Don A-If gay is beautiful, then why would you choose not to be gay? That shows you still have inferior feelings about being gay. If you were black and thought black was beautiful, would you choose to be white? I'm gay, I think gay is beautiful and unlike you, would never choose to be straight.

tom, atlanta, usa

Cheers for a nuanced view.But is Freudian view of "close-binding mother, weak distant absent father" dead? My gay friend A father died in alcoholic crash before his birth. B, son of alcoholic abusive father, weak mother. C, anxious mother; father departed D, FA absent, MO male-averse. Hmmmm..

Brian Kevin Beck, Whitewater WI, United States of America

Many regimes entrench their power by putting up a minority to hate. The Nazis did it, Mugabe does it. The Catholic Church has done it for years (burning witches, the inquisition...on and on). What is the surprise? You don't have power unless you exercise it. What's new? They've been at it for centuries! The Pope's obsession with homosexuality has a real political reason, have no doubts about that.

So much for universal love and charity! Always press hype that.

scott , Brisbane, Queensland

The pope is not a social scientist or a gender expert, he speaks within the parametres of religion. All he re-affirmed was that under catholic teaching homosexuality is frowned upon. His word are not law and no one has to agree with him.

Ali, London,

Bodily gratification never has any societal value. Any human can abstain.

George, Oklahoma, U.S.A.

If you find the 'norm' within two populations (eg male and female) for whatever behaviours/tendencies you like, you will probably find differences. But they won't be as marked as the differences between individuals in either population. So why focus on the gender stuff?

Minnie Mae, Ascot, UK

"It would be mischievous to suggest that this might have affected the historical practice of youngest sons making a career in the Church."

Ha ha...a reasoned answer AND a crack at the Church's hypocrisy. Excellent stuff!

Anthony Lester, Brum,

Thanks for the article. I would like to add though, that most gay and lesbian people prefer not to have their orientation, a preference, which to a certain degree, could allude to a choice. Please consider using the word orientation instead of preference. It's respectful to gays and lesbians.

Sam, Melbourne, Australia

The fundamental fault with religious devotees is their desire to force their views on to everyone else. If someone else is homosexual, so what? It's their life and they should be allowed to live it as they choose.

Chris, Derby,

Brains change from imprinting or fetal conditions, but human behavior is voluntary. -- The pope sets norms for members of his church, he is not teaching science.

George, Oklahoma, U.S.A.

Social norms for reproduction do serve cohesion.

George, Oklahoma, U.S.A.

jbentley, do you really think procreation is a good thing? Have a look around: your procreation has taken the world to the brink of disaster and changed the climate of the entire planet. It's far more selfish to keep reproducing yourself into oblivion than to have a care for the future of the world.

Rod Nelson, Vancouver, Canada

Basically the Pope says Global Warming of the earth's atmosphere, and gays warming up to other men, are a threat to humanity. I think his holiness is exaggerating. There is no scientific evidence.

Omro, Manchester, UK

Its correct to say that some people are gay and cannot help themselves or even elect to be gay for their own pleasure.
But they should not exactly be seen as beyond criticism or comparison against those who procreate. Gays have selfiish lives compared to family life.

jbentley, Brighton, UK

Real, testable can not show anything, it can only indicate something.
My drink almost went through my nose when I read that a greater number of older brothers does not indicate a social connection but rather a 'hormonal imbalance' in the womb! I would love to know what science was used for that...

Blakey, Perth, Australia

Is there a gene for love? Beyond protecting the young it's a social construct. As a man, to appreciate the strength & kindness of men is a faith for me, better than to fight in the name of religion, power & wealth. Does the planet need more uncared for babies or to praise our intrinsic beauty?

Philip B, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

The debate is being dragged to the wrong arena. This should not be a debate about whether a person has chosen to be gay, or was born gay. It is whether he/she has the right to live how they wish, free from interference in their life from others.

Mark Baker, Grays, UK

It is so funny, only a small percentage of people are same sex orientated, male or female mainly due to genetic factors much like everything else. Does anyone want to be same sex orientated, probably not. Always the same for religious types, its their cause to victimise. No understanding.

Pete Best, Northampton, UK

Logical inconsistencies in Hendersons' thought:
1) Gender theory cannot obviate biology but it can attenuate social codification of sexual roles opening the way towards greater self-expression;
2) Biology does not necessarily predetermine social dynamics, beware of biological determinism/fetishism!

Pino, Melbourne, Australia

Philip, we're not talking populist 'science', we're talking about real investigative falsifiable science. But it really doesn't matter what label you put on it: verifiable, testable observations have been made about the state of things and they have made clear...

Mark, Brisbane, Australia

Were it not for the contributions of homosexuals like Michaelangelo, there would be nothing to see in the Vatican. Benedict should get down on his hands and knees and give thanks to them. The Vatican could do with a lot more, not less!

James Petersen, Sydney,

homosexuality has a stronger place in the world of nature than a man-made religion. in some ways religion is the enemy of nature - religion often seems to suggests that man is more important and god-ordained than rest of the natural world. (hence a lack of respect for rainforests.)

merle, london, uk

To best understand the Vatican view of the sciences, one need only take note of its recent "forgiveness" of Galileo.

Rick Hepner, Salt Lake City, USA

"Science has made it clear .." No it hasn't. Its really pathetic the way some are so quick to claim 'Science demonstrates....' and then spout their own beliefs. I suggest you read Crichton's 'Aliens cause global warming' to understand the downgrading of science with politicism.

Philip, Wales, UK

While the assumption implicit in Mr Henderson's article is that the Church invariably opposes science, it should be pointed out, yet again, that a Catholic priest, Gregor Mendel, invented modern genetics, and another priest, Georges Lemaitre, proposed the theory of what is now called the "Big Bang".

Dr. Andrew Pinsent, Sunningdale, United Kingdom

I am a homosexual. I grew up being a homosexual. I never knew any other sexual feeling other than for the same sex. I did not choose to be homosexual. If I had a choice I would be heterosexual. I had NO choice. I was born this way, and I condemn the pope for his harmful rhetoric. Gay is beautiful!

Don A, Lismore, Australia