Volume > Issue > Note List > What Psychologists "Know"

What Psychologists “Know”

Este artículo: en español

America’s editorial urging that the homosexually inclined continue to be admitted to seminaries (see the above New Oxford Note) elicited an interesting letter supporting the editorial. Andrew P. Haffey of Spokane, Wash., writes (America, Dec. 23-30, 2002): “As a clinical psychologist who provides my diocese with psychological evaluations of seminary applicants, I am most distressed with the announcement that the Vatican is set to bar gay men from entering seminary training and ordination…. We psychologists know [italics added] that seemingly to bar gays from the priesthood will only have the opposite effect to what it intends — that is, gay men will be forced to repress their sexuality, which will only lead to eventual catastrophe.”

Oh, no! We can’t have priests, especially “gay” priests with their “gifts,” repress their sexuality. No, no! We’ve got to let them express their sexuality. Let it all hang out!

Of course, this is a sure recipe for immediate and ongoing catastrophe instead of eventual catastrophe (and we seriously doubt there would be eventual catastrophe, for Haffey overlooks grace and apparently has never heard of sublimation).

Enjoyed reading this?

READ MORE! REGISTER TODAY

SUBSCRIBE

You May Also Enjoy

The Unwelcome Ex-"Gay" Phenomenon

A practicing psychiatrist who has specialized in reparative therapy says if patients "bring in the spiritual component," the recovery rate is "significantly higher."

The Canticles of Genderspirit

The entire premise of gender theory is that the mind and the body needn't be in concert with each other at all. But hit pop songs say precisely the opposite thing.

On Homosexuality

We owe each other tact, discretion, the right of individuality — and a consideration of what kind of public values, what kind of larger so­cial and cultural scene, we want.