In an interview with the Rome-based Zenit news service, Dr. Rick Fitzgibbons a psychiatrist and member of the Catholic Medical Association, said that the American Psychiatric Association (APA) has ignored evidence that homosexual behaviour is a manifestation of a psychiatric disorder.

In their recent call for the legalization of homosexual marriage, the APA has revealed a political bias that is of no service to homosexuals, said Fitzgibbons the primary author of the Catholic Medical Association's document 'Homosexuality and Hope.'

Fitzgibbons, the co-author of a book on forgiveness published by the APA, said the APA has also chosen to ignore the potential impact on children in those "marriages." It is being increasingly proven that children have a critical psychological need for a stable family life with a mother and a father, which the homosexual lifestyle cannot provide.

At the APA's most recent convention in Atlanta, the 250 delegates passed a resolution stating, "In the interests of maintaining and promoting mental health, the APA supports the legal recognition of same-sex civil marriage with all rights, benefits and responsibilities conferred by civil marriage, and opposes restrictions to those same rights, benefits and responsibilities."

Fitzgibbons lists a host of psychological difficulties faced by those who accept a 'homosexual orientation' as normal. He said, "These include major depression, suicidal ideation and attempts, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, conduct disorder, low self-esteem in males and sexual promiscuity with an inability to maintain committed relationships."

He noted also that, "'homophobia' is not the cause of these disorders, as many of these studies were done in cultures in which homosexuality is widely accepted." These studies, he said, along with evidence of the medical problems associated with un-natural sexual practices, have been ignored by the APA.

Other groups attempting to help individuals afflicted with homosexual tendencies also responded to the APA endorsement.

The National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) Scientific Advisory Committee Chairman Dr. A. Dean Byrd, told the online homosexual news magazine, The Southern Voice, "There's just not science backing these policies. I think organizations ought to be guided by science, not activism."

Even members of the APA said that the organization had overstepped its bounds. Dr. Daniel Cowell, a member of the West Virginia Psychiatrist Association said, "I think the rationale makes sense only if the APA is involved in political issues--and it most certainly is not. This strays beyond our bounds. We should stay out of it."

Read the Zenit interview:
http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=41158

Read the book, Homosexuality and Hope, co-authored by Dr. Fitzgibbons:
http://www.cathmed.org/publications/homosexuality.html

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"People have so manipulated the concept of freedom, that it finally boils down to the right of the stronger and richer to take from the weaker and poorer whatever they have left."

this is so true.
who better to understand medical issues that the church?
doctors shouldn't say anything about health. my god they aren't even in that field.
health is a religious matter!

Give it up shithead.

You and the ratpuke outta go get a room together....

With all those repressed urges you must be a fucking mess

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"If you're going to tell people the truth, be funny or they'll kill you." -- Billy Wilder

"Never believe anything in politics until it has been officially denied." -- Otto Von Bismark

It is painfully clear that you have NO idea who Dr. Fitzgibbons is, or what he does...here is a brief bio:

Richard P. Fitzgibbons, M.D., P.C.

• Director 1988 - Present, Comprehensive Counseling Services, W. Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959.

• Staff 1996 - Present, International Institute of Forgiveness, Madison, Wisconsin.

• Consultant with Adoptive and Foster Children; 1978 - 1980, Counseling and Guidance Center of Catholic Social Services, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

• Private Practice of Psychiatry, 1976 - Present.

• Residence in Psychiatry, 1973 - 1976, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia.

• Child Guidance Center, 1975 - 1976, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

• Family Practice, 1970 - 1973, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

• Diplomat - American Board of Family, 1974 - 1981, Practice.

• Mixed Medical Internship, 1969 - 1970, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, D.C.

• Temple University, School of Medicine, 1965 - 1969 M.D., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

• St. Josephs University, 1961 - 1965 B.S., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Publications:

1. Reducing Anger in the Classroom. Fitzgibbons, R., Enright, R., & O’Brien, T. American School Board Journal. 2004 (In Press).

1. Letter to Bishops on the Crisis in the Church. Fitzgibbons, R. & Rudegeair, P. Homiletic and Pastoral Review. November 2002, 53-60.

1. Gender Identity Disorder in Children. Fitzgibbons, R. & Nicolosi, J. Lay Witness June 2001.

1. Le Pardon Comme Mode De Regulation Emotionnelle. Enright, R., Mullet, E., & Fitzgibbons, R. Journal de Therapie Comportementale et Cognitive 2000, 11, 4, 123 - 135.

1. Helping Clients Forgive: An Empirical Guide for Resovling Anger and Restoring Hope. 2000. Enright, R. & Fitzgibbons, R. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association Books.

1. Homosexuality and Hope. 2000. (Co-author) Catholic Medical Association Publication. (Catholic Medical Association)

1. The Origins and Therapy of Same Sex Attractions. In Homosexuality and American Public Life. 1999. Christopher Wolfe, (ed.) Dallas: Spence Publishing.

1. Anger and the Healing Power of Forgiveness: A Psychiatrists View. In Exploring Forgiveness. 1998. Enright, R., & North, J(eds.) Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.

1. The Origins and Healing of Homosexual Attractions and Behaviors. In The Truth About Homosexuality. 1996. Fr. John Harvey, O.S.F.S.(ed.) San Francisco: Ignatius Press.

1. Identifying and Resolving Loneliness in Priestly Life. The Priest. Sept. 1989.

1. Cognitive and Emotive Uses of Forgiveness in the Treatment of Anger. 1986. Psychotherapy 23:4, 629-633.

1. Origins, Manifestations, and Resolution of Conflicts in Priestly Relationships. The Priest. Sept. 1985.

Research:

• Lord, G.; Fitzgibbons, R.P.; OBrien, T.: The Measurement of Anger and Anger Related Factors in 600 adolescents utilizing the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory with the Fitzgibbons Anger Inventory (July 1986).

• Rush, A.J.; Beck, A.T.; Kovacs, M.; Khatami, M.; Fitzgibbons, R.P.; Wolman, T.: Comparison of the Cognitive and Pharmacotherapy in Depressed Outpatients: A preliminary report presented at the Society for Psychotherapy Research, Boston (June 1975).

• Research in Cognitive Therapy with Dr. Aaron T. Beck and Dr. John Rush, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (1974 - 1975)

Professional Organizations

• Board Member of the International Forgiveness Institute, Madison, Wisconsin.

• Counseling Committee of Psychiatrists and Psychologists for Religious of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (1979 to 1995).

Hospital Affiliations:

• Horsham Clinic, Active Staff, 1986 - 1993 , Ambler, Pennsylvania.

• Northwestern Institute, Active Staff, 1980 - 1992, Fort Washington, Pennsylvania.

• Fairmount Institute, Courtesy Staff, 1977 - 1980, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Yea...i guess he would not know much of fucking anything now would he?

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"People have so manipulated the concept of freedom, that it finally boils down to the right of the stronger and richer to take from the weaker and poorer whatever they have left."

All his publications center around religious/faith solutions to the problems at hand.

Hunt around the web for tons of stuff you like to read; glad you are getting your jollys. We debated the living shit out of these gay issues a while back...go find those threads and get enlightened.

How about you find yourself a "gift giver" and have some fun?.....

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"People have so manipulated the concept of freedom, that it finally boils down to the right of the stronger and richer to take from the weaker and poorer whatever they have left."

he works for the church- he not an impartial doctor

and gay people have issues with depression and suicide BECAUSE OF HOW PEOPLE LIKE YOU TREAT THEM!
if gay people weren't harassed, they wouldn't be depressed. they wouldn't commit suicide. they wouldn't turn to drugs to ease the pain. and we all know drugs lead to a risk of STDs either through the drugs themselves or sexual contact among intoxicated people who lack the presence of mind to use protection.

most gay couples have someone of the opposite gender - typically a close relative- who they can call if the child needed anything. its hard for any father to help his daughter when she hits puberty- he has no idea what she is going through. and boys don't talk about sex/masturbation with their moms.
some gay couples are in contact with the other biological parent who acted as a surrogate or sperm donor.