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Published: October 16, 2009
Born to Love
Faithful but Compassionate
 The following is an email sent by Father John Waiss, a priest of Opus Dei, who served as chaplain in Berkeley from 1994 to 1997 and in Los Angeles from 1997 to 2005.
My latest book is Born to Love… Homosexuality, the Bible, and the Battle for Chaste Love.
Many wrestle with what is the proper Christian response to homosexuality—perhaps you know someone in your family, or a friend, neighbor, or colleague who is living the gay lifestyle or who may struggle with this inclination. If you do, I suggest you get this book and share it with others.
The book has an imprimatur from the Archdiocese of New York and a foreword by Father Benedict Groeschel. It seeks to help people understand others with same-sex attraction and help all develop a healthy identity, whether or not one has such tendencies.
 Born to Love is unique. It is faithful to Catholic teaching while remaining truly compassionate, turning all expectations upside down. Through a loving yet challenging dialogue, I show that a person's identity isn't based upon sexuality but on relationships, using the dialogue format to explore some of the relational traumas that lie at the root of the homosexual identity.
I appreciate your prayers and support,
Fr. John R. Waiss
jrw@johnrwaiss.com
210-473-5555
Testimonials for Born to Love:
Right on the mark! It hits all the important points, theologically and scientifically. It is an important contribution to the literature—clarifying Catholic natural law teachings and also weaving in the contributions of empirical science and psychodynamic psychology. That is so much needed.
Linda and Joseph Nicolosi, Ph.D.
National Association for Research and
Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH)
I think your book has the potential to be THE BOOK used in seminaries and in priestly formation… [and] a major resource for Catholics with same-sex-attraction, as well as families, teachers, etc.
Dr. Richard P. Fitzgibbons, M.D.
Lead author of Catholic Medical Association’s
booklet, Homosexuality and Hope
This is a book for people who have hope and for those who need hope… I highly recommend Born to Love for those who are interested in following the teachings of the Gospel.
Father Benedict J. Groeschel, C.F.R.
Of Sunday Night Live with Father Benedict Groeschel on EWTN
Fr. John R. Waiss has been guiding youth, priests, and parents for more than twenty years. He is the author of Couples in Love and co-author of Letters Between a Catholic and an Evangelical.
Posted Friday, October 16, 2009 9:21 AM By Laurette Elsberry
I have a suggestion for faithful Catholic activists: Ask your respective "Respect Life" diocesan coordinators (or whatever term is used) for their opinion on Fr. Waiss. If they have never heard of him, refer them to this article - or better yet - offer to purchase the book "Born to Love" for them. If they are familiar with Fr. Waiss, ask their opinion of him. This may be one simple way of determining how the diocese stands on this subject.
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Posted Friday, October 16, 2009 6:01 PM By Abeca Christian
I would have to read this book before I would recommend it to anyone. I want to make sure that it truly is obedient to church and holy scripture! We have to discern and check it out before we can comment.
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Posted Saturday, October 17, 2009 10:05 AM By Brian
Is Farther John Waiss just tooting his own horn?
The promotion does not indicate which "side" of the homo-sexual plague that is spreading its tenacles in mostly Christian Countries!
You must be "Against Sin, and For and With God", or "for The Devil and Sin"! There is NO OTHER CHOICE.
The Anal Homo-Sexuals are both immoral and discusting. So why does the above propaganda not state what the book is actually about?
The Testimonials are obviously from "friends" of, I hope, but not necessarity trust, Fr. Waiss. As the homo-sexuals always like to say; "come out of the closet", well come out in the open, and state publicly, what the book is actually about!
If it is pro homo-sexual,I will not be interested,
If it is opposed to homo-sexuality and the control and suppression of Sexual Desires, then I could be interested in reading his book.
Pedophiles and Rapists, used to be imprisoned and given the lash (whip) while in jail for 20 years or more, so why should homo-sexuals who go beyond the mormally accepted rules of socitey, which do not permit public display of the sex act in heterosexual couples?
Why do we have to put up with all the whining from these dispicable people? Let them follow the norms and the laws of the land? They serve no purpose in the human race other than their own selfish purpose?
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Posted Saturday, October 17, 2009 10:15 AM By Brian
Re: Laurette Elsberry--comment
Question: How does the book stand on this subject?
For or Against Homo-sexuality?
Please respond, for I do not wish to purchase a book by anyone, unless I know what the contents are about! Like buying a pig in a poke!
Do not forget: Judas the Apostle who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver!
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Posted Saturday, October 17, 2009 8:13 PM By JLS
Brian, one of the testimonials is by Dr Joseph Nicolosi ... that is pretty much like an imprimatur on this topic. If you are interested in studying the topic, you ought to listen to Nicolosi's talks and read his books. But fasten your seatbelt first.
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Posted Saturday, October 17, 2009 8:30 PM By Laurette Elsberry
True, I have not read the book. The fact, however, that it was recommended by experts in the field like Dr. Nicolosi and Fr. Groeschel makes it obvious to anyone who knows those names that this book is not pro-homosexual. Quite the contrary.
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Posted Saturday, October 17, 2009 10:37 PM By Grisha
Brian - Toward the end of the Vietnam War my cousin found himself the senior surviving squad leader in a platoon where the Lieutenant and Platoon Sgt. had become casualties. His job, as he saw it, was to lose as few men as possible. One night, he was ordered to, once again, take the platoon out on a night ambush patrol and report the VC body count upon return after daylight. As always, he moved a far distance from base camp and dug in a triangular perimeter on high ground. Hopefully there would be no contact with the enemy and they would shoot off most of their ammo just before returning to base camp after dawn. He'd then report a plausible body count to keep the Company Commander happy, which in turn would keep the battalion and brigade commanders happy etc. This time however, at daybreak, he saw an NVA Regiment, at least 1000 men, advancing across the far hill towards his less than forty soldiers. He directed the platoons weapons (M-16's, 3 M-60 Machine guns and some 40 mm grenade launchers) against the NVA, called in artillery and eventually air strikes. Hours later, under the cover of napalm dropped in the valley between the two hills, they were able to break contact, move down the hill back toward the base camp h e while he and some others quietly said the Hail Mary. The platoon didn't lose a single KIA. He got the Silver Star. He's gay. Say what bigoted things you want about gay people, but your statement ""They serve no purpose in the human race other than their own selfish purpose" is, just plain incorrect. Over 30 men lived, most to survive the war and come home and raise families, because of what my cousin, my gay cousin, did that day.
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Posted Sunday, October 18, 2009 1:27 AM By JonJ
There is a certain strand of catholicism which seems to connect any kind of sexuality with moral corruption. There are many aspects of catholic theology and catholic tradition which gives creedence to this sort of street level impression: 1) priestly celibacy suggests that sexuality is inherently illicit since only people who refrain from sex can be spiritual leaders, 2) when priests teach that Mary was "ever virgin" because she was "pure" suggests that even married couples who have sex are impure, and 3) the catholic teaching that older divorced couples may marry "for companionship" if they do not have sex, which suggests that sexuality is more important with respect to sin than the personal relationship within marriage. Consequently, I'm not really surprised we end up with people like Brian who seem to equate "disgust" with "sin". Why is it that we can tolerate behavior like cursing or sins like gluttony or greed (especially if those greedy people fill the church's coffers with money), yet believe disgust with homosexual attractions justifies all manner of social rejection, verbal abuse, and constant invective? Why are homosexuals more despicable than tobacco executives, who lie about their product and kill people for money? I believe we pay a disproportionate amount of attention to sexual matters for biological reasons, than out of any kind of moral concern.
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Posted Sunday, October 18, 2009 3:15 PM By markrite
O come on, Brian. If you knew anything at all about the ones giving testimony FOR the book, you wouldn't continually be so anxious. Do you know about Joe Nicolosi, for instance? He' been CONSISTENTLY pro the Church's teachings re homosexuality for OVER TWENTY YEARS! And he's also CONSISTENTLY been attacked by the gay lobby for all these years; he must be doing SOMETHING RIGHT! Let it rest, read the book and LEARN. GOD BLESS ALL-MARKRITE
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Posted Sunday, October 18, 2009 7:20 PM By Gil
The previous posters' skepticism may be healthy, but without having read the book or ever having heard of the author, one might still be forgiven for observing that if Father Groeschel endorses it, it's unlikely to be too bad.
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Posted Sunday, October 18, 2009 9:59 PM By Dan
I would seem Brian, that you know nothing of the Nicolosi ministry NARTH or of Fr. Groeschel. You can answer your own question by googleing either, or better, both.
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Posted Wednesday, October 21, 2009 2:10 PM By Mark from PA
Father Groeschel is a holy man in my opinion. I have been impressed by him. NARTH is pretty much discredited with the rest of the the psychiatric and medical community. As a pro-life Catholic I am against reparative therapy because of the suicide risks. It can be harmful to some people, especially children.
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Posted Wednesday, October 21, 2009 7:23 PM By dan
'"NARTH is pretty much discredited with the rest of the the psychiatric and medical community. As a pro-life Catholic I am against reparative therapy because of the suicide risks. It can be harmful to some people, especially children. " PA, your categorical dissmissal of NARTH ridiculous. First, Reparative therapy is directed toward those who do not want same sex acttraction. That precludes children. It is my understanding that the majority of the counseling is to young adults seeking help. Your worry of suicide is a made up fantasy I know of homosexual suicides, and those I know of have nothing to do with NARTH at all. Second, your generalization of the "psychiatric and medical community" is beside the point -- unanwenbar--as they say in German. You can't hide behind a generalization. I think Dr. Nicolosi would be quite surprised to know his work is discredited, especially when he has helped so many. In truth you have given him no credit, and can point to the politicized elements in psychiatry/medicine who think as you do. My advice is to write Dr. Nicolosi personally and ask him about his work and the work of Reparative Therapy in general.
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