Gay Devil Column: Catholic Newspaper, The Pilot, Retracts Piece Suggesting Devil Causes Same-Sex Attraction

A controversial column suggesting same-sex attraction was the work of the devil has been retracted from the country's oldest Catholic newspaper.

The piece by Daniel Avila, an associate director for policy and research for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, was published in The Pilot on Oct. 28 and was pulled from the publication's website Wednesday, Nov. 2 accompanied by an apology, The Associated Press reports.

The nearly 900-word column ponders the origin of homosexual attraction from a "born this way" standpoint. It stated:

Disruptive imbalances in nature that thwart encoded processes point to supernatural actors who, unlike God, do not have the good of persons at heart.

In other words, the scientific evidence of how same-sex attraction most likely may be created provides a credible basis for a spiritual explanation that indicts the devil...

...whenever natural causes disturb otherwise typical biological development, leading to the personally unchosen beginnings of same-sex attraction, the ultimate responsibility, on a theological level, is and should be imputed to the evil one, not God.

Avila later stated that the commentary was "not authorized for publication" and that he apologized for the "hurt and confusion" the piece caused. In an editor's note, the publication said it was sorry for "having failed to recognize the theological error in the column."

"As we absorbed what was in the paper, we said, 'Whoa, that's a problem' Terrence Donilon, a spokesperson for the archdiocese told the Boston Globe about the column. "That's not the position of the church or the archdiocese."

Avila also acknowledged that he does not support unjust treatment or violence toward anyone.

A printed apology will appear in this week's issue of the publication, the Boston Globe reports.

UPDATE: 12:42 p.m. --

Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest, supports The Pilot's decision to retract the column.

"Satan doesn't create homosexuality any more than Satan creates heterosexuality," Martin told The Huffington Post in an email. "God creates gays and lesbians, loves them into being, and love them into eternity.

"Opining that their sexuality comes from satanic forces seems to be in opposition to the Catechism," he added.

Comments

[MYWAYIS4ME]

08:01 PM on 11/06/2011

This is why my favorite song is 'Imagine," the world might be better off without certain kinds of people. I wish clergy stop using there bibles to spue hate!

[Nonpc1]

05:09 PM on 11/06/2011

Yes there is therapy and heart felt faithful prayer for those who have strayed so far down that sinful road of homosexuality. May they find forgivness and positive change with the help of therapy and grace from our only Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God Bless America.

[annedyth]

05:53 PM on 11/06/2011

Watch your own road, nonpc.

[usorthem3]

10:58 PM on 11/06/2011

If Dominionists take control, all Hindu, Muslim, atheist, wiccan, Buddhists, Pagan, Mormon, gay people will be put to death. The bible DEMANDS it.
2 Chronicles That whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.

[NYC123]

05:28 AM on 11/06/2011

Key to one and all, at this stage life so close to the end of this system of things is the heart felt acceptance of the shed blood of Christ for it means everlasting life! A restored earth, perfection abound, love ones returning -- and all under the hands-on reign of Yahweh (aka, Jehovah) God Almighty!

Jesus, has been appointed “Judge” by God the Father on Judgment Day for all mankind; and for us who accept Jesus, God’s Only Begotten Son as “Mankind’s Savior” will bypass “being judged!” What a gift of mercy from a Loving and Merciful God to an undeserving mankind!

Important, under God’s new order, man will have a life time to learn how to best please our Father in Heaven, and purge all behaviors that are not in his nature! Everyone do not be indifference to a gift of “mercy and love” that will return to the Father unanswered!

[NYC123]

07:02 AM on 11/06/2011

Correct to the above last setence:
Everyone do not be indifferen­t to a gift of “mercy and love” from a Loving God -- for his gift will not return to the Father unanswered­!”

[NYC123]

04:51 AM on 11/06/2011

Huff subscriber's comment!
“Your reply is moronic, which is not surprising. Read your own post. YOU cite that as a percentage, not me. I simply quoted it. Heres the way that science works: If YOU make a fantastic claim, such as this one, it is incumbent upon YOU to prove it, not for me to disprove it. I can explain this to you, but I can't understand it for you. Jeez...”

My reply!
Sorry, the only real fantastic claim made is that "being gay is genetically equal to being genetically heterosexual. I make legit observations based on the world around us, empirical data, and the "nature of creation" as we know it. And note, the nature of creation says: If two guys are left on this earth without any gals - "the game of life is over!" Now find some source that will disprove nature?”

The nature of the world creates wondrous things that produce fruitage – not a screw without any nuts -- and visa-versa! Always, a male (screw) and female (nut), and thereafter fruitage many of each! That’s the reasoning and purpose of nature as we see it. Two guys “yoked in oneness” is beyond the scope of nature; referred to as, “unnatural.”

[Carmen Slade]

07:30 PM on 11/05/2011

I can't imagine what it's like, living your life and believing a host of supernatural entities are hovering around with your best or worst interests in mind.

And they fight each other over you and they watch you.

"...supernatural actors who, unlike God, do not have the good of persons at heart. " C'mon, is that nuts, or what?

[NYC123]

07:02 PM on 11/05/2011

Huff subscriber's comment!
“Your reply is moronic, which is not surprising­. Read your own post. YOU cite that as a percentage­, not me. I simply quoted it. Heres the way that science works: If YOU make a fantastic claim, such as this one, it is incumbent upon YOU to prove it, not for me to disprove it. I can explain this to you, but I can't understand it for you. Jeez...”

My reply!
Sorry, the only real fantastic claim is that "being gay is genetically equal to being genetically heterosexual. I make legit observations based on the world around us, empirical data, and the "nature of creation" as we know it. And note, the nature of creation says: If two guys are left on this earth without any gals - "the game of life is over!" Now find some source that will disprove nature?

[lumberman]

11:52 AM on 11/05/2011

Plain simple common sense.

[lumberman]

11:50 AM on 11/05/2011

That is where truth is it don't bring children into the world.

[lumberman]

11:48 AM on 11/05/2011

I will not and pretend to know all about God because I don't.But writers of the Old testament conveyed the idea that children were not born out of it.(multiply)

[lumberman]

11:38 AM on 11/05/2011

There is your proof against science and they have never proven otherwise.

[lumberman]

11:37 AM on 11/05/2011

Maybe non existent since the two only as same sex people would have died off.

[lumberman]

11:32 AM on 11/05/2011

Bottom line the writer of the laws of the Old Testament did not see a growing nation out of the practice if they did believe it the population of the world would have been rather small

[lumberman]

11:21 AM on 11/05/2011

When ever these issues our brought to the surface the science of the world rationalizes it to make better for them and not the individual.That is where creationism come in.Creationism is when two people of opposite sex create a baby.Not to destroy it.

[lumberman]

11:03 AM on 11/05/2011

People always want the best description and the easiest to make their case.Whether people believe in spirituality or not that is their conclusion.I think that was the common sense approach that biblical writers back then took.It served no value in raising up a populace of people.

[lumberman]

10:56 AM on 11/05/2011

It surprises me that people who believe so much in science that they believed the evolved from apes don't realize the fact they have higher thinking ability than an ape.Oh I know religion has created some bad's and that is why when someone comes to a moral conclusion about homosexuality that they are looked upon as being religiously warped.Obviously when the Old Testament was written they saw no value in it anymore than they saw breaking other commandments.It certainly did not reproduce children.Just like the forbidding of bestiality didn't.