Dear Loudmouth,

Of course there is the corollary to your proposition, given the greater access to IVF will the genetic component of same sex attraction increase in our society?

As gay couples are more and more able to directly contribute genetic material to their offspring, it is going to be interesting to see if overall rates of those identifying as gay increase over and above what the impact of increasing acceptance of openly gay people.

Perhaps this in turn may be cancelled out to a degree that pressure on closeted gay people to have children within a heterosexual relationships to fit social norms is waning thus less genetic material being passed on.

Quite a fascinating thought bubble isn't it.

Dear Big Nana,

If you remove the s from the https at the start of the url it will present as a clickable link.

Thank you for the article. It was pretty unambiguous when it says;

"a high proportion of homosexual priests do not increase the risks of sexual abuse of minors by priests. Sexual orientation does not predict illegal sexual abuse of children and minors in general. Homosexual men are not more likely to engage in illegal sexual behaviors with children and adolescents than heterosexual men."

That unfortunately is not the narrative being put Not_Now.Soon

It would be interesting to see more data of course.

Dear Steele,

Dr Paul Collins tells us in his book, "Believers:
Does Australian Catholicism Have a Future?"
that "generations of gay priests have ministered to
both sexes successfully in the Catholic Church..."

Dr Collins refers to John Boswell's fascinating
book, "Christianity, Social Tolerance and Homosexuality"
where the Yale historian argues with meticulous scholarship
and considerable wit that from about the 5th century onwards
religious orders particularly provided homosexually
oriented men and women with a safe haven from the
intolerant and dangerous world.

Dr Collins points out, contemporary estimates of the
number of gay priests and seminarians vary widely and the
simple fact is nobody knows how many there are.

Part of the issue is that a large number of straight priests
have left the ministry over the last 30 years to marry.
Also a lot of gay priests have been ordained over the
last three decades.

It is clear that the accusation that gay priests are more
likely to be child molesters is totally wrong, and Catholics
have no problem with gay clergy whether they are "out" or
more likely integrating their sexual preference.

Hi SR,

Yes, it's conceivable that IVF may become a homosexual monopoly. But I doubt it, or that it will somehow keep up the numbers of homosexual-gene-bearing children in each generation.

So the principle still stands, that any homosexual gene, or association of genes, will very likely become extinct, unless homosexual couples get fertilised to the same extent as heterosexual couples have natural births. Do you think that is ever likely ? After all, amongst the major 'reasons' for homosexuals to form couples is not likely to be the burning desire to have children. Children bugger up one's self-indulgent life-style, surely ? It forces choices: a cruise around Alaska this year, or a kid ? The latest Lexus or IVF ? Really ?

Just by the way, do you really think that homosexuality is some sort of progressive or left-wing issue ? Tell that to the English upper classes :)

Cheers,

Joe

SR, this May be semantics but most of the abuse of children within the church is not paedophilia, but hebephilia. The vast majority, ie 80% has been quoted, are boys aged between 11 and 17.
I cannot imagine any heterosexual man being interested in a 17 year old boy, can you?

Dear Steele,

Members of disliked minority groups are often
stereotyped as representing a danger to the
majority's most vulnerable members.

For example Jews in the Middle-Ages were accused of
murdering Christian babies in ritual sacrifices.
Black men in the United States were often lynched after
being falsely accused of raping White women. Many
non-Indigenous Australians believe that Indigenous
Australians coast through life receiving privileges
and benefits.

In a similar fashion gay people have often been portrayed as
a threat to children. That a gay teacher, or parent could
sexually molest children. Whereas a heterosexual teacher
or parent could not.

Thankfully the number of people who believe these myths
that gay people are child molesters has declined
substantially.