As a practicing Roman Catholic, I cannot write about the advance of the Homosexual Activist Agenda without a look at the current scandal overshadowing the Catholic Church. At first, the news media continually wrote about the ěpedophile priestî problem. And then, almost overnight, it became the ěsex abuse scandalî. But, when the title changed, no one in the media reported why the issue had become one of ěsexî and not ěpedophilia.î Why? Frankly, I believe the liberal press didnít want to have to report that the Boy Scouts of America are right to keep homosexuals from becoming Scout Masters.
In the early 1970ís the entire Catholic Sexual Ethic began unraveling as the sexual revolution unfolded. The cancer of liberalism entered the Church and Catholics began challenging and openly dissenting with regard to abortion, contraception, fornication, divorce and homosexuality. Liberals interpreted Vatican II as a mandate for democratic rule by the laity to guide the Church instead of the revealed truth of Holy Scripture and Christian tradition. Such liberal interpretations of Vatican II coupled with the sexual revolution occurring at the time, led Catholic seminaries to open their doors to theologians who openly challenged Church teaching and taught dissent to candidates for the priesthood. With the Catholic moral guard almost fully down, homosexual men began entering the priesthood in great numbers. A fatal error the Church is now reeling from in the current scandal.
This is certainly politically incorrect territory. But, you only need to look at a handful of the legal cases against the Church to find that a very small number deal with true pedophilia and that the vast majority (about 95% by most counts) deal with homosexual relationships with teen males. And, nowhere is the case made stronger than that of the Reverend Paul Shanley, a Catholic Priest accused of molesting countless young boys in the Archdiocese of Boston. In the early 1970ís Shanley gave a speech advocating sex between men and boys. It is clear today that speech was the impetus for the formation of the North American Man Boy Love Association (NAMBLA). An organization that Shanley has stayed intimately associated with.
As someone who has personally dealt with the Homosexual Activist Agenda that has invaded our public schools (I was one of the parents that helped to rid the Santa Fe Public Schools of the Gay Lesbian Youth Preventing Homophobia curriculum), I would like to draw attention to an interesting correlation. The Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN) was founded in Boston, the epicenter of the Churchís current scandal. With the blessing of then Governor Paul Cellucci, GLSEN was formed with taxpayer dollars appropriated by the Governor himself. It was also in Boston that the first Gay Straight Alliance formed under the guidance of GLSEN. Now, good Christians everywhere are fighting to keep the Homosexual Activists who are fueled by the well-organized Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network from dominating our public schools. It was also in Boston at Tufts University that the first ěTeach Outî was held where children as young as twelve received graphic instruction in the how-to's of gay sex---all paid for with taxpayer dollars under the organization of GLSEN.
A powerful lesson can be found in the rubble of the current scandal for all Christians. We must remain ever vigilant in our efforts to speak the truth about Godís plan for human sexuality and we can never succumb to the smoke screen of human rights that is thrown up each time we object to the normalization of homosexual behavior in the mainstream. Sexual expression is NOT a human rights issue. It is an unpopular view to have, but the homosexual activist movement is all about sex---sex with whomever, wherever, whenever and at whatever age they want. The Catholic Church would have done well to have taken the lead presented by the Boy Scouts and barred homosexual men from any contact with young boys. Sadly, in an effort to be more welcoming and tolerant, the Church compromised its own written principles.
I caution against being fooled by the smokescreens thrown up by liberal Catholics seeking to pin the current scandal on the issue of Celibacy or the ordination of women. If celibacy is not a gift from God and sexual urges are not controllable then we might as well throw in the towel on the whole abstinence issue and admit we are all animals. And, likewise to suggest that women are a cure for promiscuity is just laughable.
Where does the church go from here? It is a multifaceted question with many answers. Clearly, the church hierarchy has issues of responsibility and complicity to answer. After that, a complete restoration and fidelity to Catholic moral teaching must be adhered to. Then, the Church must deal with the Homosexual Activists within its midst with Christian charity and with the principles of Catholic moral teaching.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that homosexuality itself though not a sin is disordered. The pronouncement of sin is reserved to the homosexual act. It is the disordered nature of homosexuality that the Bishops must deal with as it relates to the suitability of homosexual candidates to the priesthood just as the Boy Scouts have done. Concerning this subject, Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua of Philadelphia recently declared, ěBy his orientation, heís (the homosexual) not giving up family and marriage. Heís giving up what the Church considers an aberration, a moral evil.î He went on to say that because of this aberration, gays are not suitable for the priesthood even if they remain celibate.
Indeed, it is the disordered nature of homosexuality that all Christians base their objections on. No one, especially not young people, should be affirmed into a disordered lifestyle. A disordered nature isnít something to be celebrated nor is it something to take pride in. Counter to popular culture we must reiterate that homosexuality is a psychological disorder.
Please pray for the Catholic Church. That is the most important action Christians can take to heal the body of Christ at this crucial time in history. Let's all pray that the Catholic Bishops will take a strong moral stand regarding homosexuality in the priesthood. And, that having taken such an unpopular stand as the largest Christian denomination in the US, it will become a beacon of truth for all people of Faith who fight to uphold Judeo-Christian moral teaching.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 30, 2002
CONTACT: Kristin Hansen, (202) 393-2100
FOR RADIO: Bill Murray
Those among a tiny percentage of population commit one-third or more of the cases of child sexual molestation
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A new report published by the Family Research Council (FRC) reveals that there is a body of evidence indicating a definite link between homosexuality and pedophilia. Statistics show that homosexual men, who represent less than 3 percent of the adult male population, commit a disproportionate number (one-third or more) of the cases of child sexual molestation. The report, "Homosexuality and Child Sexual Abuse," authored by Dr. Timothy J. Dailey (available at www.frc.org.), is being sent to parents, youth groups, school administrators, Catholic bishops, and religious organizations.
FRC's report comes at a time when the nation has been rocked by scandals of child sexual abuse and when homosexuals argue that youth organizations such as the Boy Scouts should be forced to include homosexuals as leaders. Similarly, gay activist organizations are encouraging homosexual teachers to share their sexuality with their students. Many parents have become concerned that children may be molested, encouraged to become sexually active, or even "recruited" into adopting a homosexual identity and lifestyle.
"Homosexuality and Child Sexual Abuse" examines the following evidence linking homosexuality to pedophilia:
"Children have become the last sexual frontier," FRC President Ken Connor said. "Those given the task of protecting our nation's children should give a serious look at these statistics and think twice before complying with the demands of homosexual activists."