Matt C. Abbott
August 12, 2010
Admitted pederast accuses me of spreading a lie; 'Theology of the Body' debate rages
By Matt C. Abbott

I've received some rather bizarre e-mails over the years, but the one that takes the cake was recently sent to me by David Thorstad, a founding member of the — it's disgusting to even type this — North American Man-Boy Love Association (NAMBLA).

Thorstad wrote:

"Sir, I spotted your article in which you repeat the following lie, spread by the late Joseph Sobran and picked up and repeated ad nauseam by various Catholic writers, none of whom have bothered to check the facts, as Sobran himself did not. What gives you the right to spread the lie that I am a 'convicted pederast'? Why haven't you checked your facts? I will acknowledge that I am a pederast (among many other things, including recovered Pentecostal and now atheist and bisexual and human being), but I have never been charged with violating any sex laws, let alone been 'convicted' of violating any of them. Your use of that lie serves only to present my arguments as not worthy of serious consideration. Shame on you."

The article to which Thorstad refers is my reprint of "Homosexuality and the Church Crisis" by Brian Clowes, Ph.D., director of research for Human Life International.

Also, to my knowledge, Joe Sobran, while not in very good health, is still living.



The debate over Theology of the Body rages on. To wit: Catholic News Agency has an article about Dawn Eden's take on Christopher West's take on TOB. Father Angelo Mary Geiger has a blog post (in which I'm quoted) on Father Thomas Loya's take on TOB. Mark Shea has an article about the debate in which he links to a blog post by Steve Kellmeyer. Randy Engel has an essay giving her take on TOB, and Robert Sungenis has a take on Randy's take on TOB.

I know there are other "takes" on TOB out there in cyberspace, but that's all for now.

© Matt C. Abbott

Comments feature added August 14, 2011
 

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Matt C. Abbott

Matt C. Abbott is a Catholic columnist with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication, Media and Theatre from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, and an Associate in Applied Science degree in Business Management from Triton College in River Grove, Ill. He has worked in the right-to-life movement and is a published writer focused on Catholic and social issues. He can be reached at mattcabbott@gmail.com.

(Note: I welcome thoughtful feedback from readers. If you want our correspondence to remain confidential, please specify as such in your initial e-mail to me... (more)

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