The following is from a Jan 30. story by Catholic News Agency.
Lansing, Mich. — The author of a book on Catholic teaching regarding homosexuality and chastity is accused of forming a sexual relationship with a minor about 15 years ago.
Daniel Mattson is the author of the 2017 book “Why I Don’t Call Myself Gay: How I reclaimed my sexual reality and found peace,” and a frequent speaker on the Church’s teachings on homosexuality.
On Monday, a man whom CNA has identified as Jonathan Wright alleged on Twitter that he and Mattson began in the early 2000s an online relationship that eventually included sexual interaction via webcam and phone. No physical contact is alleged to have taken place.
Wright said Mattson provided him with prepaid telephone callings in order to keep the phone sex a secret from his parents. The two spoke almost daily for three or four years, Wright alleged.
He said that the relationship began when he was 13 and Mattson was around 30.
“He knew I was only 13,” Wright tweeted Jan. 28.
Eventually, Wright alleged, the relationship came to an end. He said Mattson had a relationship with a woman, and the two stopped talking.
“Dan now tweets about homosexuality being a sin. He seems kind and only wants ‘children of God’ to be treated with dignity/respect. But he still believes my relationship with my husband is a sin.”
”I just hope for justice… I would like if Dan would talk on it.”
Mattson was not available for comment.
Mattson’s book recounts his own experience with homosexual attraction. He has said that he had his first homosexual experience at age 32, and that eventually, after dating a woman because of his desire for family life, he converted to Catholicism and embraced the Church’s teachings on homosexuality, committing to live chastely.
It is not yet clear whether Mattson will face charges in connection to the man’s allegation.
Mattson’s book is published by Ignatius Press. Ignatius said it ”was unaware of this alleged misconduct until the accusation was made this week.”
”Dan has been forthright about the sinfulness of his past life and he has sought to encourage people to find new life in living chastely… we understood from Dan Mattson’s own account of his life that before he became a Catholic he engaged in many sinful sexual activities, which he has repented of.”
“We recognize that what is alleged to have occurred happened before Dan Mattson’s conversion to the Catholic faith. Yet, this allegation concerns… civil law implications and it involves harm to someone who was a minor when it allegedly occurred, which is deeply troubling.”
Does Mr. Wright think that all gay men who’ve had phone or video contact of a sexual nature, let alone physical contact, with underage persons many years ago should be publicly accused? That would be consistent, but would involve a significant portion of the population of San Francisco and the “gay” and “bisexual” “communities” everywhere. Or, is it possible Mr. Mattson is being singled-out and targeted because he is a practicing Catholic? And, maybe because others are hearing his compelling, personal testimony. Does Mr. Wright “just hope for justice” for all who’ve engaged in sinful behavior with minors or only for Mr. Mattson?
…Honestly, do you think the entire gay community contacted Wright to have pornographic sex with him? Do you? Do you really.
The allegations, if true, are not just sinful. They are subject to legal inquiry. Child pornography is a serious crime. Wright makes a serious allegation (one man) and not a silly allegation, like you’d prefer (accusing the entirety of San Francisco??). And so it must be looked into.
I never mentioned the entire gay community or the entire city. The allegations should be looked into. But, shouldn’t any sexual contact with minors by all individuals? Harvey Milk admits to having engaged in sex with underage boys and he is held up as a role model. Do you honestly think that Mr. Wright had no sexual contact, phone or otherwise, with any adults, until he was 18? He makes serious allegations against an individual about something that happened years ago. So, it’s only reasonable to ask about him, his motives and his consistency in looking for justice.
Good questions, Anonymous. Whenever someone gets up out of the gutter and tries to bring others up with him into the sunshine, there are others who will try to drag them back down again in order to justify what they are doing. I do not know the answer to all this except that Mr. Wright is WRONG about it being alright for him to have a “husband”. I pray God’s will be done in all this and the truly just be vindicated..
The allegations, even if true, demonstrates that the conversion is a reality, since they occurred prior to Mattson’s conversion. Therefote, it is a civil matter.
St. Augustine of Hippo’s life, prior to his conversion, was a life of total sexual depravity, both homosexual and heterosexual.
With the prayers of his mother, St. Monica, Augustine was cured of his depravity and later to become a Doctor of the Church.
St. Augustine, pray for us.
Mattson’s association with Ignatius Press began after his return to Christ and chastity. I don’t see why this claim (assuming it can be substantiated) should have any impact on Ignatius Press at all. As for the claim: there appears a whiff of emotional extortion in the complainant’s whine that Mattson rejects his so-called “marriage”. Is this a new gay tactic: threaten to sue former homosexuals if they publicly denounce the “lifestyle” by sliming them old (and alleged) dirt?
Headline unclear. Unproven allegation against a person before they joined an organization. Might be different if the allegations were substantiated and involved a current senior member of that organization.
Thank you for your concern. We have updated the headline.
I think that all obscene phone calls– or texting or anything else– should be against the law, and severely punished! Regardless of the age of the recipient!
Why? Because you don’t believe in the First Amendment?
Obscene language and behavior is a violent act of a bully, extremely filthy and degrading, very damaging to the victim– it is a “hate crime”
Those who commit these crimes should be punished severely! Is that poor victim– who was only a child of 13— suffering horrible nightmares, undergoing psychotherapy, and in terrible pain, still— his life destroyed?? Are his parents and family enduring terrible pain and suffering??
I think that all obscene phone calls– or texting, webcam, or anything else– should be against the law, and severely punished! Regardless of the age of the recipient!
This article is very misleading! Ignatius Press is outstanding! A publishing company can never be expected to know, if one of their authors might have been guilty of something! Plus– it looks like the author’s sins were committed BEFORE his Catholic conversion– and he already confessed, and repented of them! (Of course– if this is not true, then we need to see Justice done!) We now need to see the name of Ignatius Press cleared up publicly, after this terribly wrongful, misleading article!
Thank you for your concern. We have updated the headline.
I appreciated the reply of the Moderator! Of course– if these allegations are true– then, this man must face consequences for his sins! I am so sorry for the victim, and for his parents and family! I was terribly angry the day we discovered that our much-admired, former Cathedral rector, who had been recently transferred to teach at St. Patrick’s Seminary– had admitted to police, that he had sexually molested a poor 13-year-old boy, many times, in his own home, when invited for dinner and an overnight stay, by the boy’s parents! The details are too sickening to mention
Disagree. Ignatius Press holds itself out to be a “traditional Catholic publisher” and none of these events are traditional or Catholic. They have a duty to vet authors and/or remove objectionable content. In this case the man seems to be lying: saying first homo experience at 32 yet the victim claims he was 30; there could be more lies.
Wrong! Call them up and find out! Ignatius Press is faithful to Catholic teaching– that’s all! Ignatius Press is trustworthy and excellent!
Their publishing decisions speak.
Yes they can recant and depublish if necessary.
Yes! Call up Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J.– the Founder of Ignatius Press– and tell him all of that! He is very nice to talk to!
No, Ignatius Press is an excellent Catholic publishing company! There are many uses of the word, “traditional.” In this case, it means that this publishing company is faithful to Church teaching.
Unless Mr. Mattson claimed to be chaste during that phase of his life, the accuser (Mr. Wright) is nothing more than a hit man who seeks to intimidate and slime anyone who attacks his beliefs.
Mr. Mattson obviously hit a nerve. I recommend that he stand firm – Maybe he should write another book.
Did St. Augustine prey on a 13 yr old CHILD? Please stop whitewashing these allegations. They are extremely serious. If they are true this isn’t disordered sexual desire for a post pubescent male it’s sexual desire for a little boy. Let that sink in.
Noreen & Lena:
that’s just ONE reason
why homosexuals should Not be priests.
thanks for your concern
re: Mr Mattson:
“there is MORE joy in heaven over ONE repentant sinner …”
Dear Noreen. Agreed, they are extremely serious allegations that, if true, should not be whitewashed. If true, I imagine Mr. Mattson will face them with all humility and contrition in accord with his conversion and also possibly face the temporal consequences. But, others make good points that he is likely being singled out due to his conversion and speaking out against his past life. NAMBLA is a real thing, and there are those among Mr. Wright’s community who actively seek to normalize and celebrate the behaviors being alleged against Mr. Mattson. Let that sink in.
Good post J. While the police are at it, they should look to see if Mr. Wright’s “husband” is a wee too old or too young for him, too, and if either of them committed a crime against the other.
That’s right! Homosexuals should not be priests!!!! Keep your hands off of our children!!!!
If you love Traditional Catholic books (meaning, in this case– the beautiful treasures of the Church before the recent Council in the 1960s)– there are many fine publishing companies today, that specialize in this! Ignatius Press, I think, has mostly books written by recent Catholic authors– most of whom are alive today, with many treasures to give us all! And they are all faithful to Catholic teaching! Ignatius Press does not allow authors who are immoral or heretical!
If they prosecute Mattson, if he did commit a crime, they should go after all those who have done the same thing. Harvey MIlk should certainly be dumped as a role model, since he admitted to actual under aged rape. He was unfit for unfit for a role model to school children..
Correction to last sentence: He was and is unfit as a role model for school children.
Anne TE:
Thank you for pointing out the
hypocrisy of selective concern:
giving Harvey Milk a free pass
while crucifying Mr. Mattson.
In this Culture of Death it’s
“hate the sinner and love the sin.”
I will just note in passing that since this accusation was made, Mr. Mattson has not offered a public response. Talk about silence speaking volumes!