Joshua Bennett
Conversion therapy is a pseudoscientific practice that attempts to change an individual's sexual orientation, romantic orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to align with heterosexual and cisgender norms. It has been described by experts as torture, cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, and is considered a violation of human rights. Despite a lack of scientific backing, some socially or religiously conservative activists continue to argue in favour of conversion therapy, with certain religious institutions, including the Catholic Church, being linked to its practice. While the Catholic Church has not officially approved of reparative therapy, its doctrine and teachings have been interpreted to promote negative attitudes towards homosexuality and transgender identities, influencing the development and use of conversion therapy, particularly within Catholic communities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic doctrine on LGBTQ+ issues | Homosexual acts are "intrinsically immoral and contrary to natural law" and homosexual tendencies are "objectively disordered" |
| Catholic Church's stance on transgender individuals | No official policy, but doctrinal teachings equate birth anatomy with gender |
| Catholic Church's stance on conversion therapy | Not officially approved, but occurs in Catholic institutions and spaces |
| Impact of conversion therapy on LGBTQ+ Catholics | Can lead to self-harm, suicide, and a negative understanding of identity and self-worth |
| Catholic Church's response to criticism | The Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith stated that changing teachings would "prevent homosexual men and women from receiving the help they need and deserve" |
| Alternative Catholic groups' response | Courage International, an ex-gay movement officially recognized by the Church, offers a 12-step program for gay Catholics to remain abstinent |
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What You'll Learn
Catholic doctrine and the LGBTQ+ community
The Catholic Church's stance on homosexuality and transgender issues has had a profound impact on the LGBTQ+ community, influencing both the development and practice of conversion therapy. While the Church does not consider "homosexual orientation" sinful in itself, it views “homosexual acts” as “intrinsically immoral and contrary to natural law". This negative attitude has led to the Church's involvement in attempts to change sexual orientation and gender identity, often through controversial means.
Conversion therapy, a pseudoscientific practice, aims to change an individual's sexual orientation, romantic orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to align with heterosexual and cisgender norms. It has been associated with significant psychological harm and has been described as torture, cruel, and a violation of human rights. The Catholic Church has not officially approved reparative therapy, but its doctrine and influential figures have shaped the beliefs and approaches surrounding homosexuality and gender identity.
One example is the work of Joseph Nicolosi, a Catholic who co-founded the National Association for the Research and Therapy of Homosexuality. Nicolosi appeared on Catholic media and spoke at Courage conferences, influencing Catholic approaches to homosexuality. Additionally, organizations like Courage International, also known as Courage Apostolate, were founded within the Catholic Church to help gay people remain abstinent. While Courage claims to offer counseling, its methods have been criticized by LGBT advocacy groups as "problematic and very dangerous to people's spiritual health."
The impact of Catholic doctrine on the LGBTQ+ community is complex. On the one hand, the Church emphasizes respect and sensitivity towards LGBTQ+ individuals, calling for the avoidance of unjust discrimination. On the other hand, the Church's teachings contribute to a sense of shame and self-harm within the LGBTQ+ community. The experience of transgender Catholics further highlights this complexity, as there is no official policy regarding transgender individuals in the Catechism, yet doctrinal teachings equate birth anatomy with gender.
In conclusion, Catholic doctrine has significantly influenced societal attitudes and approaches to homosexuality and gender identity. While the Church strives to preserve the lives of its LGBTQ+ members, its teachings and associated practices, such as conversion therapy, can have detrimental effects on the well-being and self-worth of individuals within the LGBTQ+ community.
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Catholic conversion therapy methods
Conversion therapy is a pseudoscientific practice that attempts to change an individual's sexual orientation, romantic orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to align with heterosexual and cisgender norms. While the Catholic Church has not officially approved of conversion therapy, it has been reported that conversion therapy is still happening in Catholic spaces, and it can have devastating effects on the LGBTQ+ community.
Catholic therapists may attempt to link homosexuality to childhood traumas, such as sexual abuse or alienation from parents, offering the prospect of healing and freedom from pain. They may also encourage patients to “court” members of the opposite sex, as in the case of Mr. Pate, who entered a heterosexual relationship after undergoing conversion therapy.
Some Catholic conversion therapy methods may include spiritual interventions, counseling, and psychoanalysis. While more extreme methods, such as aversion therapy with electric shocks and nausea-inducing drugs, are less common today due to societal changes and increasing medical acceptance of homosexuality, they have been used in the past.
It is important to note that there is no scientific backing for conversion therapy, and it has been proven to be harmful and ineffective. The movement against conversion therapy has gained momentum, with an increasing number of jurisdictions passing laws against it.
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The impact of Catholic conversion therapy
Conversion therapy is a pseudoscientific practice that attempts to change an individual's sexual orientation, romantic orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to align with heterosexual and cisgender norms. It has been described by experts as "torture", "cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment", and a violation of human rights. The practice is considered ineffective at changing a person's sexual orientation or gender identity and frequently causes significant long-term psychological harm.
Catholic doctrine has played a significant role in shaping the practice of conversion therapy. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which contains the dogmas and teachings of the Church, names “homosexual acts” as “intrinsically immoral and contrary to natural law” and considers “homosexual tendencies” as “objectively disordered”. While the Church does not consider “homosexual orientation” sinful, it maintains a negative attitude towards it. This has led to a perception that homosexuality is a disorder that can be cured or changed, which is not supported by scientific evidence.
The impact of this doctrine is evident in the experiences of LGBT Catholics who have undergone or been pressured into conversion therapy. For example, attempts at conversion therapy in minors have been found to be particularly harmful, with a 2020 survey by the Trevor Project revealing that LGBTQ youth who underwent conversion therapy were more than twice as likely to have attempted suicide in the past year. The story of Alana Chen, a 24-year-old who took her own life after struggling with self-harm and thoughts of suicide following shaming and condemnation from clergy and church counselors, illustrates the tragic consequences of this practice.
While the Catholic Church has not officially approved of reparative therapy, its doctrine has influenced the development and persistence of conversion therapy practices. The Church's stance on homosexuality, combined with the lack of official recognition of transgender individuals in the Catechism, has contributed to a culture of discrimination and exclusion within some Catholic communities. This has led to the marginalization and harm of LGBT individuals who seek to reconcile their sexual identity with their religious beliefs.
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Catholic doctrine and transgender individuals
While there is no official policy regarding transgender individuals in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Catholic doctrine equates birth anatomy with gender. The Church teaches that a person is either born male or female, and that this applies to intersex people as well. According to the Church, every human is created in the image and likeness of God, male or female, as stated in Genesis 1:26-27. The Church encourages people to discover their true identity as children of God, rather than supporting them in what it considers a disordered attempt to reject their biological identity.
The Church's position on transgenderism is that gender-affirming surgeries and surrogacy are grave violations of human dignity, on par with abortion and euthanasia, as practices that violate God's plan for human life. This stance has been expressed in a 20-page document by the Vatican doctrine office, which transgender Catholics have criticised for showing no understanding of their lives. The document has been interpreted as a rejection of the idea that one's gender can be changed, and transgender Catholics have expressed dismay at the Church's failure to recognise their existence and dignity.
Despite the lack of an official policy on transgender individuals, there have been instances where the Church has barred transgender Catholics from serving as baptismal sponsors or godparents. In 2015, the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, responsible for enforcing Catholic doctrine, did not permit a transgender man in Spain to serve as a godfather. The statement claimed that the transgender man lacked the "requisite of leading a life conformed to the faith and to the position of godfather", effectively barring transgender Catholics from such roles.
While the Church does not explicitly endorse conversion therapy for transgender individuals, there have been reports of transgender Catholic minors being enrolled in "gender exploratory therapy" by their parents. This form of therapy attempts to psychoanalyse the origin of a child's dysphoria, often assuming that the child is not truly transgender. The goal is to convince transgender children to embrace a cisgender identity, reflecting the Church's view that gender is intrinsic and unchangeable.
The experience of transgender Catholics varies depending on their communities. While some parishes deny membership to LGBTQ+ individuals, others strive to offer a full welcome within the limits of Church policy, which does not approve of same-sex relationships. The Church's teachings call for homosexual persons to be "accepted with respect and sensitivity", avoiding "unjust discrimination". However, the Church's negative attitude towards homosexuality and its history of subjecting LGBTQ+ individuals to conversion therapy highlight the complexities and challenges faced by transgender Catholics within the Church.
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The future of Catholic doctrine
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which outlines the Church's dogmas and teachings, names "homosexual acts" as "intrinsically immoral and contrary to natural law," and describes "homosexual tendencies" as "objectively disordered." This negative attitude towards homosexuality has led to the stigmatization and harm of LGBTQ+ Catholics, with tragic consequences, including the suicide of 24-year-old Alana Chen, who struggled with self-harm and thoughts of suicide after being shamed and told she would go to hell by clergy and church counselors.
However, there are signs of a meaningful movement within the Church against conversion therapy. The practice has been banned in several US states and rejected by other major denominations, and there is a growing recognition of the harm it causes. Additionally, some Catholic communities are reaching out to LGBTQ+ members, offering support and inclusion within the limits of Church policy.
The Church's stance on transgender individuals is less clear, with no official policy in the Catechism. However, doctrinal teachings equate birth anatomy with gender, and transgender Catholics have faced barriers to full participation in the Church, such as being barred from serving as baptismal sponsors.
Looking forward, the Church faces a pivotal question: what positive vision does it offer to transgender and non-binary Catholics? There are concerns that the Church's current doctrine, with its rejection of "gender ideology," could lead to a repetition of the deadly approach of conversion therapy, which attempts to convert individuals to a cisgender identity.
To protect LGBTQ+ Catholics and promote inclusion, the Church must address these concerns and provide clear guidance that respects the dignity and rights of all individuals, moving beyond simply tolerating diversity towards genuine acceptance and support within the Catholic community.
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Frequently asked questions
Conversion therapy is the practice of attempting to change an individual's sexual orientation, romantic orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to align with heterosexual and cisgender norms. This can include brain surgery, surgical or chemical castration, aversion therapy treatments, hypnosis, counseling, spiritual interventions, and more.
Catholic doctrine has influenced conversion therapy by providing a religious basis for the practice. The Catholic Church teaches that "homosexual acts" are "intrinsically immoral and contrary to the natural law," and that "homosexual tendencies" are "objectively disordered." This has led to the use of conversion therapy in Catholic spaces, with devastating effects on LGBTQ+ people.
Conversion therapy has been shown to have negative and devastating impacts on the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals. It can lead to feelings of shame, self-harm, and thoughts of suicide. A 2020 survey by the Trevor Project found that LGBTQ+ youth who had undergone conversion therapy were more than twice as likely to have attempted suicide in the past year.
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