Doctor faces inquisition over 'gay'-health comments

The board of directors of Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center will hold a hearing next Wednesday in the case of a veteran medical expert who was dismissed for citing federal government statistics about the dangers of homosexual activity.

WND previously reported on the case that has threatened the career of Dr. Paul Church. He had been on the staff of the Boston hospital for nearly 30 years before his removal earlier this year, noted the non-profit group Mass Resistance.

His offense? Citing government statistics showing that the "gay" sex lifestyle poses deadly health risks.

Church, who also is a member of the Harvard Medical School Facility and has conducted life-saving research on diagnosing bladder and prostate cancer, spoke with WND earlier in the dispute.

"It is incredible to think they would be able to silence me and revoke my ability to be on the staff as a result of my raising valid health concerns over a risky lifestyle," he said.

"This is almost a fascist effort at mind control."

The facts, he contends, are on his side.

"Although it has declined over the past few decades, two-thirds of all new HIV/AIDS infections in the U.S. are the result of men having sex with men. Fifty percent of 'gay' men will be infected with HIV by age 50. Those numbers are out there and they are staggering," he said.

The statistics come from the federal Centers for Disease Control.

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Mass Resistance reported the appellate review of his case will be before a special committee of the board.

The report said the hospital managers have "claimed that Dr. Church's statements to colleagues about the medical dangers of homosexual behavior, and moral issues surrounding it, were 'offensive' and constituted 'discrimination,' 'harassment,' and 'unprofessional conduct.'"

The report said that according to hospital by-laws, Church had the right to ask the board for the review.

But Mass Resistance pointedly asked, "How can we trust the medical profession with our health and safety if it expels a doctor for telling 'politically incorrect' truth?"

The group's founder, Brian Camenker, recently delivered more than 4,000 petition signatures to the hospital demanding Church be reinstated.

And the American Association of Physicians and Surgeons noted, "There were no issues related to patient care, and no accusations of discriminating against anyone. As previously noted by AAPS, Dr. Church had simply used the hospital's communication system to warn of undisputed health risks and to protest the hospital's promotion of unhealthy behavior and lifestyles."

AAPS executive director Jane Orient, M.D., commented that if Church had "conveyed concerns about smoking, there would have been no problem."

"But telling the politically incorrect truth about even larger risks can end a distinguished career," she said.

WND reported the problem began more than 10 years ago when BIDMC began promoting LGBT activities, including Boston's annual "Gay Pride Week."

Church expressed concerns to hospital officials and on the hospital's Intranet, noting that by supporting homosexual activities and strongly encouraging staff participation, the administration was acting against its mission statement.

After all, medical evidence shows homosexual activities are destructive, he said.

Amd BIDMC's mission statement says it exists to "serve our patients compassionately and effectively, and to create a healthy future for them and their families."

The hospital also acknowledges its religious roots, saying, "Service to community is at the core of the religious tradition of both of our founding hospitals, and an important part of our mission."

Church argued to WND that the hospital, by encouraging staff to participate in "gay" pride events, was violating both standards.

The CDC and others have documented that people who engage in the sexual activities practiced predominantly by the LGBT community have increased risk of psychiatric disorders and of contracting deadly STDs such as HIV/AIDS, anal cancer, parasitic infections and hepatitis.

"The medical community should be cautioning people to avoid and abstain from a behavior that is high risk," Church said.

"Just because it has become politically correct and sexual orientation has been written into anti-discrimination laws is not a reason for the medical profession to be promoting and encouraging these risky behaviors. On the contrary they should be cautioning people about it and offer help to reduce the risk. But the idea that a major medical center is a propaganda tool for pro-'gay' activities is just beyond me."

He continued, "We don't have a smoker's celebration so why do we have a 'gay' pride celebration. The political agenda is superseding common sense."

He also expressed concern that the hospital's actions could be viewed as harassment by employees who are members of faith communities that don't promote homosexuality.

Hospital officials responded by saying his complaints about harassment were harassment.

"I was told that my comments about the dangers of homosexual behavior constituted 'discrimination and harassment' and were considered to be 'offensive to BIDMC staff' and would not be tolerated. Yet what was amazing is no one has ever disputed the accuracy of my statements regarding the health risks of 'gay' sex," he said.