In 2009, The American Psychological Association issued their definitive statement on so-called “reparative therapy” for homosexuals: “Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation.” Although an extremely lengthy report, the main gist of the recommendations put down by the APA is that that homosexuals, especially children experiencing same-sex attraction, must be “affirmed” in their orientations, and that religions should only be accepted when the individual can “integrate” their sexuality with their spiritual beliefs.
The text is full of inaccuracies and downright lies. Here are just a few:
“…others view homosexuality as immoral and sinful (e.g., Christian Reformed Church of North America, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Orthodox Judaism, Presbyterian Church in American, Roman Catholicism, Southern Baptist Convention, United Methodist Church.)”
The Catholic Church has never claimed that homosexuality is “immoral” or “sinful.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church clearly states: “Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.” “This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.”
“The absence of evidence for adolescent sexual orientation distress that results in requests for SOCE [sexual orientation change efforts] and the few studies in the literature on religious adolescents seeking psychotherapy related to sexual orientation suggest that such distress is most likely to occur among adolescents in families for whom a religion that views homosexuality as sinful and undesirable is important.”
Here, the APA maintains that children with religious parents who view homosexuality as “sinful” are most likely to experience mental hardship; in other words, “conservative” religions (primarily Christianity) is bad for all children with same-sex attraction. Interestingly, all sects of Islam regard homosexuality as a punishable offence; and even carries the death penalty in some Muslim states; yet, it is conspicuously left out by the APA.
The APA recommends “…that family therapy reframe the religious beliefs to focus on aspects of faith that encourage love and acceptance of their child rather than on a religion’s prohibitions.”
In other words, leave out all moral directives that may conflict with the homosexual mind-set, and accentuate that which can be perceived, or twisted, as unobtrusive.
“Parents who are religious may benefit from finding support through religious organizations and groups. One concern is that some groups may provide parents with information that presents same-sex sexual orientation in a negative light (e.g., defective, “broken”), which could increase stigma and rejection of children and adolescents; thus, such groups should rarely be considered. Alternatively, some groups provide resources that are both LGB affirming and religious.”
Therefore, anyone with a child experiencing same-sex attraction, and that belongs to any of the before mentioned religions: i.e. LDS, Eastern Orthodox, or Catholic, should absolutely not seek help from their Churches, priests, or ministers.
“Same-sex sexual attractions, behavior, and orientations per se are normal and positive variants of human sexuality; in other words, they are not indicators of mental or developmental disorders.”
Rather than accepting the dogmas and moral codes set down by the individual’s religion, anyone with a same-sex attraction must accept the complete “normality” of homosexuality.
“There are no empirical studies or peer-reviewed research that support theories attributing same-sex sexual orientation to family dysfunction or trauma.”
This is just a falsehood, for- there are numerous studies; see:
For the original APA document: