APA 'ignoring the science' on homosexual reparative therapy
Jim Brown and Charlie Butts - OneNewsNow - 8/7/2009 7:40:00 AM
On Wednesday, the American Psychological Association (APA) issued a strong condemnation of reparative therapy, declaring that mental health professionals should not tell homosexual clients they can change their sexual behavior through therapy or other treatments.
Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, says the APA is a political organization that has chosen to leave science behind.
"When it declassified homosexuality in the 1970s, it did it against the background of a lot of science that continued to classify it as a mental disorder. It also ignored over 120 
years of research, which by the way has recently been published showing that individuals who are same-sex attracted can change," he notes.
"Consequently, the APA's position that you're born with it and that it would be detrimental to counsel someone to change or leave behind their same-sex attractions is simply ignoring the science."
Staver says the APA typically recommends client-directed counseling -- a counselor being sensitive to the request of a client -- except when a client does not want to act on their same-sex attractions.
'Jettison' moral standards
The National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) is pleased the APA recognizes the importance of client self-determination and appreciates any study on the subject. But spokesman David Pruden implies the study was one-sided. As he points out, there was no one on the study panel representing successful reparative therapy.
"There was absolutely no diversity whatsoever," he notes. "Every one of the members of the committee were [sic] individuals who were very openly gay and gay activists." (Listen to audio report)
The research recognizes the importance of religion in the lives of some homosexuals, but suggests that if a person with same-gender attractions has problems because of their religious beliefs, they should just change churches. Pruden has problems that sort of advice.
"The suggestion was as a Christian, when your conscience comes in conflict with what's going on in your life -- temptations, attractions, concerns, whatever they happen to be -- that what you simply do is jettison your standards so that it becomes easier to live with your temptations."
Pruden suggests that is an indication of the state of modern psychology. He adds that a homosexual wanting to live according to God's Word should contact NARTH for a referral.
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