from Medical Issues

CATHOLIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
- NEWS RELEASE -

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 11, 2002

CONTACT:
Catherine Dowling, M.D., President, CMA Lansing Guild Phone: (734) 930-7480
Robert J. Saxer, M.D., President, CMA Phone: (850) 862-4707

"Michigan State Medical Society
Caves in to Gay Activist Agenda,"
Charges Catholic Medical Association

LANSING, MI -- The Catholic Medical Association has charged the Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) with caving in to pressure from gay activists in its sudden decision to revoke Continuing Medical Education credits (CMEs) for a conference for health professionals, which it had originally accredited in August 2002.

"This politically-driven decision by MSMS is a form of censorship that infringes on academic freedom, medical ethics and scientific pursuit," said Dr. Robert J. Saxer, National President of the Catholic Medical Association (CMA).

The conference, "Understanding the Gift of Sexuality," was sponsored by the Lansing Guild of the Catholic Medical Association and held at the University of Michigan on December 7th. It featured two lectures on same-sex attraction in which Richard Fitzgibbons, M.D., presented the three recent research studies reported in the American Medical Association's Archives of General Psychiatry from the Netherlands, New Zealand and the U.S., which have shown that those with homosexuality have a much higher rate of psychiatric disorders.

Dr. Fitzgibbons stated that this research should be communicated to establish informed consent by physicians, mental-health professionals and educators working with children, teenagers and adults who are encouraged--either in school or in therapy--to claim a homosexual identity.

Dr. Fitzgibbons also discussed the treatment of gender-identity disorder in children and the emotional origins and therapy of same-sex attraction. The recent research by Dr. Robert Spitzer, M.D. of Columbia School of Medicine on healing and recovery was also covered.

On November 26th, 2002, the Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) abruptly revoked its approval for CME accreditation, citing criticism from gay-rights activists. The Society also indicated that it sought consultation with the American Psychiatric Association (APA), the organization that removed same-sex attraction as a mental disorder in 1973 in response to gay-rights protests. The APA concluded that "therapy is not effective for people with same-sex attractions."

In response to the MSMS action, Catherine Dowling, M.D., President of the Catholic Medical Association's Lansing Guild, working in concert with the Thomas More Center for Law and Justice and several psychologists and psychiatrists around the country, provided the MSMS with a comprehensive bibliography of articles on each side of the debate. Dr. Dowling also sent a presentation by Robert Spitzer, M.D., describing characteristics of 200 people who claimed to have changed sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual. Notably, Dr. Spitzer, an architect of the 1973 American Psychiatric Association decision, has modified his position and now believes that same-sex attraction is a potentially treatable condition.

"What is at stake here is the ability for medical organizations and health-care professionals to present information that is grounded in literature in an academic setting," said Dr. Dowling. "The advancement of medical knowledge is dependent on the ability of the medical community to engage in debate and discussion of the medical literature and studies being conducted."

While Dr. Dowling expressed her grave concern about the decision of the MSMS, she applauded the decision of the University of Michigan to host the conference. "The University of Michigan also received criticism from activists regarding this conference, but made the correct decision to uphold the right of the Catholic Medical Association's Lansing Guild to discuss challenging issues on their campus," Dr. Dowling added.

The controversy has triggered uproar of protest and resulted in a deluge of complaints to the Michigan State Medical Society from physicians, psychologists, parents, and former homosexuals, with some individuals canceling their membership in the Society.

Among those to voice their strong objections to MSMS were Joseph Nicolosi, Ph.D., President of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH); Timothy A Chichester, President of the Catholic Family Association of America and renowned author and lecturer; and Professor Janet E. Smith, Ph.D. of Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and Ave Maria College in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Inasmuch as Continuing Medical Education is a requirement for physician licensing, the Catholic Medical Association will continue to press for CME accreditation not only with the MSMS for the conference in question, but with other accrediting organizations in connection with other conferences it holds.

Earlier this year the Catholic Medical Association published a research paper, "Homosexuality and Hope," which counters the myth that same-sex attraction is genetically predetermined and unchangeable, and offers hope for prevention and treatment.

The Catholic Medical Association was established in 1932 to uphold the principles of Catholic faith and morality as related to science and the practice of medicine. As a national alliance of health-care professionals, its members include physicians, nurses, psychologists, dentists, social workers, medical students, as well as clergy and other supporters. For more information and membership registration visit the CMA web site at www.cathmed.org.