Would conversion therapy work for a homosexual?

[RosslynV]

New to this forum. It seems that “homosexual” topics are a hot issue here.

Wondering if anyone knows anything about conversion therapy. Does it work? anybody have any statistics? Would it be wise to suggest such a therapy to someone who is a close friend (and gay) and moreover, doesn’t seem to want to change?

thanks in advance.

 

[VanSensei]

Listen, I’m getting really tired of people elevating homosexual acts to a greater level of sin than anything else. It is heinous to think one sin could somehow be worse than the other, because of this: [BIBLEDRB]Romans 3:23-26[/BIBLEDRB].

And to answer your question, no. It would be ludicrous to think that someone can just change their orientation, an immutable characteristic of their nature, as easily as they could change hair color.

No, it would not be wise to suggest that they should undergo conversion therapy, and if anything, would heavily damage any rapport you have with this person.

 

[Glad2behome]

Once again, I am the first and most likely the one one going to mention Courage, the ONLY approved group by the Holy See for people with SSA. Check them out at www.couragerc.net

 

[Glad2behome]

Listen, I’m getting really tired of people elevating homosexual acts to a greater level of sin than anything else. It is heinous to think one sin could somehow be worse than the other, because of this: [BIBLEDRB]Romans 3:23-26[/BIBLEDRB].

And to answer your question, no. It would be ludicrous to think that someone can just change their orientation, an immutable characteristic of their nature, as easily as they could change hair color.

No, it would not be wise to suggest that they should undergo conversion therapy, and if anything, would heavily damage any rapport you have with this person.

Yes, it appears to me that most of this comes from those who don’t know anyone with SSA or thinks just the mere fact that some has SSA is appalling. Now, what did the Holy Father say on this issue? I’m paraphrasing here but he said that one could have SSA and come to the Lord with a good hart. As I said before…REMEMBER St. Austin.

 

[ClearWater]

New to this forum. It seems that “homosexual” topics are a hot issue here.

Wondering if anyone knows anything about conversion therapy. Does it work? anybody have any statistics? Would it be wise to suggest such a therapy to someone who is a close friend (and gay) and moreover, doesn’t seem to want to change?

thanks in advance.

I’ve seen people on the forum, one recently, who insists she changed her sexual orientation.
Although, it seems very hard to do. I should have asked her how she went about it!

I don’t know how well conversion therapy works so wouldn’t suggest it at this point. If I were going to suggest anything, it’d be more in a line of Courage. I don’t think they try conversion, more in the line of chastity, I believe.

couragerc.net/

As to the previous post of elevating homosexuality to a higher level of sin. Well, in a booklet I have, it says that there are only 4 sins which cry out to God. See below for the list:
catholicculture.org/commentary/articles.cfm?id=29

Homicide
Sodomy
Oppression of widows & orphans
Cheating laborers their due

 

[Glad2behome]

I’ve seen people on the forum, one recently, who insists she changed her sexual orientation.
Although, it seems very hard to do. I should have asked her how she went about it!

I don’t know how well conversion therapy works so wouldn’t suggest it at this point. If I were going to suggest anything, it’d be more in a line of Courage. I don’t think they try conversion, more in the line of chastity, I believe.

couragerc.net/

As to the previous post of elevating homosexuality to a higher level of sin. Well, in a booklet I have, it says that there are only 4 sins which cry out to God. See below for the list:
catholicculture.org/commentary/articles.cfm?id=29

Homicide
Sodomy
Oppression of widows & orphans
Cheating laborers their due

Yes, but it is possible for heterosexuals to commit sodomy, using the same exact body parts. But I have a felling that some are going to argue that heterosexual sodomy is somehow less sinful than heterosexual sodomy.

 

[anonymous_in_fl]

To the OP (Original Poster):

This topic has been asked and answered numerous times.
If you are a New Member I would suggest you use the “Search” feature prior to posting questions ----- you will find a plethora of information there.

 

[Anglewannabe]

Would it be wise to suggest such a therapy to someone who is a close friend (and gay) and** moreover, doesn’t seem to want to change**?
.

No, it would not be wise. The person is just going to feel judged. Catholics are suppose to pray ‘How can I show God’s light’ We are NOT suppose to pray ‘How can I get others to stop sinning’

 

[Miss_Felicity]

New to this forum. It seems that “homosexual” topics are a hot issue here.

Wondering if anyone knows anything about conversion therapy. Does it work? anybody have any statistics? Would it be wise to suggest such a therapy to someone who is a close friend (and gay) and moreover, doesn’t seem to want to change?

thanks in advance.

I sure hope that there is no way to change people’s sexual orientation when they are happy with it, I and a lot of others would be in deep trouble.

But seriously, how close of a friend is this that you are so unsettled with their sexual orientation that the fact that he doesn’t want to change it doesn’t factor into you considering the merits of conversion therapy?

Listen, I’m getting really tired of people elevating homosexual acts to a greater level of sin than anything else. It is heinous to think one sin could somehow be worse than the other, because of this: [BIBLEDRB]Romans 3:23-26[/BIBLEDRB].

And to answer your question, no. It would be ludicrous to think that someone can just change their orientation, an immutable characteristic of their nature, as easily as they could change hair color.

No, it would not be wise to suggest that they should undergo conversion therapy, and if anything, would heavily damage any rapport you have with this person.

Everything this post says is spot on EVERYTHING

 

[jmr_1985]

First of all, I mean this post with all Christian charity. The problem with discussing homosexuality is that it invokes strong emotions. Everyone knows someone who struggles with SSA. Therefore, the human tendency is to get angry at any discussion of the issue. But, this is an important issue to all Christians that should be discussed.

VanSensei:

It is heinous to think one sin could somehow be worse than the other.

Again, before getting into a discussion on SSA, I would note that this statement is against Church teachings. You are proof-texting St. Paul’s words. Remember the words of the Enemy in Genesis 3, “Your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Catechism of the Catholic Church:

Sins are rightly evaluated according to their gravity. The distinction between mortal and venial sin, already evident in Scripture, became part of the tradition of the Church. It is corroborated by human experience…The gravity of sins is more or less great: murder is graver than theft. One must also take into account who is wronged: violence against parents is in itself graver than violence against a stranger.

Again, without discussing homosexual acts specifically, the truth is that some sins are graver than others. As the Catechism says this is “corroborated by human experience.” As someone who has committed many grave sins in the past, I can attest to that. If you are saying that committing homosexual ACTS is no worse than any other sin, that leads people down the wrong path and is against our Christian duty of helping people get to heaven. Sodomy is a grave sin. So is fornication.

We cannot say homosexual ACTS are not gravely sinful. When we approve of homosexual ACTS we are going against Holy Mother Church and attempting to define what is morally acceptable, which we are commanded not to do. We must look to the Church as the “pillar and bulwark of the truth.” (1 Tim. 15-16).

To the OP’s post, Steve Ray’s first rule of evangelization comes to mind, “do no harm.” Faith must be a free choice because to follow God we must have a desire to “go, and sin no more,” John 8:11, and to seek his perfect mercy and forgiveness when we do fall. If your friend does not have the desire to turn away from homosexual ACTS, there is little that you can do except live a good Christian life, which will show your friend how a life with God is the only way to happiness, and pray for him. This is truly what the Holy Father was talking about. If someone does not know Jesus, they will have no desire to turn away from sin. They will not live for His Kingdom because they won’t know any better.

It is a big mistake to believe that we are good Christians by not loving a person engaged in homosexual acts, by shunning them. But, it is also an equal mistake to believe that we should support and approve of homosexual ACTS. That is against the faith.

Regarding therapy for SSA, there is some evidence that it can be successful depending on the nature of the person’s SSA. Some with SSA have gone on to marry and be very happy. Catholic Answers Live did a show that touched on this a few years ago. However, it MUST be that person’s choice to under go this therapy, no one else’s.