Gays created by the Devil says US Catholic Church Policy Advisor
Posted on Sunday, November 06, 2011 at 08:40 AM
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In the column Daniel Avila, who is a Massachussetts attorney and (take a breath here) Policy Advisor for Marriage and Family of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage, bluntly says that 'the scientific evidence of how same-sex attraction most likely may be created provides a credible basis for a spiritual explanation that indicts the devil.'
So if you're gay the phrase the devil made you do it has a whole new meaning this week. We are all made in God's image (except for the gays, obviously).
Elucidating, Avila described homosexuality as a 'natural disaster' caused by Satan invading the wombs of mothers of LGBT children.
It happens all the time apparently.
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In case you missed his point, or the implications, Avila spells it out for you: '…whenever natural causes disturb otherwise typical biological development, leading to the personally unchosen beginnings of same-sex attraction, the ultimate responsibility, on a theological level, is and should be imputed to the evil one, not God.'
God would never make anyone gay because if He did then the persecution of gay people (whom God created gay, after all) would be a sin. We simply can't have that. So gay people are the devil's work and you are free to oppress them in any and every way you can.
But telling a mother that the Devil entered her womb and made her child gay is new, even by Catholic standards. Until now we've just had to endure the idiotic sophistry that asked us to love the sinner but hate the sin (that pretzel theology that seeks to oppress whilst appearing compassionate).
But this week Avila, who calls himself 'the bishops' marriage guy,' has shown us the true face of the USCCB, who have refused to condemn his words. This is the man Americas Catholic bishops look to for advice about the LGBT community. He sounds deranged.
Avila's article caused a firestorm and it was eventually pulled with an apology from its publisher, The Boston Pilot. But you have to acknowledge that same source published it without objection in the first place.
Sometimes the mask slips and you get to see what those in positions of real authority actually think about gay people. This week that happened and the silence is deafening.
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69 comments
Rebelforce | Nov 07, 2011, 04:42 PM EST
Just when you think the bad publicity for the Catholic church couldn't possibly get any worse, a "policy advisor" for the US catholic bishops slithers out from under his rock to prove it can.
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CaliforniaShamrock | Nov 07, 2011, 02:33 PM EST
The Boston Pilot issued an apology for the item just recently
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eiriamach | Nov 07, 2011, 01:17 PM EST
Avila wrote, "the ultimate responsibility, on a theological level, is and should be imputed to the evil one, not God. Applying this aspect of Catholic belief to interpret the scientific data makes more sense because it does not place God in the awkward position of blessing two mutually incompatible realities-- sexual difference and same-sex attraction." First, even a dull Ockham's razor would slice right through his need to assign blame. If we don't condemn homosexuality, then we don't need to blame anyone for it: not God, Satan, the women in whose wombs homosexuals develop, homosexuals themselves, the people homosexuals fall in love with, not the hippies of the 60s, nor "Psychology Today." Once we see homosexuality as one of several natural expressions of eros/love, the problem that Avila means to solve disappears. Throwing a devil into the mix explains nothing that needs explaining. Evil and maybe even devils exist, but isn't a devil more likely to be cavorting in a heterosexist's mind than a uterus? Second, Avila finds same-sex attraction incompatible with sexual differentiation. That's like saying because God created birds and fish to be different, no bird ought to swim and no fish ought to fly. But Nature, or the Creator, made some flying fish and swimming birds. Nature is full of surprises! Avila's Natural Law morality is far too narrow to be "Natural": sheep, lions, giraffes, some bird and insect species engage in same-sex sex, some pairs mate for life, and some even produce offspring.
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hollabackgurl | Nov 07, 2011, 12:34 PM EST
Paddyo42, you claim you have a gay brother - does he know how little you think of him? Does he know you regularly write anonymous homophobic posts on the internet? And your claim that gays attack the Catholic church means you haven't read this story: precisely the reverse has happened - Avila attacked all gays by saying they were born of Satan. What the hell is that if not an attack on their very existence?
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paddyo42 | Nov 07, 2011, 11:39 AM EST
I don't remember ever calling a poster a "gay activist". I am calling the writer of this blog a gay activist, The so called Arts and Entertainment section doesn't ever seem to have any stories on arts and entertainment. The stories are all self serving. Why is every difference of opinion construed as an attack or "bashing".
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DsM2shoes | Nov 07, 2011, 11:28 AM EST
There were 7 Masses on Sunday and if you didn't get there early you were standing in the back of church. People wouldn't think of attending Mass wearing anything other than proper attire. Shorts, Tshirts, you've got to be joking! Today with three times the number of people in the Parish, twice the enrollment in the school (K-8th grade) and two Masses. One in Spanish! With the Bishops listening to imbeciles like Avila its no longer a mystery as to what happened to the Church. I wonder if it was his advice to pretend that pedophiles within the Priesthood didn't require their attention? Just a thought, although it wouldn't come as a surprise. ( completely unrelated to the story but, who does he look like?)
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paddyo42 | Nov 07, 2011, 11:15 AM EST
Outed as a halwit; what could be worse. Would this fellow from Eikers Island show me how to use parts of my digestive system for sex organs. Very unnatural. Why do gays always have that "in your face" attack mode? The Have to shut them down, when people might have different views. I don't have a problem with what gays are or do, but have a real problem with their concerted effort to attack the bible and the church, in a well funded and organised capaign. Also stop imagining that I want to believe that all biblical versus mean what I want them to mean, there a books that will explain what they mean; when the books really don'y know I can that I have every right to my own opinion of what they mean.
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CharlyAnne | Nov 07, 2011, 11:09 AM EST
Dear Irish Central,
Interesting, though quite sad article. As usual, your comments section (most of it) is well thought out, sometimes even more informative than the article. Most Irishfolk continue to be thoughtful, erudite, NOT afraid to speak. Helps the rest of the planet out, IMO.
Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist- follow what rel org you will. But in that process don't holler out hatred and then say- no one is allowed to comment. What I find most offensive personally, were the comments -essentially ; "He stepped down.... clearly not the churches doctrine- why are you activists..." 'working up the crowd' so to speak.
No remorse for potential deep pain inflicted.
Interesting that the accusation "Activist" is hurled at this group of commentators. These were genuine responses to hateful comments. They are borne of his hate speech. Despite his bias, PERHAPS a kindly religious person as he seems to have defenders here, so I will give him benefit of the doubt. But these responses are directed @ an individual with obvious and very repressed lifelong fear/hatred of homosexuals.
People had better respond to injustice, and do so loudly.
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OldDave | Nov 07, 2011, 11:04 AM EST
Some pretty deep questions/issues being raised here.
@paddyo42 -- To answer your question about consummation, it would help to learn what the word means. The Merriam-Webster definition: to make marital union complete by sexual intercourse. And if you need to find out what "sexual intercourse" is, they also have a definition for that, and it applies equally well to straight and gay couples. And as for whether one of the men in a gay marriage is considered the wife, the answer is no. Hope that clears those questions up.
IrelandNorth -- regarding your comment about the word "homophobia" it would help if you knew the complete definition of that word. Merriam-Webster, proving itself useful once again, defines it as: irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals. Aversion, I think, can be viewed as a mild form of hate. (Oh, and your literal rendering of the word is wrong too ... "homo" has to do with sameness, not maleness.) And as for Biblical precedent, many Christians who perhaps do a better job tracking historical context and translation issues involved in those few passages that mention homosexuality would disagree with your assertion that it is condemned in the context of loving, committed, monogamous relationships.
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hollabackgurl | Nov 07, 2011, 10:55 AM EST
Yes, but by your last two comments paddyo42 you have outed yourself as a halfwit. I imagine that you believe all Biblical verses mean what you want to to mean. P.S. if you genuinely want to know how gay couples consummate a marriage leave me your email address and I'll get someone from Rikers to give you a crash course. Meanwhile stop wearing mixed fabrics, God hates them.
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paddyo42 | Nov 07, 2011, 10:32 AM EST
Deuternomy 22-11 is in the torah and most jewish people do not know the reason for it. I read it as meaning Marriage is not for gays, one is wool and one is linen, and they should not be woven together.
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paddyo42 | Nov 07, 2011, 10:19 AM EST
How does a gay couple consummate a marriage; and in every marriage is one of the men considered the wife.
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hollabackgurl | Nov 07, 2011, 08:49 AM EST
The Bible says you should not wear polyester, it's an abomination. Deuteronomy 22:11: "Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woolen and linen together." It also says all mixed fabrics are totally out. Leviticus 19:19: "A garment mingled of linen and woolen should not come upon thee." So everyone who has ever shopped at WalMart, Target or H&M is an abomination. Have a nice day sinners.
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IrelandNorth | Nov 07, 2011, 08:23 AM EST
Biblical precedent considers homo[s]sexuality an abomination. Homophobia (literally - fear of men!) is not hatred of homo[s]sexuals. "A man shall leave his father and mother and 'cling/cleave' to his 'wife', & the 'two' shall become 'one' flesh."
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