The following email from NARTH was received May 21 at the Cal Catholic office.
The National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) is a professional, scientific organization that offers therapeutic assistance to those who struggle with unwanted homosexuality. As an organization, NARTH disseminates educational information, conducts and collects scientific research, promotes effective therapeutic treatment, and provides referrals to those who seek our assistance.
In keeping with NARTH’s commitment to science and education, NARTH offers the following synopsis of scientific research on homosexuality that may be helpful to the national council of the Boy Scouts of America as it deliberates a change in policy that would allow homosexually-identified youth as members.[1]
The development of homosexuality is influenced by environment.
Homosexuality is not an unchangeable biologically determined trait like race. The American Psychological Association reports, “There is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay or lesbian orientation. Although much research has examined the possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and cultural influences on sexual orientation, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or factors. Many think that nature and nurture both play complex roles…”[2]
The environment, including family dynamics, peer interactions and other social factors, can contribute significantly to the formation of one’s sexual orientation. Sexual orientation is not fixed at birth but rather is environmentally influenced and unfolds slowly across childhood, adolescence and even into adulthood for some individuals.[3]
Premature sexual identity labeling comes with associated risks for youth.
Many teens experience a period of sexual identity ambiguity as a normal stage of adolescent development. The University of Minnesota Hospital & Clinics studied 35,000 students in Minnesota secondary schools. Among the more significant information provided by the survey was the following: At age twelve, 25.9% of the children were “unsure” of their sexual orientation. This figure declined to 5% by age 17, with an average “unsure” for all age groups of 10.7%.[4] If children are encouraged to label themselves “gay,” or adults prematurely reinforce this identity before full psychosocial development has taken place there is a serious risk of erroneously labeling children who were only experiencing temporary sexual confusion.[5]
Such premature labeling could lead some adolescents into homosexual behaviors that carry significant risk for serious health consequences, such as, higher rates of sexually transmitted infections, alcoholism, substance abuse, anxiety, depression and suicide.[6]
While some might suggest that these heightened risky behaviors are the result of “homophobia,” social prejudice and/or discrimination cannot fully account for the elevated rates of these disorders, since equally dramatic rates are found among youth within homosexually-affirming cultures.[7] Delaying the self-identification of youth as non-heterosexual significantly reduces these medical and psychiatric health risks. For example, researchers find that adolescents who defer “coming out as gay” decrease the risk of suicide at a rate of 20 percent for each year that they delay self-labeling as homosexual or bisexual.[8]
Homosexual youth are sexually active significantly earlier than their heterosexual peers.
For example, in a study based on a sampling of teenagers in Massachusetts, sexual minority youth (i.e., those who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual or had any same-sex sexual contact in their lifetimes) were significantly more likely than other students to report lifetime sexual intercourse (72% vs. 44%). The same study found that sexual minority youth were more likely to report sexual intercourse before age 13 (18% vs. 4%), sexual intercourse with four or more partners in their lifetimes (32% vs. 11%), and recent sexual intercourse (55% vs. 33%).[9]
More significantly, in 2011, the CDC released a survey of over 150,000 high school students in grades nine through twelve. Of those who had their first sexual experience under age 13 years, 19.8% identified as homosexual, and 14.6% identified as bisexual. Only a mere 4.8% of students with sexual debut under age thirteen identified as heterosexual. This survey also assessed the number of sexual partners. Of those students reporting four or more partners, 29.9% were homosexually identified, 28.2% identified as bisexual, but only 11.1% of those with 4 or more partners were heterosexually identified.[10] Other studies have corroborated these findings as well as a significantly higher STD prevalence among homosexual and bisexual youth.[11]
Early life trauma can lead to orientation confusion that calls for professional assistance.
While further research is needed some studies provide cautious but noteworthy evidence of a link between childhood sexual abuse and same-sex partnership among men.[12] One example of this is the disproportionate extent of sexual abuse during the childhood of adult homosexuals.[13] Dr. David Purcell, the Deputy Director for Behavioral and Social Science, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention at the CDC, has summarized the research regarding sexual abuse and homosexuality in the following manner:
“[R]egardless of the rigor of the sample selection, when comparing MSM [men who have sex with men] samples to general male population samples, and when comparing MSM and heterosexual men within one sample, MSM consistently report more CSA [childhood sexual abuse] overall and more CSA with males than heterosexual men do; and no differences are observed for reported abuse by females… These studies bolster our conclusion that a disparity exists between gay/bisexual men and heterosexual men when it comes to CSA by males. While it is possible that these differences may be an artifact of reporting biases (e.g., heterosexual men being less willing to report being victimized by a man or to report that early heterosexual contact is abuse as opposed to initiation), it seems unlikely that reporting bias would account for a difference of this consistency and magnitude across a wide range of samples.”[14]
Clearly, youth who fall into this category need a referral for therapy for their trauma. Peers or adults that ignore or misunderstand this sexual confusion may instead prematurely label a questioning teen or suggest a “gay identity” or convey harmful misinformation such as the myth that gays are “born that way.”
Concluding recommendations.
The most critical question to answer regarding this proposed policy change, however, is: How will child protection be assured? If openly homosexual boys are allowed to participate, how does a Scoutmaster monitor the influence or actions that these boys may have upon others in the troop especially during overnight events? Will equal but segregated facilities be required? This certainly would be the case if the BSA were to alter its policy and admit girls.
As the BSA deliberates a potential change in its membership policy, NARTH encourages the council members to carefully consider the complexities of sexual orientation development reflected in the aforementioned research. Council members must strive to envision the short-term and long-term consequences of any potential decision.
References
[1] https://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/MembershipStandards/Resolution/Resolution.aspx (accessed May 16, 2013).
[2] American Psychological Association (2008). Answers to your questions: For a better understanding of sexual orientation and homosexuality. Washington, DC: Author.
[3] Whitehead, Neil. My genes made me do it! accessed 5/6/13 from https://www.mygenes.co.nz/download.htm; Collins F. (2007). The language of God: A scientist presents evidence for belief. New York: Free Press, 260 and 263; Langstrom, N., Rahman Q., Carlstrom, E., & Lichtenstein, P. (2008). Genetic and environmental effects on same-sexual behavior: A population study of twins in Sweden. Archives of Sexual Behavior, DOI 10.1007/s10508-008-9386-1; Santilla, P., Sandnabba, N. K., Harlaar, N., Varjonen, M., Alanko, K., & von der Pahlen, B. (2008). Potential for homosexual response is prevalent and genetic. Biological Psychology, 77, 102-105; Bailey, J. M., Dunne, M. P., & Martin, N. G. (2000). Genetic and environmental influences on sexual orientation and its correlates in an Australian twin sample. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78(3), 524-536; Bearman, P. S., & Bruckner, H. (2002). Opposite-sex twins and adolescent same-sex attraction. American Journal of Sociology, 107(5), 1179-1205; Frisch, M., & Hviid, A. (2006). Childhood family correlates of heterosexual and homosexual marriages: A national cohort study to two million Danes. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 35, 533-547.
[4] Demography of Sexual Orientation in Adolescents (April 1992). Pediatrics. The Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, 89.
[5] Savin-Williams, R. C., & Ream, G. L. (2007). Prevalence and stability of sexual orientation components during adolescence and young adulthood. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 36, 385-394; Remafedi, G., Resnick, M., Blum, R., & Harris, L. (1992). Demography of sexual orientation in adolescents. Pediatrics, 89, 714-721.
[6] Centers for Disease Control (2010). CDC analysis provides new look at disproportionate impact of HIV and syphilis among U.S. gay and bisexual men. Press Release, Wednesday, March 10, 2010; Urdy, J. R., & Chantala, K. (2005). Risk factors differ according to same-sex and opposite-sex interest. Journal of Biosocial Science, 37, 481-497; Silenzio, V. M. B., Pena, J. B., Duberstein, P. R., Cerel, J., & Knox, K. L. (2007). Sexual orientation and risk factors for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among adolescents and young adults. American Journal of Public Health, 97(11), 2017-2019; Balsam, K. F., Rothblum, E. D., & Beauchaine, T. P. (2005). Victimization over the life span: A comparison of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual siblings. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73(3), 477-487; Nurses’ Health Study II available at www.gaydata.org; Hogg, R. S., Strathdee, S. A., Craib, K. J. P., OShaughnessy, M. V., Montaner, J. S. G., & Schechter, M.T. (1997). Modeling the impact of HIV disease on mortality in gay and bisexual men; Valanis, B. G., Bowen, D. J., Bassford, T., Whitlock, E., Charney, P., & Carter, R. A. (2000). Sexual orientation and health. Archives of Family Medicine, 9, 843-853; Facts About Youth (2010). Health risks of the homosexual lifestyle. Accessed at the Facts website on 5/6/13: https://factsaboutyouth.com/posts/health-risks-of-the-homosexual-lifestyle/
[7] Fergusson, D. M.; Horwood, L. J.; & Beautrais, A. L. (1999). Is sexual orientation related to mental health problems and suicidality in young people? Arch. Gen. Psychiatry, 56, 876-880.
[8]Remafedi, G., Farrow J. A., & Deisher, R.W. (1991). Risk factors for attempted suicide in gay and bisexual youth. Pediatrics, 87, 869-875.
[9] Massachusetts Department of Education (June 2006). 2005 youth risk behavior survey. Massachusetts Department of Education website.
[10] Kann, L., Olsen, E. O., McManus, T., Kinchen, S., Chyen, D., Harris, W. A., & Wechsler, H. (2011). Sexual identity, sex of sexual contacts, and health-risk behaviors among students in grades 9-12- youth risk behavior surveillance, selected sites, United States, 2001-2009. MMWR Surveill Summ, 60(7), 1-133. NB: The total percentages recorded by the CDC do not add up to 100 percent. The missing percentages are accounted for by two factors: some respondents under age 13 years were unsure of their sexual identity, and others declined to reply to those questions altogether. For the data, see tables 55 and 56.
[11] Williams, K. A., & Chapman, M. V. (2011). Comparing health and mental health needs, service use, and barriers to services among sexual minority youths and their peers. Health Soc Work, 36(3), 197-206; Xu, F., Sternberg, M. R., & Markowitz, L. E. (2010). Men who have sex with men in the United States: Demographic and behavioral characteristics and prevalence of HIV and HSV-2 infection: Results from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001-2006. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 37(6), 399-405
[12] Satinover, J. (1996). Homosexuality and the politics of truth. Grand Rapids, MI: Hamewith Books, 106.; Helen W. Wilson & Cathy Spatz Widom (2010). Archives of Sexual Behavior, 39, 63-74.
[13] Beitchman, J., Zucker, K., Hood, J., DaCosta, G., & Akman, D. (1991). A review of the short-term effects of child
sexual abuse. Child Abuse & Neglect. 15, 537-556; Steed, J. J., & Templer, D. (2010). Gay men and lesbian women with molestation history: Impact on sexual orientation and experience of pleasure. The Open Psychology Journal, 3, 36-41; Templer, D., et al. (2001). Comparative data of childhood and adolescence molestation in heterosexual and homosexual
persons. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 30(5), 535-541.
[14] Purcell, D. W., et al. (2008). Childhood sexual abuse experienced by gay and bisexual men: Understanding the disparities and interventions to help eliminate them. Unequal Opportunity: Health Disparities Affecting Gay and Bisexual Men in the United States.
Studies also show that while homosexuals comprise only 2% of the population, they commit 33% of all child sex abuse. Hence, statistically, they are 1,550% more likely to sexually abuse a child than are heterosexuals. Now you know why the sodomites want access to the Boy Scouts; it’s not to teach them new knots.
See bit[DOT]ly/JKOlLI
Not one wit of your reply represents the truth. You should be ashamed of yourself.
What is the truth. Joan?
This BSA policy is NOT about “fairness”, “membership”, or even “gays.”
The purpose, and the effect (which is why do many of us parents object) is to insert sexuality into Scouting, a program for children.
Please watch and share this video “BSA, A Few Thoughts” on video-sharing site Vimeo.
Unfortunately, this “decision” was probably made when those two Sodomite friendly Executives were appointed to the Executive Committee. We the real leaders in BSA Scouting really had no say in the matter. All of those so called questionaires allegedly sent out were just to cover their rotten behinds.
I am still crying for my beloved BSA.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
As a former scout I share the same tears. I am still pinching myself in a state of disbelief over the realization that the BSA caved in. Who would ever think…….especially after back up by the Supreme Court!
The way things are “progressing” it looks like we will be exercising our religious rights in the catacombs before long.
Homosexualists have greater urgency to subvert scouting than other institutions because the masculine friendships that can mature there pose the greatest threat to their campaign to groom vulnerable youth for seduction, gay straight alliances and anti bullying notwithstanding. Therefore, just as no practicing homosexual should get access to young people, no confused, vulnerable or SSA youth should be excluded.
Rod,
As long as they did not openly “come out” about their SSA. they were never excluded.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher, 30+ Year Scouter
NARTH has been debunked by every medical organization that has studied it. It is junk science. They got 40 people at their last national convention. The head doctor is a graduate of one of the least respected psych colleges in the country and is an avowed anti-gay. If he would just come out and say that he doesn’t like gays, and not try to support it with junk science he would increase his credibility by 99.9%. The fact that CCD would post something by this group has reduced its credibility by a huge amount. This group is just not respected by the medical community.
(The Cowardly Lion) – “Oh, say it ain’t so, say it ain’t so!”
But seriously, take a listen to EWTN V.P. Doug Keck’s 6/22/2008 “EWTN Bookmark” interview of author of “One Man, One Woman: A Catholic’s Guide to Defending Marriage”, Dale O’Leary at ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/seriessearchprog.asp?pgnu=8&SeriesID=6132 Program # 219.
Dale proves how “there are 2 things”:
Thing 1: Homosexualist-biased “research” which merely reflects on itself Without Reference To Scientifically Based Studies, but which is OUTCOME ORIENTED To Prove The Homosexualist Line.
Thing 2: Honest social science research — like the Mark Regnerus study lifesitenews.com/tag/mark+regnerus – that shows “what every little child knows” about those unfortunates acting out the homosexual lifestyle — that it’s intrinsically disordered.
FIrst, you cite a 5 year old source to bash gay research, then you cite a study that is less than a year old to promote your own Heterosexualist Line.
Secondly, the Regnerus “study” was deeply flawed: It did NOT study children raised in LGBT families, it studied kids who said that at one time or another a parent had been with someone of the same sex. In addition, it was purely retrospective, and not at all longitudinal.
Thirdly, a quick look at the funders of the Regnerus study show that it, too, was clearly outcome oriented.
Fourthly, the professionals in the field, those who deal with the research studies and with real lives, strongly tend to support the notion that same sex partners can make terrific parents, and that the outcomes for the kids are generally pretty good. They do run into some problems because of societal rejection of their families, however.
THERE HAS TO BE TWO ANNOYMOUS ON THIS WEBSITE! One, anti-Catholic although he or she claims otherwise, and the other CATHOLIC!
Kenneth M. Fisher
I think there are a lot more than two. Sometimes one anonymous posts in reply to another anonymous and it takes a while to figure it out. Or two anonymous posters reply to the same post and it looks really weird. It does cause confusion. I’ve noticed other posters get a little annoyed by it. But it is just what happens if you don’t fill in the name bar. You are among the few who give their name. Internet safety advice is not to do that.
“gay research” is an oxymoron.
So, respecting NARTH “not respected by the medical community” — just what DO they respect?
Here’s anthropologist Margaret Mead on that subject:
“For the first time in our tradition there was a complete separation between killing and curing. Throughout the primitive world, the doctor and the sorcerer tended to be the same person. He with the power to kill had power to cure, including specially the undoing of his own killing activities. He who had the power to cure would necessarily also be able to kill…With the Greeks the distinction was made clear. One profession, the followers of Asclepius, were to be dedicated completely to life under all circumstances, regardless of rank, age or intellect – the life of a slave, the life of the Emperor, the life of a foreign man, the life of a defective child…”
So, we’re really making advances, huh?
Bob One, you are correct in what you say. It is junk science. They are a very small group. What concerns me is that the Courage Ministry has ties to NARTH and I don’t think that proper and consider it a conflict of interest.
PA, why are you so eager to keep gays from giving up their ssa? Why do you deny that they do? Where is you reply to my oft repeated claim by St Paul that some Catholics were former gays? With God all things are possible, and yet you, PA, deny this Catholic dogma. Jesus raised people from the dead to life, cured them of incurable diseases, gave sight to those born blind … and yet your ssa cadres are the special exception to the power and authority of Jesus Christ. Can you explain how it is that ssa people are not affected by Jesus?
Your post is unpersuasive. You use broad generalizations and you provide no support. Anyone doctor or social scientist who concludes that homosexual relationships are anything but completely salutary is immediately beset by the very powerful and punishing gay lobby. As an example, Mark Regnerus’ peer-reviewed study of children was properly conducted, objective, and very legitimate. He has tenure at UT Austin, one of the best state universities in the country. His research was vindicated by a special committee set up to examine it after gays complained. Yet, they pilloried and persecuted him like Nazis. He will no doubt avoid this topic in the future and so will anyone who doesn’t produce pro-gay marriage results.
No, Bob One, I don’t question CCD credibility, I question yours.
Jane, Regnerus never studied kids raised in stable households by gay parents. They interviewed adult children who reported that at one time or another, one of their parents had a partner of the same sex. There is a huge difference between a parent once dating someone of the same sex, and being raised in a stable household by parents of the same sex. The “control” group of straight parents were exactly that, not parents who at one time were reported to have dated soemone of the opposite sex.
That’s because Regnerus couldn’t find a statistically significant number of children raised in “stable” households by gay parents. There just aren’t many. I’ll tell you about one – Robert Oscar Lopez. He writes very eloquently about how it psychologically harmed him, and how important it is for children to have a mother AND a father.
YFC, great white sharks make great parents for kids also, because nobody has ever found that they don’t.
Bob, you make these wide sweeping claims with nothing to back it up. I heard a doctor on Catholic Answers speak on the latest studies about the causes of homosexuality etc. and it was not junk science. Global warming is junk science led by a huckster political hack that won the nobel prize (free nobel prize with every full-sized happy meal) …and no, I have nothing to back my premise either, but I don’t make specious claims about being scientifically correct, either.
Dana come on. Al Gore did not invent global warming, and he was long past his political career when he won the Nobel Prize. Climate change is very real, and not much debated by people except those doing junk science. If listening to a Catholic radio program is your measure of junk science, you ought to review the history of the Church with respect to Galileo.
So called “Your Fellow Catholic”,
Just what are your scientific credentials if any?
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
The global temperature has remained steady and unchanging for the past 20 years. Climate changes, yes the climate changes everyday, but people like you YFC think we should control it..
YFC is a dupe of the phoney environmental sorcerers, and is vainly trying to convince people that he actually knows something. Fact is that YFC knows only sodomy, promotes only sodomy, and wallows in sodomy. They project their own flamery onto mother nature … very shameful people they are.
Al Gore’s house invented global warming, what with its carbon footprint equal to that of the entire Eurasian land mass. If he’d keep his mouth closed, it’d cool down to normal levels.
NARTH is supported by the many many men who have transitioned from ssa to normal. Thus, it is futile for some organization to throw a hissy fit and deny what so many witnesses have claimed. St Paul used reparative therapy on pagans and Jews who chose to follow Christ. Repair is what Jesus does. The gays cannot stand it, because it clearly refutes their evil drive to sodomize all men, all animals and all inanimate objects, and all of God’s angelic creatures. These ssa pimps are vile and wicked psychopaths.
Bob One, how many times have you been debunked by God? Are you feeling His judgment already?
BSA becomes SSA (Sodomy Scouts of America)
Its equality–Sodomy Equality
That’s an unfortunate application of an acronym – if we’re to stop our Pavlovian salivation at the POLITICAL term “Gay”, we need SSA as “Same Sex Attraction”, a non-intrinsically-sinful condition that still allows for the vocation to chastity.
SSA is the consequence of sin, and tell me again, McKuen, that none of it gets acted out. You deceivers are obvious.
Nonsense.
Nonsense is as nonsense does.
From what I have read in the past a survey of professionals (psycharists) has shown that between 67% and 85% of those treated have become normal. In todays society it is unheard of that someone has been treated or seeks treatment or funding for treatment is sought. Actually the opposite is the case as the homosuxual ajenda has overwhelmed us to the point of speaking of treatment is ignored and distained.
Robert I have no idea where you get your numbers but they are no where near the truth, if by “normal” you mean heterosexual. If by “normal” you mean people who are able to lead successful lives that incorporate their sexuality into the rest of their life, then I’d say the numbers are higher.
I just read this am that there’s a HUGE increase in sexual attacks, and these are men on men! Many are going unreported, but it’s utterly criminal what’s happening in the military. There were 26,000 cases of sexual abuse in the military last year and something like 3% were to women. You do the math!
That is not being brought out in Congress however…they’r just up in arms about the abuse. Why do muslims and homosexuals get a free pass all the time? It’s beyond strange!
‘A.M.’ sorry~
I think your numbers are off Dana. On the one hand, you are right that male-on-male assault is alarmingly high, and I think I read myself that it is in the majority. But it isn’t close to 97% as your post suggested. Whatever the numbers, sexual abuse is far too prevalent in the military and society and ought to be reported, prosecuted, and eliminated. Experts tell us that sexual abuse is about displays of power, not of romantic interest. Seems like an odd way to gain or express power to me, but there you have it.
According to the Defense department report on sexual assault in the military, as quoted in HuffPo:
“According to the most recent report by the Pentagon’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, 3,192 sexual assaults were reported out of an estimated 19,000 — roughly 52 a day — between Oct. 1, 2010, to Sept. 31, 2011. The department estimates that only roughly 14 percent of the assaults were reported. The majority of sexual assaults each year are committed against service members by service members, SAPRO reports. While MSA does not affect only women, the office characterizes the “vast majority” of victims as female junior enlists under the age of 25, and the “vast majority” of perpetrators as male, older (under the age of 35) and generally higher-ranking.”
Kick out the gays, and send all the military women to the typing pool and the hospitals and all will be fine. Way it is now, it is screwed up.
I am saddened that the issue even came up for the Boy Scouts. Being a man and remembering my confusion and struggle to gain a semblance of sexual identity during my youth was difficult. My son is in Scouting now and I will take him out of the program if the rules change. It’s important for boys to have a safe place with clear rules regarding sexual behavior. It’s important for boys to have a place where they can develop into men of virtue. The ability to express oneself heroically involves controlling ones passions or appetites. Neither the gay lifestyle nor an adulterous heterosexual lifestyle promote a health foundation for men. I am saddened by the innocence that has been destroyed by the culture I live in.
I pray for those young women who are looking for men who are faithful, honest and virtuous. I am not looking for perfection, but to move from glory to glory making progress in becoming a loving father and faithful husband. I pray for my sons daily. God bless
God bless you wheels, that was a wonderful and loving post. I don’t know what my son will do with his son in scouts. My son had almost been an Eagle scout but had to give it up due to scheduling conflicts and always regretted not finishing and I know he looked forward to my grandson completing all his badges, etc. What deeply concerns me is that a group is starting up with the breakaway people that will be leaving scouts, and I feel this is a huge mistake. There are very large funds in scouting coffers, and if they leave, they’ll be leaving all that money to the toadspawn that have literally stolen boyscouts for their own nefarious purposes.
“very large funds” … wow, some flim flam operation, huh???
The gay advocate “anonymous says” is clearly not Catholic so where is the relevance to this forum? To dialogue with the Devil or his disciples is a compromise of ones faith.