Court: being gay a result of child abuse
Australian tennis great Margaret Court has waded further in controversy, telling the Sunday Herald Sun she believes homosexuality may be the result of child abuse.
She told the newspaper “many, many” gays and lesbians she knew of had been abused which caused them to be attracted to the same sex.
When asked whether she believed sexual abuse led people to homosexuality, Court told the newspaper: “Yes. You look at a lot of them, that’s happened.”
The comments follow intense backlash from the LGBTI community after Court, a senior pastor at Perth’s Victory Life Church, recently indicated she believes homosexuality is a choice and supports so-called conversion therapy for same-sex attracted people.
In an opinion piece published in this week’s Herald Sun, Court reaffirmed her stance that homosexuality is a choice and voiced her opposition to gay marriage, because it is against the word of God.
In the editorial, Court said Australia is blind to its “sliding lifestyle” and losing touch with fundamental Christian values.
“Minorities are now making it harder for the majority,” she said.
“They are increasingly taking everything that is good in society and pushing it to the side.
“Looking back, you can see that there has been a steep decline, especially when it comes to the issue of sexuality.
Court then said homosexuals choose to be gay.
“In the Bible it said that homosexuality is among sins that are works of the flesh,” she said.
“It is not something you are born with. My concern is that we are advocating to young people that it is OK to have these feelings.”
“But I truly believe if you are told you are gay from a young age, soon enough it will start to impact your life and you will live it. If somebody is told they are gay they often start to believe it.”
Court said she is also opposed to same-sex marriage because children need a mother and a father.
“I can’t understand, if we are a blessed nation under a biblical Constitution, why there is such a push to change it? We will only start to tear away at the rich fabric and sustained values. Then God will take his hand off our nation and the lights will go out.”
“That is why I believe we need to protect marriage because it has been God-ordained from the beginning.
“God told man to be united with his wife and to multiply on earth.”
What a silly bunt.
Didn’t God say there should be no female pastors as well. Oh yeah, they changed their minds on that one didn’t they??
I suppose bisexuals were abused half the time then? If she can’t think of an explanation for all members of the QUILTBAG community she shouldn’t try to explain it at all.
What a shocking excuse for a decent human being.
How dare this hateful troll of a woman be allowed to spread her poisonous hatred. Move on Margaret. Nobody here has any regard for you any more.
It is worth remembering that Margaret Court has also given a great attack on other Christians, and their right to understand the scriptures, and practice their religion the way they would like. This is not just an attack on the sexuality of people and their Civil Rights, but freedom of religion.
Perhaps Margaret can pick up the phone and call a great Anglican Arch-Bishop, someone who really understood discrimination.
“To penalise someone because of their sexual orientation is like what used to happen to us; to be penalised for something which we could do nothing [about] — our ethnicity, our race. I would find it quite unacceptable to condemn, persecute a minority that has already been persecuted.” Nobel Peace Prize winner and Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeLDsBPSzYg&feature=related
No person has to justify anything to a puny cult leader of a bus stop of so called Christians. The majority of Christians, as the polls show, demand GLBTI people have the right to marry, and have equal Civil Rights.
I am more concerned about the Murdoch Mafia publishing hate material and hiding behind people like Margaret Court or Jeff Kennett. A gay man was murdered in Geelong, tied up and burnt to death, hate crimes are on the rise, and so is the publication of hate material dressed up as journalism. We need to have a closer look at who the editor of the Herald Sun is, and why he seeks to have us punished due to our birth. We all have a capacity to start a Facebook campaign against the editor and the papers advertisers. We had laws changed in Tasmania, and this newspaper the Herald Sun is nothing compared to that historic win for Civil Rights.
Excuse me, my sister was abused as a child by one of my uncles and she’s turned out straight. I never was, and I’m gay. Please explain, Ms. Court.
@ Sandra, out of curiosity, which God is it that you believe in and worship and if you wouldn’t mind explaining, why is it your God that exists but the many others that are worshipped on a daily basis, all around the world, do not?
Plenty of clergy must have been abused as children then, for over the years there have been many examples of Catholic priests that couldn’t keep their grubby hands off young boys.
Well now Mrs Margaret Court; I wonder what mt case is then. In my family, my sister and I had the same upbrigging, educated, middle class with no abuse. I am gay ( have known since I was about 5 or 6), my sister is straight ( couldn’t be any straighter than her).
please explain!!! ( would like to hear your insight on this one)
Its funny that people who obviously can’t get laid seem to get involved in the sexuality of everyone else.
Some people really need to keep their thoughts to theirself. “Court said she is also opposed to same-sex marriage because children need a mother and a father”, look at all the people out there that have been raised by only their mother or their father who have grown up the same as everyone else. I also hate people saying that children need both a mum and dad, that’s why people stay unhealthy relationships and how would that make a child whose lost a parent feel. Dumb woman.
I think my favourite part was seeing all the comments with a single downvote.. up until Sandra’s comment, when they abruptly stopped until someone else disagreed with her.
Gee, who could be the person responsible?
Find out who is backing this C*nt and her bass ackward church and begin boycotts against ANY and ALL financial institutions that she does business with!! Does she have a bank account? Boycott the bank(s) with which she does business with!! Are there any businesses or corporations that are sponsoring her or her lovely little hate tribe? Find out who and what they are and boycott the sh*t out of them!! Believe me folks when the religious nutjobs find out that their money base is threatened this religious whacko puke of a female will quickly begin humming a different tune!! I suspect once the boycotts really begin to take their toll she’ll be issuing a “heartfelt” apology to us.
The Editor of the Herald Sun wants his head read, if he thinks pushing kids off a bridge, is good for selling papers. What is next on this odyssey of evil, an interview with Nazi’s about how bad people are, who are not white or Jewish? This is the Murdoch Press at their worst – profiting from hate. I read it they are simply using Margaret Court, to promote a particular brand of hate, otherwise why publish a small time pastor from an obscure church that does represent the majority of Christians? Even most Catholics do not think she should have any role as a Church leader. There are many views on many things in Christianity, so hiding hate behind the Bible is not on.
The Margaret Court’s of the world, simply are not represented by the polls that show, over and over, the majority of Christians support Marriage Equality. Scratch around and you can fine good old wholesome Nazi Christians, but the vast majority of Christians support Civil Rights and are simply not like that all.
Indecently, God’s creations are homosexual. Take for example gay fruit flies and lesbian mice, when scientist clone them, they are also homosexual. So Margaret is asking people to say God’s creation is wrong. I cannot imagine for a moment, God would create a man and say you are not natural, or someone who is gay and say oh no, I made a mistake. Also, I cannot not imagine Jesus throwing stones at his gay neighbours. The story of Sodom is of male rape, of not being polite to strangers. I suggest Margaret Court and her followers are guilty of Sodom, and more importantly, not acting in any way like Jesus is said to of treated people. It is all very well for Margaret to tell people to act likes Jesus, but I would like to see her follow him just a bit, just even a tiny bit. I guess for her it is a matter of do as I say, not as I do.
Leviticus originally did not have chapters, like the word homosexual, it was added to later publications of the Bible. Fundamentalist selectively quote the bible, and ignore other parts. “For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother. His blood shall be upon him.” (Leviticus 20:9). “Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property.” (Leviticus 25:44-45) Millions of Christians around Australia simply want us to have the same Civil Rights as they have. There are many interpretations of the Bible, and like the Nazi’s, some still use it as weapon of hate, but they are more and more isolated.
To quote from an Anglican Arch-Bishop, and someone who really understood discrimination.
“To penalise someone because of their sexual orientation is like what used to happen to us; to be penalised for something which we could do nothing [about] — our ethnicity, our race. I would find it quite unacceptable to condemn, persecute a minority that has already been persecuted.” Nobel Peace Prize winner and Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeLDsBPSzYg&feature=related
I cannot believe this hypocrisy & hatred from this fundamentalist Christian extremist. Totally lacking in “grace & love”, the media should be banned or restricted from printing and promoting such nonsense
It is ok to be gay, my children.
Sandra, simply believing something to be true does not make it so. The simple fact of the matter is that there has been no peer-reviewed research conducted by credible scientific organisations which demonstrate a causal link between past sexual abuse and a homosexual orientation, whether entirely or in part. If you believe homosexuality to immoral then you’re welcome to that opinion, but let’s be intellectually honest here, shall we?
Both opponents and proponents of this issue are so concerned with finding the root causes of homosexuality, but in a legal context, it makes absolutely no difference. We need to spend less time focusing on such trivial subjects.
Oh you stupid ignorant woman. You should not say these things without alot of investigation. I hang my head in shame about you..
If this woman knew as much about her religion, as she proclaims to know about my up bringing, or my lifestyle, she would spend a little more time praying, and a little less time condeming others.
Start charging tax on all churches They have got off for so long sponging off the tax system
gotta love these ignorant ppl that have no idea on being gay but somehow they think they know it all unless you walk in our gay shoes dont even think you know what we go thru, what we feel what we choose and not choose to feel we are all human why cant we all learn to accept each other the way we are just like all different races. Ignorance and Dribble is all that comes out of her mouth
Sandra, what is your motivation for entering the debate on a GLBTI news site? I am fascinated, annoyed, but fascinated. BTW, if God did not want us to be gay and he created us all I his image,then what is it you think he is telling us?
Margaret, I agree with you. I applaud the willingness, courage and integrity that it took for you to stand up for what is right on such a very unpopular issue.
Please note that Margaret did not say that all homosexuality is a result of past abuse – just that there is a correlation between the two – which I believe to be the case.
God tells us what is right, not the other way around.
People should rest assured that Margaret Court and her ilk do not speak for the majority of Christians, let alone all Christians. There are many churches and church leaders that do not support a flat earth policy, or creationism, or stoning adulterous women, or selling their sister into slavery.
Treat it for what it is – a desperate attempt to justify ignorance and fundamentalism. The less press given her (and her like) the better.
What really saddens me in all this is that clearly she really believes what she is saying. However what angers me is that the media keep encouraging her to spout this outrageous nonsense. She only has to open her mouth, her mind of course remains closed, and the press print every word without ever having challenged her to prove what she says or however outrageously wrong (as in this case) because of the media she gets a free run and our young people and the innocent are again made to suffer. I wonder does she know or for that matter care that the crap she spouts can and no doubt has lead to depression, suicidal thoughts, suicidal behaviour and most likely contributed to someone death? Why don’t the media ask her about gay youth suicide or is that also cause by being abused by one’s priest.
Hang on a mo’ – “BIBLICAL CONSTITUTION”???
Is she talking about the same secular country that I thought I was living in?
About 16% of Australians are regular churchgoers. Who’s the minority now?
If ignorance is bliss, she must be happier then God after he created the world.
If I knew where this bitch lived I would go there and slap her in the face with her so called good book. I’m gay and I’ve never been abused in my life. Margarete court you should be imprisoned for enciting vilification and discrimination of all LGBT people its people like you that make me hate religion and im a christian and have been baptised 2x in my life at birth and my 18th birthday and the minister who baptised me knew I was gay and he didn’t go around saying no you don’t belong. Margaret you should be in a retirement home waiting to die. Cause your opinions make me wanna help expedite the process.
Since when did she become the voice that everyone listens too? Who gives a f@ck what she says or thinks? She is nobody to us.