CALFORNIA: A Catholic psychologist who specializes in reparative therapy with homosexuals says it is possible for those with samesex attractions to change, despite agenda-driven ideologies that state the opposite. Joseph Nicolosi, founder and director of the Thomas Aquinas Psychological Clinic in Encino, made the assertion as a clinical psychologist and former president of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH)

NARTH is a scientific, non-religious and non-political organization. Nicolosi explained that it has been actively working on a research project compiling scientific data to dispute claims forhomosexuality, targeting three unscientific assumptions that form the basis of their policy.

These assumptions are: “Psychotherapy does not change homosexuality, trying to change the homosexual person will harm him, and there is no greater pathology in homosexual persons than in heterosexual persons.” He stated that claims for homosexuality were not being governed by science, but by political interests.

Nicolosi reports that those arguing for homosexuality have dropped the specific reference to a hypothetical ‘gay gene’. In other words, they are beginning torecognize that homosexuality is also due to environmental factors, not just biological elements.

“In fact, I and many of my colleagues at NARTH believe it is more environmental than biological. The most important scientific information gives much more evidence for environmental causes of homosexuality than for biological.”

Nicolosi therefore concluded that change is possible. “Men and women can come out of homosexuality. This idea of ‘once gay, always gay’ is a political position, not a scientific position. There is a need to assist and minister to men and women who are looking for help to come out of homosexuality.”

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