From overseas comes a possibly soon-to-be religious right cause celebre:
But the papers he wrote against homosexuality was more than embarrassing, they were inaccurate:
Raabe's nonsense in the first paper sounds like it sprang the mind of the Family Research Council's Peter Sprigg.
Sprigg pushed the same opinion about lgbts. However, he came to his conclusion by amplifying research about lgbts and negative behaviors while omitting the part of the research which placed the blame on homophobia for the negative behaviors.
Furthermore, Raabe's attempt to connect homosexuality and pedophilia is an old religious right claim derived from discredited researcher Paul Cameron. However, American Psychological Association, the National Association of Social Workers, the American Academy of Child Psychiatrists and the Child Welfare League of America, all say that the homosexuality and pedophilia are not linked.
Raabe's whine about discrimination enforces what's wrong with Christianity today:
He is inaccurate here and badly so. While there is nothing wrong with his personal religious beliefs regarding homosexuality, we aren't talking about religious beliefs but a proliferation of bad information under the guise of Christianity.
It's important that this distinction is made. Unfortunately those of us who speak out against religious right distortions sometimes allow this distinction to slide, thereby making it seem that those who are called to the carpet for spreading lies about the lgbt community are the "victims" of supposed anti-Christian discrimination.
Raabe's case demonstrates just how dangerous this faux pas can be.
Related post:
Here comes possible new victim of the 'radical homosexual agenda'
Dr Hans-Christian Raabe claimed he had been “sacrificed on the altar of political correctness” but the Home Office said he had been fired because he failed to mention the controversial work in interviews. The Manchester GP is a member of the Maranatha Community, a Christian movement which believes homosexuality can be cured.
He was appointed to the Advisory Committee on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) last month, which is an unpaid, three-year post.
The Home Office said he was asked in interviews for the post whether there was anything about his professional or personal history that could cause embarrassment to the government or the advisory panel and did not mention the work.
Dr Raabe is a medical co-ordinator of the Council for Health and Wholeness (CHW), a Christian organisation based within the Maranatha Community.
But the papers he wrote against homosexuality was more than embarrassing, they were inaccurate:
In briefing documents from 2005 written by Dr Raabe for the CHW, homosexuality is described as “destructive” and is associated with disease and drug use.
One states: “The media and the gay movement portray the homosexual lifestyle as happy, healthy and fulfilled. However, the homosexual lifestyle is associated with a large number of very serious physical and emotional health consequences.”
It adds: “A high proportion of homosexual men engage in a destructive lifestyle, for example contracting HIV/Aids or other STIs, and develop addictions to drugs or alcohol. There is a higher burden of depression, [and] attempted or completed suicide among the ‘gay population’.”
Another paper, co-authored by Dr Raabe, claimed: “While the majority of homosexuals are not involved in paedophilia, it is of grave concern that there is a disproportionately greater number of homosexuals among paedophiles and an overlap between the gay movement and the movement to make paedophilia acceptable.”
It also stated: “Despite the impression given by the media, the actual number of homosexuals is quite small. Essentially all surveys show the number of homosexuals to be only 1-3 per cent of the population.”
Raabe's nonsense in the first paper sounds like it sprang the mind of the Family Research Council's Peter Sprigg.
Sprigg pushed the same opinion about lgbts. However, he came to his conclusion by amplifying research about lgbts and negative behaviors while omitting the part of the research which placed the blame on homophobia for the negative behaviors.
Furthermore, Raabe's attempt to connect homosexuality and pedophilia is an old religious right claim derived from discredited researcher Paul Cameron. However, American Psychological Association, the National Association of Social Workers, the American Academy of Child Psychiatrists and the Child Welfare League of America, all say that the homosexuality and pedophilia are not linked.
Raabe's whine about discrimination enforces what's wrong with Christianity today:
“I have been discriminated against because of my opinions and beliefs which are in keeping with the teaching of the major Churches. This sets a dangerous precedent: Are we saying that being a Christian is now a bar to public office?’
He is inaccurate here and badly so. While there is nothing wrong with his personal religious beliefs regarding homosexuality, we aren't talking about religious beliefs but a proliferation of bad information under the guise of Christianity.
It's important that this distinction is made. Unfortunately those of us who speak out against religious right distortions sometimes allow this distinction to slide, thereby making it seem that those who are called to the carpet for spreading lies about the lgbt community are the "victims" of supposed anti-Christian discrimination.
Raabe's case demonstrates just how dangerous this faux pas can be.
Related post:
Here comes possible new victim of the 'radical homosexual agenda'
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