Washington – Upon hearing the news that Daniel Avila resigned from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops after causing uproar for writing a column saying Satan might cause people to become gay, Dr. Sharon Groves, director of the Human Rights Campaign Religion and Faith Program, made the following statement:

"Mr. Avila’s dangerous view that Satan causes people to become gay has no place in any credible news publication, whether it be mainstream or religious press.  He ignored not only the widely accepted science that same-sex attraction is normal, but also the modern thinking of many religions.  I am pleased the Conference of Catholic Bishops accepted his resignation and I ask them to speak up and denounce his dangerous rhetoric.”

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.