Yesterday, President Biden signed an executive order instructing his administration to examine what steps it could take to end “conversion therapy” for minors who identify as transgender. According to the White House press release:
President Biden is charging HHS with leading an initiative to reduce the risk of youth exposure to this dangerous practice. HHS will explore guidance to clarify that federally-funded programs cannot offer so-called “conversion therapy.” HHS will also increase public awareness about its harms, provide training and technical assistance to health care providers, and expand support for services to help survivors. President Biden is also encouraging the Federal Trade Commission to consider whether the practice constitutes an unfair or deceptive act or practice, and whether to issue consumer warnings or notices.
The order itself sweeps much broader than pediatric gender medicine, but that is surely its most controversial element. It should put to rest any remaining doubts over whether the medical scandal of deforming and sterilizing children in order to validate their “internal sense of gender” goes all the way to the top of the American power structure. It undoubtedly does.
The term “conversion therapy” was initially used by gay rights advocates to describe efforts by mental health professionals to make same-sex attracted people heterosexual. In recent years, transgender activists have appropriated the term to target the use of psychotherapy as a measure of first resort for helping minors with gender-related distress to feel comfortable with their bodies. Critics of this approach argue that the only ethical treatment for “gender dysphoria” is “affirmation”—that is, agreeing with a minor’s self-diagnosis. They insist that any effort to explore whether a teenager’s transgender self-identification might result from some other factors—say, a combination of past sexual abuse and depression—is scientifically proven to be deeply harmful.
“I have no room in my heart for hatred and I have no time for intolerance,” said HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine, who is transgender, “but we don’t live in a world where everyone feels that way, and this administration understands that more action is needed….”
The above comes from a June 16 posting in City Journal.
No one who helps people live chastely with unwanted same-sex attraction calls it “conversion therapy.” Nor do those who help those suffering with gender dysphoria. Our society needs an honest, open discussion about this. And, I hope and pray that our bishops do not remain silent about this type of child abuse. The Pope has called the transgender ideology diabolical. We need to help confused children and protect them from confused adults. This is especially scandalous when promoted, even mandated, by a “devout” Catholic who still receives Holy Communion. (And, talk is Mr. Newsom may be the Democratic presidential nominee in 2024. God spare us from nominal “Catholics” in positions of power. Pray for their conversion.)
Deacon Anderson-helping someone live chastely is not conversion therapy and this article is not about same-sex attraction.
I also believe that the Pope called gender ideology diabolical, and he meant teaching children that they can choose which sex they are.
Gender dysphoria is an extremely painful condition. The person does not choose it.
I don’t know that the government belongs in this issue. It is a medical condition. They have found in brain research that the brains of transgender individuals are unlike the brains of both their biological sex and those of the sex they feel like they are.
A lot more research is needed and unfortunately, there are some transgender individuals who suffer more than they need to because of people who want quick solutions and those who make rash judgements
Pray for those who have it and those who treat it and those who judge it and those who promote it.
You’re absolutely right. Pray and help. That said, I never said it was chosen and the article used “conversion therapy.” I think it’s part of the politicization and confusion surrounding this issue. Your last sentence was most appropriate.
Just to be clear: Democrats support cutting off boys’ penises while criminalizing telling boys that they should keep their penises because they are boys not girls.
Got that?
If you are a Democrat, I have an obscenity in the imperative mood to say to you.
I’ll go with “Not a Birthing Person” for a $1000, Alex.
For all the sleepless nights this pontificate has brought me, I praise Francis’ characterization of transgender ideology as diabolical. We all suffer deeply in one form or another. For example, the single person without recourse to marital acts must practice life-long chastity, which is no small cross to bear. Such is the command of God revealed both in Scripture and in the Natural/Moral Law. It is a cross for a male to accept his biology and avoid the temptation, be it ever so hard, to reject his creation when he wishes to do so. He honors God by carrying that cross and learning to live with his condition. The same applies, mutatis mutandis, to females. The suffering in life is a necessary preparation for heaven, our true home. President Biden’s rejection of the Natural/Moral Law in this matter is consistent with his pro-abortion advocacy, and this renders the silence of (most) bishops so utterly incomprehensible.
You lose sleep over the pope? You need to get out more.
Touché. A bit of misplaced hyperbole
Fr. James Martin recently tweeted that being LGBT is part of God’s creation. Thoroughly unbiblical.
No, it is not. LGBT people are human beings who are created by God. Human nature is fallen (Genesis 3)
I might welcome a Chinese invasion
Who would pick better bishops for us, the current Vatican or the Communist Chinese?
The Vatican lets the Chi Comms pick bishops there, maybe we could ask for some secret deal negotiated by a perverted prelate.
And, the Chi Comms don’t allow so-called gay “marriage.”
Maybe it’s a kind of crapshoot.
Or, God will judge us all sooner than we might think. When He returns, all bets are off.