By Mary Rettig
December 1, 2005

(AgapePress) - A psychiatrist and spokesman for the Christian Medical Association is expressing his concern that a man currently running for the presidency of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) is likely to put the organization "deeper into the pocket of homosexual activists."

Members of organizations and groups that strive to support and assist men and women who want freedom from unwanted homosexuality have expressed concern over Jack Drescher's candidacy for the leadership of the APA. Drescher is openly homosexual and the current head of the APA's Committee on Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Issues.

Psychiatrist Dr. Karl Benzio says he is not a member of the APA because he disagrees with the organization's positions on a number of issues that are important to him and to his Christian faith. He has become increasingly disenchanted with the APA's stances; and it is likely, he contends, that the group will further alienate many of the people in his profession if Drescher is elected.

"Another element that will happen," Benzio warns, "is that a lot of Christians and people who disagree -- who aren't actually Christians but who disagree with some of [Drescher's] views -- will continue to back out of the APA." He predicts the result of their exodus will be that those more conservative members departing will "not have that platform and be able to have their views heard so that there's a balanced representation for that organization."

The CMA spokesman sees another drawback to the possible election of the Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Issues committee leader. Once that activist medical professional became president of the psychiatric association, Benzio notes, outside organizations could take the official's misguided notions about homosexuality as scientific fact simply because of his post.

In any event, Benzio has little doubt the APA will move in a direction favoring more pro-homosexual activism under Drescher's leadership. "If he wins the election it will certainly, with his influence, squash more relevant, appropriate scientific, medical, biblical data that I think is out there," the Christian psychiatrist says.

A Drescher presidency would allow other agendas an easier course to get, at least, heard if not passed through the APA, Benzio asserts. Meanwhile, he adds, Drescher would surely be supplied with a bigger soapbox to spread his own pro-homosexual ideas.

Mary Rettig, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.

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