A POLITICAL AGENDA IS TRUMPING SCIENCE, SAYS RICK FITZGIBBONS
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Autor: ----
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Fuente: ZENIT
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WEST
CONSHOHOCKEN,
Pennsylvania,
SEPT.
18,
2003.-
Amid
the
push
for
same-sex
unions
in
Canada
and
the
recent
overturning
of
Texas'
sodomy
law,
an
aspect
of
the
underlying
issue
is
sometimes
overlooked:
the
medical
consequences
of
homosexual
behavior.
To
shed
light
on
the
medical
and
scientific
research
into
same-sex
attraction
and
homosexual
behavior,
ZENIT
approached
Dr.
Rick
Fitzgibbons.
Fitzgibbons
is
a
principal
contributor
to
the
Catholic
Medical
Association's
statement
on
"Homosexuality
and
Hope."
Q:
Could
you
explain
why
homosexuality
is
not
normal,
from
a
medical
standpoint?
Fitzgibbons:
Homosexuality
was
diagnosed
and
treated
as
a
psychiatric
illness
--
abnormal
behavior
--
until
1973,
when
it
was
removed
from
the
Diagnostic
and
Statistical
Manual
in
psychiatry
because
of
political
pressure.
Numerous
conflicts
make
homosexual
behaviors
abnormal,
including
rampant
promiscuity,
inability
to
maintain
commitment,
psychiatric
disorders
and
medical
illnesses
with
a
shortened
life
span.
The
sexual
practices
of
homosexuals
involve
serious
health
risks
and
illness.
Specifically,
sodomy
as
a
sexual
behavior
is
associated
with
significant
and
life-threatening
health
problems.
Unhealthy
sexual
behaviors
occur
among
both
heterosexuals
and
homosexuals.
Yet
the
medical
and
social
science
evidence
indicate
that
homosexual
behavior
is
uniformly
unhealthy.
Men
having
sex
with
other
men
leads
to
greater
health
risks
than
men
having
sex
with
women,
not
only
because
of
promiscuity
but
also
because
of
the
nature
of
sex
among
men.
Q:
Is
homosexuality
associated
specifically
with
psychological
problems?
Can
an
active
homosexual
lifestyle
lead
to
adverse
psychological
consequences?
Fitzgibbons:
Two
extensive
studies
appearing
in
the
October
2000
issue
of
the
American
Medical
Association's
Archives
of
General
Psychiatry
confirm
a
strong
link
between
homosexual
sex
and
suicide,
as
well
as
a
relationship
between
homosexuality
and
emotional
and
mental
problems.
One
of
the
studies
in
the
journal,
by
David
M.
Ferguson
and
his
team,
found
that
"gay,
lesbian
and
bisexual
young
people
are
at
increased
risk
of
psychiatric
disorder
and
suicidal
behaviors."
The
youth
suffering
from
these
disorders
were
four
times
as
likely
as
their
peers
to
suffer
from
major
depression,
almost
three
times
as
likely
to
suffer
from
generalized
anxiety
disorder,
nearly
four
times
as
likely
to
experience
conduct
disorder,
five
times
as
likely
to
have
nicotine
dependence,
six
times
as
likely
to
suffer
from
multiple
disorders,
and
over
six
times
as
likely
to
have
attempted
suicide.
An
extensive
study
in
the
Netherlands
undermines
the
assumption
that
homophobia
is
the
cause
of
increased
psychiatric
illness
among
gays
and
lesbians.
The
Dutch
have
been
considerably
more
accepting
of
same-sex
relationships
than
other
Western
countries
--
in
fact,
same-sex
couples
now
have
the
legal
right
to
marry
in
the
Netherlands.
So
a
high
rate
of
psychiatric
disorders
associated
with
homosexual
behavior
in
the
Netherlands
means
that
psychiatric
disease
cannot
be
attributed
to
social
rejection
and
homophobia.
The
Dutch
study,
published
in
the
Archives
of
General
Psychiatry,
did
indeed
find
a
high
rate
of
psychiatric
disease
associated
with
same-sex
sex
behaviors.
Compared
to
controls
who
had
no
homosexual
experience
in
the
12
months
prior
to
the
interview,
males
who
had
any
homosexual
contact
within
that
time
period
were
much
more
likely
to
experience
major
depression,
bipolar
disorder,
panic
disorder,
agoraphobia
and
obsessive
compulsive
disorder.
Females
with
any
homosexual
contact
within
the
previous
12
months
were
more
often
diagnosed
with
major
depression,
social
phobia
or
alcohol
dependence.
In
fact,
those
with
a
history
of
homosexual
contact
had
higher
prevalence
of
nearly
all
psychiatric
disorders
measured
in
the
study.
Also,
a
recent
study
in
the
American
Journal
of
Public
Health
has
shown
that
39%
of
males
with
same-sex
attraction
have
been
abused
by
other
males
with
same-sex
attraction.
Q:
What
are
the
medical
illnesses
associated
with
homosexuality?
Fitzgibbons:
The
list
of
medical
diseases
found
with
extraordinary
frequency
among
male
homosexual
practitioners
as
a
result
of
abnormal
homosexual
behavior
is
alarming:
anal
cancer,
chlamydia
trachomatis,
cryptosporidium,
giardia
lamblia,
herpes
simplex
virus,
human
immunodeficiency
virus
or
HIV,
human
papilloma
virus
--
HPV
or
genital
warts
--
isospora
belli,
microsporidia,
gonorrhea,
viral
hepatitis
types
B
and
C,
and
syphilis.
Sexual
transmission
of
some
of
these
diseases
is
so
rare
in
the
exclusively
heterosexual
population
as
to
be
virtually
unknown.
Others,
while
found
among
heterosexual
and
homosexual
practitioners,
are
clearly
predominated
by
those
involved
in
homosexual
activity.
Men
who
have
sex
with
men
account
for
the
lion's
share
of
the
increasing
number
of
cases
in
America
of
sexually
transmitted
infections
that
are
not
generally
spread
through
sexual
contact.
These
diseases,
with
consequences
that
range
from
severe
and
even
life-threatening
to
mere
annoyances,
include
hepatitis
A,
giardia
lamblia,
entamoeba
histolytica,
Epstein-Barr
virus,
neisseria
meningitides,
shigellosis,
salmonellosis,
pediculosis,
scabies
and
campylobacter.
Q:
Many
professional
medical
groups
have
stopped
classifying
homosexuality
as
abnormal
behavior,
and
pro-homosexual
organizations
actively
promote
it
as
just
another
option
that
is
perfectly
normal.
Is
this
responsible
from
a
medical
point
of
view?
Fitzgibbons:
Most
medical
groups
have
embraced
the
homosexual
agenda
and
are
advocating
that
lifestyle,
despite
all
of
the
scientific
studies
and
medical
evidence
that
demonstrate
medical
and
psychological
risks.
It
seems
the
politically
correct
homosexual
agenda
is
trumping
science.
Doctors
have
a
responsibility
to
inform
their
clients
of
the
dangers
of
a
homosexual
lifestyle.
In
his
study
"The
Health
Risks
of
Gay
Sex,"
my
colleague
Dr.
John
R.
Diggs
Jr.
wrote,
"As
a
physician,
it
is
my
duty
to
assess
behaviors
for
their
impact
on
health
and
well-being.
When
something
is
beneficial,
such
as
exercise,
good
nutrition
or
adequate
sleep,
it
is
my
duty
to
recommend
it.
Likewise,
when
something
is
harmful,
such
as
smoking,
overeating,
alcohol
or
drug
abuse,
it
is
my
duty
to
discourage
it.
...
"There
are
differences
between
men
and
women
in
the
consequences
of
same-sex
activity.
But
most
importantly,
the
consequences
of
homosexual
activity
are
distinct
from
the
consequences
of
heterosexual
activity.
As
a
physician,
it
is
my
duty
to
inform
patients
of
the
health
risks
of
gay
sex,
and
to
discourage
them
from
indulging
in
harmful
behavior."
Same-sex
attraction
is
a
manifestation
of
serious
emotional
conflicts
that
are
preventable
and
treatable.
Gender
Identity
Disorder
in
children
regularly
leads
to
same-sex
attractions
in
adolescence,
and
now
there's
even
a
move
to
remove
it
from
the
Diagnostic
and
Statistical
Manual.
The
media
or
major
health
organizations
communicate
none
of
the
serious
medical
and
psychiatric
problems
associated
with
homosexuality.
School
programs
don't
present
this
information,
so
children
are
encouraged
and
taught
that
the
homosexual
lifestyle
is
a
healthy
alternative
to
marriage.
These
youngsters
are
not
being
told
about
the
dangers
of
this
lifestyle.
I
think
schools
and
school
psychologists
should
be
legally
liable
because
they
are
not
providing
informed
consent
while
promoting
the
homosexual
lifestyle.
Also,
pediatricians
know
children
raised
without
a
father
are
subjected
to
serious
psychological
problems,
and
raising
a
child
without
a
mother
also
predisposes
the
child
to
serious
emotional
and
mental
illnesses.
Q:
Legalizing
abnormal
behavior
would
seem
to
dissuade
people
from
seeking
the
help
they
need
to
overcome
it.
Would
that
be
a
fair
assessment?
Fitzgibbons:
I
think
that
is
a
very
fair
assessment.
There
are
attempts
to
prevent
people
from
seeking
help
for
same-sex
attraction.
There's
definitely
a
movement
to
stop
mental
health
professionals
from
providing
treatment.
The
Spitzer
report
from
the
Archives
of
Sexual
Behavior,
which
will
publish
in
October,
surveyed
ex-homosexuals
who
were
out
of
the
lifestyle
for
five
years,
and
it
found
that
64%
of
the
men
and
43%
of
the
women
considered
themselves
to
be
heterosexuals
after
they
received
treatment.
Dr.
Spitzer
of
Columbia
University
led
the
task
force
of
the
American
Psychiatric
Association
in
1973
that
removed
homosexuality
from
our
diagnostic
manual.
In
a
number
of
studies,
when
people
with
same-sex
attraction
were
treated,
a
third
of
the
patients
get
better,
a
third
get
mixed
results,
and
a
third
don't
get
better.
In
my
clinical
experience,
when
a
spiritual
component
is
brought
in
to
the
treatment,
the
recovery
rate
is
much
higher.
Q:
What
do
you
think
would
be
the
long-term
impact
of
legalized
same-sex
unions?
How
would
this
affect
future
generations?
Fitzgibbons:
Marriage
between
a
man
and
a
woman
is
based
on
commitment
and
is
an
expression
of
Judeo-Christian
morality.
Same-sex
unions
are
based
on
neo-pagan,
Kinseyian
morality
that
doesn't
expect
loyalty.
In
a
recent
study
from
a
major
journal
conducted
on
males,
it
found
that
males
in
same-sex
unions
stayed
together
for
an
average
length
of
two
years,
and
would
regularly
have
sex
with
others
outside
of
the
relationship.
In
this
Amsterdam
study,
86%
of
new
HIV
infections
occurred
in
men
who
considered
themselves
to
be
in
same-sex
unions.
Same-sex
unions
cause
emotional
trauma
and
pain
to
individuals,
and
damage
to
the
culture.
Equating
same-sex
unions
with
marriage
is
a
false
belief
--
it's
delusional.
Q:
What
about
adoptions
by
homosexual
couples?
How
would
that
affect
the
children
involved?
Fitzgibbons:
The
Congregation
for
the
Doctrine
of
the
Faith
released
a
document
on
homosexuality
that
addressed
adoptions
by
homosexual
couples.
The
statement
noted
that
intentionally
depriving
a
child
of
a
father
or
mother
is
doing
violence
to
that
child.
The
office's
document
and
the
Catechism
of
the
Catholic
Church's
section
on
homosexuality
are
supported
by
medical
science.
Also,
raising
children
in
an
environment
with
same-sex
parents
goes
against
the
values
of
the
common
inheritance
of
humanity.
The
absence
of
a
father
in
the
home
leads
to
sadness,
anger,
difficulty
in
trusting
and
conflict
disorders.
The
absence
of
a
mother
is
worse.
One's
mother
is
one's
fundamental
basis
of
feeling
safe
in
relationships;
denying
a
child
of
a
mother
wounds
the
child's
ability
to
trust
and
have
faith
in
the
world,
which
can
lead
to
anxiety
and
attachment
disorders.
Children
should
not
be
subjected
to
this
cruel
deprivation,
as
it
does
serious
damage.
Even
Belgium,
which
approves
of
same-sex
unions,
does
not
allow
same-sex
couples
to
adopt.
Not
all
adults
necessarily
have
the
inherent
right
to
have
a
child.
But
all
children
have
a
right
to
a
mother
and
a
father.
Q:
What
are
the
psychological
strategies
in
the
homosexual
agenda?
Fitzgibbons:
The
homosexual
agenda
aims
to
desensitize
people
to
homosexuality
via
the
media
and
"diversity
weeks"
held
in
many
schools
--
including
Catholic
colleges
and
high
schools.
It
portrays
those
who
oppose
homosexual
behavior
and
unions
as
being
troubled,
in
violation
of
the
law
and
in
need
of
help,
similar
to
those
who
have
racial
prejudices.
It
also
attempts
to
claim
that
homosexuality
is
genetically
determined
in
spite
of
research
studies
that
fail
to
support
this
theory.
And
of
course,
the
main
goal
is
to
convert
people
to
the
homosexual
agenda.
Q:
What
can
Catholics
do
to
protect
the
sacrament
of
marriage?
Fitzgibbons:
Catholics
can
pray
more
for
the
protection
of
marriage
and
families
and
can
learn
the
truth
about
homosexuality
by
seeking
information
at
reliable
Web
sites:
the
International
Association
of
Catholic
Medical
Associations
at
www.Fiamc.org;
the
Catholic
Medical
Association
at
www.cathmed.org;
and
the
National
Association
for
the
Treatment
and
Research
of
Homosexuality
at
www.narth.com.
They
can
communicate
the
fullness
of
the
Church's
truth
about
sexuality
in
their
family,
their
parish
and
in
their
children's
schools.
They
can
also
support
the
proposed
marriage
amendment
to
the
U.S.
Constitution.
And
they
can
ask
priests
to
offer
prayers
for
marriages
as
part
of
the
daily
petitions
at
Mass.
|
