For the bishop of Como there is a "transient homosexual tendency"

Reflections by Massimo Battaglio

The case of the head of the clerics of San Pietro, Don Gabriele Martinelli, accused of abusing his very young seminary companions, it is very trivial. Just ask the bishop of Como: the young priest, according to him, had a "transient homosexual tendency linked to adolescence". This is what he declares in court, listened to as a witness.

We could also close it here, saying that we do not accept lessons in the field of sexual morality by those who do not even have the most basic elements on sexuality, among which, one of the former is precisely that sexual orientation does not change, neither, nor spontaneously and neither with nor with age.

There is a soup of errors To feed an army, in those six words, starting with the curious term "homosexual tendency". If it could be forgiven in 1992 to the extenders of the catechism, it is completely unacceptable today. In fact, it is now clear to everyone that a person does not "tends" to be heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual. It is. Point. These are variants of sexual orientation: someone was born sexually oriented towards people of the opposite sex and someone else towards people of the same sex. Talking about "tendency" suggests that everyone is born heterosexuals but someone devices with a natural dictation. And that's not the case. End of the debate.

The fact that homosexuality can be "transient", goes well with the idea of ​​"homosexual tendency" (and therefore it is twice wrong) but not with the reality of the facts. It is enough to see the devastating results of all the attempts of "conversion" or "repair" that have been collected in the last century and a half. Attempts in which therapy was not wrong but the principle was incorrect, that is, the belief that a person could be "reported" to the "natural" heterosexuality.

If, on the other hand, it is clear that the "tendency" can be "transitory" in the sense that the desire to have sexual relations can fail, then we can also agree. It is enough to subject the person to "take care" to a repression regime such as to ruin his brain, to make them lose any erotic desire. But this applies to everyone: homosexuals, bisexuals, heterosexuals, multiisexuals. And centuries of seminars in which ignorance on the subject was carefully cultivated, show that it is not even very difficult. I don't know how healthy it is.

They tell me: but then the former gays? Simple: they don't exist. They are people who were bisexuals at the start and remained bisexuals after the "cure". In a certain phase of life they have been more aware of trying attraction for people of the same sex; In another phase, for those of the opposite sex. It is absolutely not said that they do not return to the starting point, perhaps and then distanced themselves again. There are many bisexuality models: almost as much as bisexual people themselves.

The other district is the concept of "adolescent homosexuality". It is first of all a contradiction, especially if, as in the case of the bishop of Como, homosexuality is continued to identify with the practice of homosexual acts. Adolescence is in fact that phase of life, more or less short, in which sexual desire is discovered but it is not yet put into practice. By definition, after the first sexual intercourse, he ceases to be teenagers; You become young adults. Therefore, if they define themselves as "homosexuals" only people who put their "tendency" into practice (I don't think so but their excellence yes), talking about "adolescent homosexuality" is simply an oxymoron.

The adolescent discovery of trying attraction for people of the same sex can at most lead to an extension of adolescence, necessary to become aware of its own originality: being the bearers of a rare feature. But it is well strange that a teenager dedicates himself to the experimentation of homoerotic practices just to understand, to try. That boy who tries because he feels confused, has yet to be born. When a young man decides to put his body at stake until the homosexual relationship (I don't go further but it is clear to what I allude), he has the step that is taking and what his orientation is well in mind.

And the last point on which you just cannot be the transigner is the combination of this absurd concept of "transient homosexual tendency" to the theme of pedophilia. A person who has recently discovered or not to be homosexual, simply looks for a partner of his own sex. Not to put your hands on children! And conversely, carrying out horrible acts such as the abuse of minors is in no way an indication of homosexuality! It is an index of psychic fragility, and that's it!

I try to repeat it with other words: a healthy homosexual person, as well as a healthy person of heterosexual orientation, in front of the idea of ​​raping a child, horrifies. Is it clear?

Who knows if Monsignor Oscar Cantoni, the bishop of Como, comes to understand that such a statement could cost him an exemplary lawsuit. Maybe not. His problem is another. He has to testify to him in favor or against a young priest who grew up in his diocese, accused of one of the worst crimes of the world. And it doesn't make it. He met him when he was young and he cannot imagine him as a criminal. Then try to say something to relieve his and suffering.

But, if you can accept such a bislacca defense by a person of poor culture that she plans on the Facebook keys, the same thing becomes intolerable by a bishop, and more, of a bishop in a courtroom, that is, of the highest local religious authority in the face of the highest judicial authority.

Really: dear Monsignori: if this is your knowledge of sexual themes, forget it. Sexual morality, we hurry it beautiful and from us.