involved. It has been argued that St. Paul may have been condemning heterosexuals who engage in homosexual behavior (e.g., Ted Haggard, etc.). How a professed former homosexual could pronounce a total cure and heterosexuality on behalf of Rev. Haggard is unsupported by objective data. St. Paul writing to the Romans who were surrounded by idolatry and pagan religions (Romans 1.23-32) appears to renew and augment the Old Testament prohibition against homosexual behavior found in Leviticus 20: “13. If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death, their blood is upon them.” (RSV) The use of “abomination” in the Bible in both Hebrew and Greek referred to sacred ceremonies, idolatry, and pagan worship.
   Today, mainstream churches express the belief that homosexual acts, not homosexuals, are “sinful.” While the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints adopts the same position, the Book of Mormon fails to mention homosexuality. In the United States and in other countries, the Metropolitan Community Church has pastors ministering predominantly to Gays. Among several protestant religions, Quakers, Unitarians, United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church, Disciples of Christ, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Eposcopal Church, etc. accept homosexuals and lesbians as congregants and sometimes clerics. Most Jewish synagogues in the United States fully accept homosexuals as congregants and rabbinical scholars. Many Christian churches oppose discrimination against homosexuals, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered individuals and promote acceptance of same-sexed couples.
   Evangelical Christian scholars state:
   “Christian canon law laid down penalties [for homosexual behavior] ranging from nine years’ penance to permanent excommunication. In general, the [early Christian] church treated homosexuality as a sin needing spiritual cure rather than a crime for magistrates to punish. … In [the words of the preeminent theologian] Karl Barth’s phrase, much homosexual inclination is ‘moral malady’; it is no more to be blamed than left handedness or color blindness. . . . An alert church will not ostracize but befriend those whose constitution and circumstances make Christian living harder for them than for most.”
   The Roman Catholic Church, while eschewing homosexual acts, indicates homosexuality is innate and tells parents not to force change oriented therapies upon their children. Far from being anti-homosexual, the Vatican Declaration on Sexual Ethics exhorts pastors to be understanding of homosexuals and to include them in the communion of worship. The Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith advised American Bishops to fight laws extending civil rights to homosexuals. The Congregation stated, “Although the particular inclination of the homosexual person is not a sin, it is a more or less strong tendency toward an intrinsic moral evil; and thus the inclination itself must be seen as an objective disorder.” Before becoming Pope, while head of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, Pope Benedict the XVI publicly stated “homosexuality is evil.” The Roman Catholic Church justified the slaughter of the indigenous peoples of South America and Mexico based on their “unnatural” ways.
   To the Religious Right homosexuals are an affront to the nuclear family and “family values.” Family-accepted homosexuals are major contributing members to their nuclear families. Research shows that homosexual parents are as effective as heterosexuals in parenting and that living in a Gay household lacks influence on the sexual orientation or psycho-social adjustment of children. Many jurists appear to use the classical “traditional family” as their model in second-parent adoption cases. Although religious motivation appeared to have a negative influence on some, pre-service elementary teacher’s attitudes towards gay and lesbian parents appeared increasingly accepting. Same-sexed affirmation and commitment ceremonies, much like marriages, are performed by some religious groups and individuals. Allowing Gay couples to marry is seen by many as a way to decrease promiscuity, increase monogamy among Gays, and promote a healthy view of homosexuals. Marriage between same-sexed couples is accepted in some states and not others, and in some culturally advanced countries.
   The Religious Right, through Exodus International and PFOX (Parents and Friends of Ex-homosexuals), support their views using a pseudo-journal, The Journal of Human Sexuality, consisting of an anti-homosexual diatribe using argumentum ad hominem, half-truths, deceptions, and articles from questionable sources, use flawed research of found in some mainstream vetted research, selectively quote from legitimate sources. Among many professional bodies, the American Psychiatric and Psychological Associations have condemned Exodus International and similar organizations for giving false hope to ego-dystonic homosexuals desiring to become heterosexual. While stating many living the “homosexual lifestyle” have become heterosexual through “reparative” or “Christian conversion” therapy, Exodus International and others offer no reliable or valid scientific evidence of these metamorphoses and refuse long-term follow-up studies. A study which does not distinguish between male pseudohomosexuals and natural homosexuals indicated that 11 men changed sexual orientation as a result of “folk therapy” as part of a Pentecostal experience. Many chapters of Exodus International have fallen by the way. “Two of Exodus International’s founders, Michael Bussee and Gary Cooper, fell in love and left the organization in 1979.”
   The Religious Right, exemplified by the Family Research Institute and Family Research Council, have a narrow self-righteous view of sexuality and use flagrant deceit and exceptionally questionable research methods (e.g., inadequate and biased subject selection, sampling methods, peer reviewed publishing, and data sources–followed by unsupported conclusions, conjecture, and speculation). Some defend their views by misrepresenting and dismissing a massive body of professional literature and scientific research. A look at their internet sources illustrates their facile use of illegitimate and legitimate research to create a hostile view of homosexuals. Other religions with ultra-right elements also show similar bias against homosexuals.
   Other Cultures and Traditions.
   In many American Indian tribes, before the coming of Christian missionaries, cross-gendered individuals found wide acceptance (e.g., Kutenai, Crow, Mohave, Pawnee, Piegan, Omaha, Arapaho, Cheyenne, Cree, Sauateaux, Ute, Flathead, Maidu, Teton-Dakota, Cocopay, Kamia, Klamath, Navaho, Mohawk, Zuni, Chumash, Colorado, Yaavapai, Mono, Sioux, Pima, Ojibwa, Chippewa, Potawatomi, Shoshoni, Winnebago, Quinalt, Apache, Mandan, Blackfeet, Oglala, etc.). In early childhood, when cross-gendered interests and play were apparent, a feminized male child was reared among the tribal women and a masculinized female child among tribal men. Often, as an adult, “she” married a male tribal member and “he” became a chief or married a female tribal member. Among these tribes, the inward spirit, not outward anatomy, was the key to gender behavior and sexual expression. That Christ does not mention homosexual behavior in the Book of Mormon is most unusual as his visits among indigenous American peoples is the focus of Mormon scriptures. In differing cultures and geographic regions, among a few primitive tribes, homosexual activity is still part of ritual passage through puberty. In today’s society, homosexual, bisexual, and sexual uncertainty appear to be higher among American-Indian adolescents than comparable Caucasians The Vatican justified the slaughter of indigenous peoples in many regions based on their sexual customs, particularly South America and Mexico.
   Before Western influence in the orient, China and Japan accepted homosexuals and the cross-gendered. In the silk growing regions of China, lesbian liaisons were encouraged. During the Cultural Revolution, although homosexual behavior was not subject to legal condemnation, there were accounts of persecution of lesbian and male homosexual couples. Buddhists, Taoists, Shintoists, etc., not coming from the middle eastern patriarchal tradition, have always had little or nothing to say about sexual orientation. In Hindu law, while adult females can be severely punished for seducing a young female, nothing is said about punishment of male homosexuals.
6. 

   Wally

   November 2, 2011 at 9:52 am

   http://wh.gov/bZB

   We need to change the rules of lobbying so citizens can openly buy politicians the same way big entities like the Catholic church and corporations do.
7. 

   Tobey

   November 2, 2011 at 8:40 am

   Gay Gene??? What??? Is he looking for the Latino gene also or the black gene? Genes only do so much and are not the controlling factor in many traits that people have. This is just another case of ignorance being loud without any nod whatsoever to science.

   The prevailing theory is that hormones in the mother’s womb combined with how each fetus reacts to those hormones is what determines sexuality.

   Read something, church boy, and get educated, but fact wouldn’t serve your purpose well, would it?

   Okay, I’ve calmed down now.
8. 

   adamas

   November 1, 2011 at 9:28 pm

   OK as a twin I have something to add. My and my brother are Medically “Identical” because we came from one egg, one placenta. My “Identical” Twin is 6’2 and weighs 265 , I’m 5’6″ about 175. The reason in our case is my mother having Uterine Cancer during the entire pregnancy with us. Basically we came from a scrambled egg. ALL Identical Twins means medically is one egg split into two separate cell clusters where as Fraternal twins came from two different eggs.