WASHINGTON — Daniel Avila says he resigned from his position at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops because of his “desire to see the bishops continue their effective and courageous witness without distraction.”
Avila stepped down Nov. 4 as policy adviser for marriage and family after a column about the causes of same-sex attraction that he wrote for The Pilot, the Archdiocese of Boston’s newspaper, made national headlines. Avila had written that God does not cause such attraction and attributed its existence to Satan — an explanation that Avila now admits was “incomplete” and led to misunderstanding.
In a statement released exclusively to the Register (see below), Avila explained the resignation for the first time. He said he quickly realized that the firestorm following his Oct. 28 column had the potential to obstruct the mission of the nation’s bishops in the public-policy arena.
“The USCCB must advance the Church’s policy positions recognizing the inviolable dignity of every human being and the inalterable nature of marriage as the union of one man and one woman. These are not matters of speculation for the Church, but risked being obscured by the aftermath from my own speculations,” he wrote.
He said that in accepting his resignation, the USCCB had demonstrated a “commitment to marriage and dignity of all persons.”
Sister Mary Ann Walsh, director of media relations for the USCCB, reiterated the bishops’ duty to uphold marriage, saying, “Marriage is and can only be the union of one man and one woman. It is the foundation of the family, the key cell of society.”
She declined to comment on Avila’s resignation, which she called a “personnel matter.”
Mea Culpa
Paulist Father Bob Bowers of Boston wrote a letter to The Pilot’s editor, saying that Avila’s article interfered with the “pastoral ministry and care for GLBTQ Catholics.”
“This article directly and intentionally causes pain for gay Catholics, their families, especially their mothers, their friends and their worship communities,” he wrote. “We call upon the editorial staff of The Pilot to immediately halt all such articles and publications and concentrate instead on the Gospel of Love, to promote understanding, compassion and healing.”
In his statement, Avila reiterated his apology, which has replaced his column on The Pilot’s website. He expressed sorrow for the “needless hurt” he caused.
An editor’s note on the website echoed Avila’s statement of regret, saying “The Pilot also wishes to apologize for having failed to recognize the theological error in the column before publication.”
Terence Donilon, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Boston, refused to elaborate on that “theological error,” saying only that the archdiocesan position on the matter has been “widely reported.”
Avila, who served just over four months at the U.S. bishops’ conference, had been writing columns for The Pilot for seven years. When he began, he was employed by the Massachusetts Catholic Conference. After taking the USCCB position, he wrote in his own capacity. At the end of each article, he was identified as a former MCC employee who “now lives and works in the Washington, D.C., area.” No mention of his new position was ever made.
Grip of Satan
In his final column, Avila made an attempt to refute the position that God must have created same-sex attraction and, therefore, desires persons with that inclination to find happiness in its fulfillment.
“Whatever 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,” he wrote.
Jeffrey Mirus, president of Trinity Communications, provided commentary about Avila’s column on his website, CatholicCulture.org. Mirus wrote that by attributing so much to the devil, Avila explained too little. Temptations come from the world, the flesh, the devil and as a result of original sin. Personal sin can also weaken human nature and lead to sinful inclinations.
Avila’s focus on Satan made it sound as though all troubles come directly from his hand, which can lead to an erroneous conclusion that those who experience same-sex attractions are “more in the grip of Satan.”
Speaking with the Register, Mirus said the devil can tempt all of us but does not have “unrestricted power over us.”
“Certainly, in the Catholic account of original sin, the devil plays a role in the Fall, but notice that it is ultimately Adam and Eve who are held responsible for their own sin,” he added. “It is not the inclination, or even the temptation, that is sinful, but the actual sin itself. In this case, the sin would be acting on same-sex attraction to gain sexual satisfaction.”
Sensitive Issue
Mirus said it is difficult even to address the topic of same-sex attraction when the larger culture “militates strongly against any treatment of homosexual behavior which does not hold it to be natural and good.”
He called Avila’s resignation, given the cultural climate, “almost inevitable.”
In his commentary, Mirus said, “Avila chose to write on a supremely sensitive issue. He did not get it quite right, and the bishops rather understandably want to control the message, keeping it absolutely free from theological misunderstanding. One would, of course, like to see equal control over Catholics who publish the view Avila attempted to refute.”
Register correspondent Christine M. Williams writes from Quincy, Massachusetts.
Why I Offered My Resignation
Daniel Avila, Nov. 7, 2011
When I submitted on Nov. 2 my apology for my recent Boston Pilot column, I also offered to resign my position as policy advisor for marriage and family with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). My offer was premised on my own realization that my continued employment was fueling public circumstances that could obstruct the mission of the Catholic Church and the bishops in the public-policy arena. My column, by focusing on a radioactive topic, could be and was being exploited to divert attention from the core public-policy issues. I was notified on Nov. 4 that the general secretariat of the USCCB agreed upon reflection that the public controversy created by my column had rendered my continued employment untenable, and thus accepted my resignation.
I offered to apologize and resign voluntarily based on my own conscience and assessments. I was in a hole that I dug all on my own, and it was time to stop digging. My superiors and colleagues treated me with understanding, compassion and prudence. My resignation was not offered nor do I believe that it was accepted because anyone involved thinks that the Church’s role in the definition-of-marriage debate should be reduced. Instead, there is unanimity that the Church’s involvement should be strengthened without distraction.
My column touched inexpertly and incompletely on speculative matters (see e.g. the online critique by Jeff Mirus; see also Proverbs 12:1), on which the USCCB has taken no position, and yet which were related to the issues of marriage and family that were within the ambit of my official concerns. USCCB must advance the Church’s policy positions recognizing the inviolable dignity of every human being and the inalterable nature of marriage as the union of one man and one woman. These are not matters of speculation for the Church, but risked being obscured by the aftermath from my own speculations. My resignation, precipitated by events put in motion by my own doing, will require my wonderful colleagues at the conference to pick up the slack and to find a replacement, temporarily setting back vital efforts on marriage. While you will weather the storm that eventually will pass, I am sorry and apologize for the resulting trouble. Your encouragement can be found in Sirach’s second chapter.
I also reiterate my deep sorrow and apology for any hurt caused by my column among those who especially need to be affirmed in their individual human dignity. I do not take personally but I do take seriously the anger and ridicule expressed toward me on the Internet, by those who do not know me, as a further sign that people with same-sex attraction have suffered greatly and wrongly. Although one must never be afraid to speak the truth in love to worldly power that same-sex sexual attraction is neither willed by God nor ordered objectively to personal or spiritual good, I take full responsibility for any misperception caused by me that I somehow do not recognize the innate beauty, goodness, dignity and God’s creation and blessing of each and every person. Nor is there any desire on my part to single out any one class of persons as uniquely burdened by the effects of original sin and concupiscence. We are all challenged. But God loves especially those who bear great trials, such as persons struggling with same-sex attraction. Though none of my reflections was intended to hurt anyone, your pain is a tragedy, and I am heartbroken.
This whole experience dramatizes what is at stake in the debate over the definition of marriage and related matters. I apologized because I needlessly hurt people. I resigned because of my desire to see the bishops continue their effective and courageous witness without distraction. Unfortunately, some will take away from this the opposite and erroneous lesson that the Church and people of faith should refrain altogether from speaking out to influence policymakers and recede entirely from the arena of debate, or else risk being hounded from the podium as if the Church’s teaching on marriage itself harmed the common good.
The bishops have been and will continue to be strong. Accepting my resignation demonstrates USCCB’s commitment to focusing on the public-policy issues related to marriage and the dignity of all persons and not be sidetracked. Nor will the bishops back down even when falsely charged with bigotry or prejudice simply for teaching that marriage is the union of one man and one woman. The bishops and their staff need the prayers and full support of all of us as they carry out their mission in the very difficult field of public policy.
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The most frightening part of this, as the parent of a gay son, is that the bishops were LISTENING to someone with these bizarre ideas of Satanic womb. My child nor any other gay child is anything other than a child of God.
what theological error has this guy committed? Is it the same Catholic bishop’s theology that watched a Catholic governor of N.Y sign same sex marriage into law without an open opposition to it (save for the protestants who did openly) that should be upheld or the theology of Jesus in the Bible? I see the secular state and the bishop’s conference taking same position in different ways, one mildly and the other forcefully. secular state saying ‘it is fully okay to be gay if that is your ‘calling’’ and the church (of the US) saying ‘it is not that okay’ in order not to encourage more persons to be gay so that our numbers do not reduce (family and reproduction) but for those who are gay already, continue, and just like the secular state, do not touch them verbally or otherwise. do not even remind them of Romans chapter one or ! Cor. 6:9-20; do not dare say it is against nature or God’s plan. like the politicians, we need their money and number on our side. Its all about political correctness for Church and State on this issue. Fr. Prayer .O.
Dan Avila’s letter radiates humility and heroism. He’s not only taking one for the team, but also trying to ensure that the team won’t be worse off without him. Unfortunately, the explanatory information provided in the accompanying article undercuts his laudable efforts. He wasn’t writing about marriage policy, the matter of his job. The “theological error” in his article was not identified by the Archdiocese. Mirus’ theological pronouncements, brought out to impugn Avila’s speculative arguments, don’t contradict anything Avila wrote (the former is talking about the *acts*, the latter about a possible natural basis for the *inclination*). The whole thing smacks of PR concerns, not theological ones, which is also implicitly acknowledged in the article, except that by handling the situation the way they did, the bishops also hurt their PR objectives. The spectrum of reactions by the general public will range from a suspicion that the Church harbors secret dark views of homosexuals (hence the refusal to name a theological error) to the view that the Church really doesn’t believe that hide-bound stuff about sexuality and thus is willing to toss overboard anyone who has the chutzpah to expound upon it in a public forum. What the bishops could have, and should have, done is to make it clear that the column was speculative and not related to the substance of Avila’s job, and name precisely what in his essay was not part of the authoritative teaching of the Church. And then torn up his resignation letter, indicating that the bishops aren’t going to turn their backs on their loyal advocates. How many Dan Avilas are there out there? How many will step into his shoes after what happened here?
Mr. Avila, You spoke the truth and are being punished for it. The USCCB, all the Bishops, priests, lay people need more courage and fortitude to say what you did: homosexual acts are sinful and sin is from the Evil one. Temptation is from the evil one as well. May God guide you and bless you as you move forward. May God have mercy on us.
Some folks are born with developed,at least to some degree, organs of both sexes. Is this also the work of the devil? Even the Church should stay out of matters it knows little or nothing about.
Daniel Avila is yet another sacrifice to the culture of death and extreme individualism in which we now live. I read his 10/28 column, and it did not strike me as hateful or particularly off kilter. Catholics always seem to get in trouble when focusing on Satan and his guiles. The ‘true discernment of evil spirits’ is a charism that eludes me, and probably many others. It is too easy to ascribe sin to the fallen angel instead of to our propensity to choose sin due to the concupiscence we posses due to original sin The line between good and evil runs through each human heart.
I wish Daniel well. He writes eloquently of his mother’s decision to bear him after health issues prompted doctors to recommend abortion. I’m glad he lives and is brave enough to confront the perplexing and divisive subject of same sex attraction, an affliction that is running amok in our declining civilization.
Knowing Dan Avila for years and working with him at the MCC, I was deeply saddened to think he was taken out of context re: the column he wrote in the Pilot the week of October 28, 2011. In my estimation Dan is a good and faithful son of the church. He is full of God’s love and compassion for all. Isn’t that what our church stands for?
Having known Dan Avila for many years, I am hurt that he is being skewered for his obvious theological simplification. Paulist Father Bob Bowers comes on like a bomb-thrower, rather than a priest. Dan’s own story is a beautiful one, and his commitment to Christ’s church is unquestionable. My prayers are with him, his family and his future. Thank you, Dan, for all that beautiful commitment to Christ you have shown us in your life and work
Dan is a sacrificial lamb on the bishops’ misguided altar of political correctness. His resignation should not have been accepted.
This sends the message that courageous Catholics who dare to speak about morals (even in a Catholic publication) will be left unsupported by Church leaders. What a shame.
Mr. Avila will be in my prayers. Satan is really after those that speak the Truth about homosexuality.
I keep seeing Dan is the victim on these posts. Do you all believe that Satan creates gay babies???
Another win for the evil one & of course another nail in the coffin of the American “catholic” church. Why are we calling something that is so evil and perverted “gay” which is a horrible attack on normal people that have Gay in their name & what about this “sister” that is a mouthpiece for the useless USCCB? Where is she coming from? If the spineless “Pilot” (& others) say that the devil is not involved, than they are saying that God created this sin on purpose; if this is true, than I will look for another God to believe in; & thankfully I don’t get such a horrible publication to throw away. Have mercy on us Jesus & send your Holy Spirit back into the Church to guide us. I pity poor Bishop Dolan; he has his hands full. +JMJ+
@Deb: The Church believes that every child is a “child of God,” as you maintain. But the Church also teaches that homosexual inclinations are an “objective disorder.” Disorder in creation results from the Fall of Adam and Eve. Whether this disorder is caused by Satan, defective human will or some other mysterious agency, we may never know for sure in this life. But same-sex attraction is not in the manifest plan of God for human beings.
Reply to Deb
All of us are born with an inclination to do the wrong thing. A man with an inclination to drink to excess, have sex with animals or sex with other men might have been born that way or might have become that way; the origin is irrelevant. What is relevant is that all of these behaviors are sinful and should not be indulged. While the inclination might not be from the devil, the temptation to indulge it certainly is. We are all called to chastity and holiness.
Any and all inclinations/temptations to sin are from Satan—either directly or indirectly due to the fall. The fact that Adam and Eve were held RESPONSIBLE for GIVING IN to the temptation does not change the SOURCE of that the temptation. Inclinations/temptations to sin—which we all have—are NEVER a gift from God.
As a parent of two gay men I have to agree with Dan Avila. One of the commenters said temptations come from the world, the flesh, the devil and as a result of original sin. Isn’t all of these the work of the devil.
What bothers me about this is that Mr Avila was treated no differently than
a secular columnist would be by their employer. He made a mistake, a partial one even, and there is no room for correction, learning and growth? If perfection is required to speak publicly then it should be much quieter than it is. The bishops don’t seem to have the courage to face public opinion as wrong as it can be. Isn’t the Church one of forgiveness and mercy modeled by It’s Founder; Jesus Himself? Jesus forgave publicly the one caught in adultery without concern for how it looked or if it offended anyone and she was guilty of much graver offense than Mr Avila. Jesus told her to go and sin no more. Her repentance was all that was necessary.
In summary, then . . .
• Daniel Avila still insists he has “scientific evidence” that homosexuality is caused by the devil invading pregnant women, and that his only mistake was not explaining the invasions better.
• Avila believes that everything in existence was created by his deity, except evil and homosexuality, which were created by his devil.
• Avila admits he’s dedicated his life to preventing same-sex marriage.
• Avila denies that he or his church cause pain and suffering in LGBT people, or harm the common good.
• Avila insists that the Roman Catholic Church should continue lobbying for laws that punish every non-Catholic who ignores Catholic rules.
Americans have no problem regarding foreign religious theocrats and fundamentalist extremists as insane. And that is exactly how we should regard our own, domestic lunatics like Daniel Avila.
Ned, you are over-dramatizing Mr. Avila’s actions. You and others deliberately misinterpret the teachings of the Church on homosexuality, to advance your own agenda. Every person is welcome and loved in the Catholic Church, regardless of inclination or proclivity, (knowing that we are all sinners). However, homosexual activity is wrong, and sinful, and always will be. The pieces don’t fit, and never will. We are on this earth to know, love and serve the Lord, bearing whatever crosses we must in this life. God Bless you all.
God bless this very courageous man for speaking the truth, and God help all the men and women who struggle with same-sex attraction. Please visit Couragerc.net
I always get a laugh when homosexuals call themselves
a “community” as in LGBT. Surely homosexuality is antithetical
community or any origin of species.
And scripture says that 7 demons were cast out of Mary Magdalene and she is now a saint, praise God. The lesson here is that any unrepentant sinner who is engaging in grave habitual sin is in danger of leaving an opening for demonic attack, anything from strong temptations, to demons insinuating themselves into our thoughts and our imaginations, and, very rarely leading up to possession. The human personality is complex, and with our own flesh, and the world also leading us to sin, as well as our own psychological woundednes, many factors can lead us to sin and to distortions in how we view ourselves in ways distorted from the image of how God made us and yet, in our spiritual warfare we should consider the role of demons also. And Dan Avila should be commended for saying this.
Can we not all agree that same sex attraction flies in the face of nature?
Some are born with or acquire a proclivity for violence, for alcohol,for sexual addiction. Does that make them innocent because they carry out their uncivil behavior and cannot or will not control their actions? Whatever the reasons, unnatural acts will always remain just that and those who carry them out will have to own up to their misguided proclivities.
Ned Flaherty apparently has not bothered to read what Daniel Avila wrote. Either that, or he is deliberately lying about what he wrote. Avila said nothing about “the devil invading pregnant women.”
“Avila believes that everything in existence was created by his deity, except evil and homosexuality, which were created by his devil.”
Homosexuality is a natural evil, whereas homosexual conduct is a moral evil—and God undeniably created everything except for evil. Evil, however, does not have its own existence. Good is itself, but evil is merely the negation of good. Thus, in a strict sense, evil does not “exist.” Or one might say that it is nothing more than a parasite on the good. God is perfectly good, and therefore is not the author of any evil or disorder—including the homosexual disorder.
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