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Professionals, Religious Leaders Urge Religious Toleration by American Psychological Association

200 professionals and religious leaders sign letter against proposed new policy of intolerance

By Hilary White

WASHINGTON, July 12, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - With the American Psychological Association under pressure from homosexual activists on its own staff to reassess its position on reparative therapy, a group of doctors, academics, counsellors and religious leaders, have called upon the organization to guard against discrimination against clients' religious beliefs.

A letter, authored by Dr. Warren Throckmorton PhD, was sent to APA leadership June 29 calling on the organisation to respect the religious beliefs of clients suffering from homosexual inclinations, who may not want to enter into the 'gay lifestyle' or accept it as a valid option for their lives.

The letter expresses "concern that the mission of the task force may not recognize same-sex attracted persons who also have solid and unwavering religious commitments which lead them to avoid homosexual behavior."

In May this year, at the request of its own Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Concerns Office, the APA appointed a task force made up of homosexual activists to monitor clients who engage voluntarily in so-called 'reparative therapy'. The Associated Press reported yesterday that the APA is considering the option of denouncing its previous neutral stand on therapies meant to reverse same-sex attraction and actively opposing them.

In the meantime, the large group of religious professionals and organizations signatory to Throckmorton's letter, have asked the APA to extend its doctrine of tolerance to the religious aspirations and priorities of clients as well as to "sexual diversity".

"Such persons," the letter says, "frequently experience significant religious, spiritual and emotional distress and as a consequence seek psychological therapy."
 
"We strongly believe that psychologists can offer a valuable service if they respect the religious commitments of their clients to the same degree that they respect sexual orientation diversity."

The letter expressed concern that the APA's task force was not inclined to be sensitive to the religious beliefs of clients. "It is not clear that the Task Force has been charged to consider religious diversity in framing appropriate responses to same-sex attraction when the client objects to homosexual behavior on religious grounds."

"We believe that psychologists should assist clients to develop lives they value, even if that means they decline to identify as homosexual," the letter added.

The letter, signed by over 200 professionals and religious leaders, includes a call for the APA to form a new task force to "provide recommendations for psychologists who work with clients experiencing religious conflict over sexuality".

Dr. Throckmorton, a psychology professor at Grove City College in Pennsylvania, told LifeSiteNews.com that if the APA's policy includes direct opposition to the religious priorities of clients who do not want to engage in a homosexual lifestyle, then "they're out of their field."

"The APA is supposed to be a mental health org not a religious one. It isn't seemly for such a group to offer religious guidance to clients. If they opposed clients' religious beliefs, that's what they'd be doing."

"The APA's code of ethics," Dr. Throckmorton said, "requires psychologists to respect the religion and worldview of their clients. There are indeed competing allegiances that clients may have, and for the APA to take sides is contrary to a scientific nature of the organization."

The letter with extensive list of signers can be seen at
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007_docs/LettertoAPAreligiousidentity.pdf
 
Read related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
American Psychological Association Pressured to Ban Reparative Therapy
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/jul/07071103.html

Psychologist Dismissed for Treating Homosexual Inclinations Reinstated
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2002/jun/02060703.html

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