Curing Same-Sex Attractions

A reader writes:

Any ideas on what Christian homosexuals should do if they no longer want to be homosexual and would like to have children with a woman?  In other words, what could one do to change their sexual preference?

I’m afraid that I don’t have a lot of knowledge in this area, but we’ve had Dr. Joseph Nicolosi–a counselor who specializes in this area–on Catholic Answers Live before (LISTEN, DOWNLOAD).

I believe that Nicolosi is based in the L.A. area. If you live there you might be able to see him for help. Otherwise, you might be able to get a referral to someone in your area who could help.

Nicolosi is also head of a group called NARTH (National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality). Their website IS HERE.

There’s also a support group that I can recommend. It’s called Courage, and its website IS HERE.

Both the NARTH website and the Courage web site should contain links to additional resources, book recommendations, etc., as well as ways to contact folks dealing with the same issue.

I also have an additional piece of advice: It has long been my conviction that people should not define themselves by their sins or temptations. Thus I do not encourage people to identify themselves by saying "I am a homosexual" or "I am an alcoholic" or "I am an overeater" or "I am an anything else." People are people. They may have different temptations and different histories, but if they define themselves by the temptations they have or the mistakes they’ve made in the past, it will make it all the harder to deal with those temptations or overcome their past.

Everyone–regardless of their temptations or their backgrounds–is a person with dignity whom God loves and for whom Christ died and who, if he is a Christian, is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Thus I would advise you not to think of yourself as a homosexual. You’re a person dear to God’s heart who happens to have same sex attractions to deal with, just as everyone has some kind of temptation to deal with. If you make the shift to thinking of yourself as a person who has an issue to overcome rather than as "a homosexual" then it will make it that much easier to overcome the problem.

Hope this helps, and God bless!

20

Author: Jimmy Akin

Jimmy was born in Texas, grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith, and in 1992 he entered the Catholic Church. His conversion story, "A Triumph and a Tragedy," is published in Surprised by Truth. Besides being an author, Jimmy is the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and a weekly guest on "Catholic Answers Live."

17 thoughts on “Curing Same-Sex Attractions”

  1. Great comment, Jimmy. One of the more destructive aspects of the whole “gay rights” movement has been this idea that “I am my sexuality”, as if that were THE defining aspect of ones personality. This is a horrible idea, particularly for teens and young adults.

  2. I also have an additional piece of advice: It has long been my conviction that people should not define themselves by their sins or temptations. Thus I do not encourage people to identify themselves by saying “I am a homosexual” or “I am an alcoholic” or “I am an overeater” or “I am an anything else.” People are people. They may have different temptations and different histories, but if they define themselves by the temptations they have or the mistakes they’ve made in the past, it will make it all the harder to deal with those temptations or overcome their past.
    I just had to see that again.
    I agree 100%.

  3. Since human sexual deviations (and other compulsions and vices of character) are so diverse and specialized, we’d have a world in which each individual is a lone member of some identity group. Every conflict would be a hate crime. It’s not “Bill hit Bob over the head with a golf club” but “Yet another case of a foot fetishist assaulting a chocolate addict! When will the hatred stop!”

  4. Thank goodness we do not have to walk around with a sign hanging from our necks with a descriptive list of our fantasies.
    People should certainly not be encouraged to do it or to define themselves in terms of their temptations.

  6. You talk about homosexuality as a problem, an issue that needs to be overcome, such as alcoholism. At the end of the day it is as natural as heterosexual relations. Furthermore one’s sexuality can be a significant defining characteristic about who they are and how they think if they want it to be or wish to embrace it. It is comparative to religion in this sense, many people choose this to define who they are. ‘I am a christian.’ How does is this differnet from saying ‘i am a homosexual’ It is still declaring ones beliefs and view on the world and themselves.
    Therefore why don’t you fuck off you stupid ginger cunt! Thats right no one likes you Jimmy. So do yourslef a favour and get that stupid cowboy hat off. Get back to wanking over internet porn you twat. P.s God dosent exist you ignorant fucker and Jesus was black – Get your pitchforks boys!!! Yee-haw!!! CUNT
    The one eyed cat was cute .xxx.

  7. Very intellectual response, Mr. Langham: Profanities, ad hominum attacks, emotional rantings, and bigotry. Boy, that’ll convince people that they’re wrong!

  8. Robert,
    What did you expect from a Catholic blog?
    From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2357:
    “…
    Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity,141 tradition has always declared that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.”142 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.”
    http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a6.htm#2357
    If the issue being discussed reduces you to ranting, using offensive language and insults you are not being honest with yourself. You don’t understand Catholic teaching on God’s plan for sexuality. I encourage you to read Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body.
    Take care and God bless.
    J+M+J

  9. Microsoft beefs up push to small businesses

    Reuters – Microsoft Corp. unveiled a new rebate and free service offer for its small business accounting software on Monday, aimed at luring customers away from rival Intuit Inc…

  11. Internet Directory Assistance; Yellow Pages, White Pages …

    Phone numbers and addresses for persons and businesses in the United States. Includes links to directories for other countries.

  12. Planet Perfecto MP3 – Planet Perfecto songs – Planet Perfecto music

    Planet Perfecto From Russia With Love (Solar Stones Red City Remix) mp3. Planet Perfecto Silence (DJ Tiesto’s In Search Of Sunrise Remix) mp3 …

  15. Search the Internet and Find Websites-The Library

    Using and Searching the Web. BASIC INTERNET. A Basic Guide to the Internet: A brief discussion of the Internet and its components; Understanding the World …

Comments are closed.