Wednesday, November 21, 2007

APA task force shuts door to conservatives

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=26880

[Bapptist Press News] 21 Nov 2007--A task force of the American Psychological Association set to revise policies on the interplay of homosexuality and psychology has refused to meet with a number of counselors and religious leaders who believe same-sex attraction can be altered.

Denominational leaders, practicing psychologists, counselors and organizations dedicated to assisting individuals who want to change their sexual orientation requested to meet with the task force to share their understanding of the issue. The APA denied their request for a meeting, citing the need "to keep the emphasis on the science" and keep their distance from advocacy groups, according to a letter sent Sept. 7.

The conservative leaders, who they say represent 20 million people across the United States, expressed their disappointment that "our joint voice would be so categorically dismissed" in a Nov. 6 letter to the APA. The leaders are concerned that the majority of the task force members believe homosexuals cannot, and should not, attempt to change their sexual orientation.

"While we would welcome a truly unbiased approach by the APA, we feel the foundation, thus far, hardly serves objective science as you now claim," wrote religious conservatives in the letter.

No comments: