A Nov. 9, 2006, article subtitled, "Experts criticize new 'Ministry to Persons with Homosexual Inclinations'" (WorldNetDaily), by Mary Jo Anderson begins: "'Gravely flawed' – that's the dire warning of medical experts who have seen copies of the proposed guidelines for 'Ministry to Persons with Homosexual Inclinations,' to be released by the Catholic Bishops of the United States at their annual conference in Baltimore next week." We reported on this document several weeks ago in a post entitled, "USCCB draft document on gay ministries sends mixed messages" (Nov. 1, 2006). It's noteworthy that the issue is drawing further heat.
"Catholic psychiatrists and physicians have quietly sent selected bishops detailed memos outlining their objections to the document in advance of the November 13-16 meeting," reports Anderson. "Critics who have reviewed the text say this new document reveals that the bishops have little understanding of the disorder," she writes. Richard Fitzgibbons, M.D., a contributor to the Catholic Medical Association's statement on "Homosexuality and Hope," was explicit, she reports: "Persons with SSA (Same-Sex Attraction) suffer real physical and emotional physical illness in this lifestyle. There is no mention [in the document] of the deleterious effects of homosexual behavior on the person; the abuse, the diseases and the psychological pain that accompanies that lifestyle."
Keep your eye on the U.S. bishops' fall meeting in Baltimore, Nov. 13-16, 2006, and pray for them.
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