This article from Lifesite news may be of interest as a follow-on from the Zacchaeus interview. Britain today and Canada tomorrow?
BRIGHTON, United Kingdom, July 9, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The British Medical Association (BMA) has passed a motion asserting that therapy meant to treat unwanted same-sex attraction is harmful, calling on the Royal College of Psychiatrists and other professional bodies to repudiate such treatments and forbid them in their codes of practice.More than two-thirds of the doctors who voted supported the motion. They also said that alleged cases of conversion therapy funded by Britain’s National Health Service should be investigated
Junior doctor Tom Dolphin, who proposed the motion, said, “This isn’t about therapy designed to help reconcile people to their sexuality, which is laudable and appropriate. I’m talking about therapy aimed at changing that sexual orientation.
“Conversion therapy does not work, and can be actively harmful,” he argued. “Sexual orientation is such a fundamental part of who someone is that to attempt to change it will just result in significant conflict and depression, and even sometimes suicide.”
Not all doctors were convinced by such arguments, however.
Dr. Gareth Payne from Cardiff said that there was no definitive evidence that such treatments were harmful. He called for more research on how to help support people struggling with their sexuality.
“It seems that the British Medical Associaton is practicing junk science,” Mrs. Regina Griggs, of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays (PFOX), told LifeSiteNews.com. “All mainstream medical health organizations, science organization, have found one thing: they’ve never found a gay gene, they have not found homosexuality or sexual orientation to be innate.
“Therefore, change is possible.”
Addressing the BMA’s refusal to consider the desires of those who wish to change their orientation, Mrs. Griggs asked rhetorically: “What gives any association the right to practice mind control?”
Organizations like the BMA, she said, are saying that “because I didn’t change, chose not to change, you have no right to self determination. It’s my way, or no way.”
“That seems politically correct, not scientifically correct,” she said. Furthermore, she continued, it hurts the very people that “gay rights” activists claim to be helping.
“It’s endangering people who are unhappy, and have made a decision about their own life,” she said. Medical organizations should not block the aims of those seeking to eliminate their same sex attraction (SSA), she said, but respect their own choices.
“Otherwise,” she continued, “it’s just a politically correct bunch of garbage.”
The case echoes a similar suppression of therapies meant to help treat SSA in Spain. The Catalan government said in June that it would fine the clinic Policlinica Tibidabo if it was confirmed that it was carrying out such treatments.
This is a typical action of the current British propensity to the support of Satan. And, as his faithful minions they are projecting a self-elevated sense of superiority that is extant in the both the Medical Societies and in the British Intelligentsia in general. Essentially their statements are meaningless from a righteousness point-of-view save for the influence they currently hold in that unjust society. From that standpoint Christians do need to react to their totally unfounded statements based upon the desire to support evil as opposed to the desire to serve the health needs of a populace requesting such healing from the fallen urges present in their beings.
One needs to be very, very clear that all this ‘stuff’ has never been about tolerance and inclusion and all those fluffy buzz-words. It’s simply about replacing one worldview with another. The new worldview will not be taking prisoners.
It’s the British Medical Association that should be banned…….as if!!
There is a fear factor and a cover-up here.
BMA is operating behind the times and has made a reactionary statement based upon the foments of militant gay activism, and just plain ignorance.
Both NARTH and the American Psychological Association have both come out in favor of any client’s right to self determination in his/her own therepeutic circumstance. This means that a client should be informed “up front” about the risks associated with any given treatment modality, and allowed to make an informed decision about proceeding with their own course of treatment.
Given that human sexuality is a fluid thing, and not fixed, and that researchers of many disciplines have concluded that a movement AWAY from SSA behaviours can be both attained and sustained, then it makes sense that a client should be permitted the right to seek out a therapy of choice. Many therapists agree that change is entirely possible, especially for the most highly motivated to such change.
This quote by Dr. Dolphin, is bunk:
“Conversion therapy does not work, and can be actively harmful,” he argued. “Sexual orientation is such a fundamental part of who someone is that to attempt to change it will just result in significant conflict and depression, and even sometimes suicide.”
Dr. Dolphin should explore more research results and pay less lip service. He is correct in pointing out that sexuality is bedrock for one’s human identity, but a skilled and sensitive therapist can be very instrumental in assisting a client to overcome complex root causes of conflict in cases of gender identity confusion.
Psychotherepeutic or pastoral exploration into an individual’s primary relationships, coupled with a high degree of motivation, in a setting of trust, are powerful motivators for speaking encouragement and hope into any life.
Dr. Dolphin’s “just” qualifier in:
“…will just result in significant conflict and depression, and even sometimes suicide.”, makes a mockery of any therepeutic process. It is either the shriek of an hysteric, or a parroting of a point of view that is likely not his own.
Readers might want to become aware of the hopelessness and suicidal factors inherent in individuals who despair of having unwanted SSA and who have not been given an opportunity to explore such treatment possibilities. This should not be denied anyone.
Historically and personally, it was an internal dissatisfaction with SSA and acting out behaviours, that drove me to seek pastoral care (initally), and godly counseling afterward. I had not despaired. Help was available to me. I even had to take several ‘stabs’ at it before I found the courage to persevere and find freedom in Christ and in lasting change.
This “internal dissatisfaction” is not the byproduct of a bigotted culture that would deny “your true homosexual self”, as many today are erroneously told. For some it may well be the hand of God leading you in another direction entirely >> and offering hope for an entirely unexpected deliverance from bondage and self-centered grief.
If this sounds like the sound of truth in your own struggles, then pray, and enter into dialogue here, courageously, as the Lord leads.
And may our gracious Lord Jesus carry you gently. I know you have suffered enough…
Daryle, I have no idea why your comment was held for approval, sorry about that.
Daryle I question your “He is correct in pointing out that sexuality is bedrock for one’s human identity,”
I am on the same page with you, but find this statement to be limiting. Perhaps I don’t understand – could you please elaborate.
Thanks for the question, “stuck”.
It would have been far better for me to have said “gender identity” rather than the oft culterally dropped “sexuality” term used today.
We all must identify with who we are created to be – as gender beings. This is typically accomplished in relating to others around us, and is formed from our earliest days and in our primary relationships. As a man, I must be able to identify with my essential maleness, in order to be grounded as a man.
If this important developmental step is skewed early on (and there are a multitude factors that can get in the way of that), then I may have trouble identifing as a male, and may seek to make up this deficiet in inappropriate acting out behavoiurs. This becomes critical when our hormones start raging in pre-adolescence, and we tend to see everything through a sexualized lens, anyway.
So our gender identity is absolutely bedrock to us a persons; shaping our healthy sense of self within, and how we perceive and relate to others, outside of our well-grounded self.
I hope that is helpful.
I concur ….. and thanks Daryle
You are most welcome, stuck in Toronto
I wish to comment further on the sexual morass into which the ACoC has committed herself…
Leadership is advancing an official status quo position while allowing a subterfuge of advancing a ‘local option’ for sexual innovation that is abhorrent to Scripture, tradition, and reason, and is in violation of Communion proclaimed moratoria (although a 4th moratoria has been completely disregarded).
These actions will impact many within the church, as innovators will brazenly continue a program and methodology that will lead many into acceptance of sinful behaviour, while continuing to drive others away.
I would urge anyone tempted to sexual sin, and acting upon temptations, of any ilk, to begin (or continue) a process of urgent prayer before God, and to engage a personal season of Lent, to seek appropriate accountability of one trusted friend to join prayerfully with you, and to make appropriate provision of pastoral and sacramental helps available to you. Do this without delay!
This week, while reading Revelation 2 (v.23)., I happened upon a startling thing that I had not seen or noticed before, probably because I was reading from the Jerusalem Bible as a change. Regarding sexual perversion it says: “…it is I who search the heart and loins and give each one of you what your behavior deserves.” [bold emphasis mine]
I know that the Lord cares about our every thought action, and seeks right relationship with us. There was a time some years ago, when I and a partner were in prayer over a man who was addicted to sexual activity. Our attention was drawn to his gut, where we prayed release from demonic stronghold. My partner, himself a big fella of some 250-280 lbs, felt physically shoved to one side as an unseen presence fled in submission to Christ.
We often talk about spiritual warfare, but seldom do we discuss the realities of demonic activity associated with sinful behavoiurs, especially oft repeated ones. Our eyes and our mind become darkened and we live in darkness. As our Lord says, if the lamp of our bodies becomes darkened – what a darkness it is! (Matt. 6: 22-23)
Taking early and repeated steps away from darkness is a courageous action that is near to the heart and will of Christ for each one of us.
Um moderators…
please remove bold in above comment. Thanks
Thanks. It is mostly the way I’d like to see it.
I have just completed a new email address for those who would like some confidential help with sexual sin.
Reach me here:
sexhelpnow [at] yahoo.com
–Edited to prevent spam bots from picking up the email address — admin.