The Pastoral Company - Latest Comments

Re: Male Circumcision

cthornby — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:25:58 -0000

If you’re a Christian, Andries, you need to do some reading of Paul’s epistles, and study some church history, because what you say is ‘Biblical’ is not. Romans 2:25-29, 1 Corinthians 7:18, Galatians 2:4, Galatians 3:3, Galatians 6:12, Galatians 3:13, Galatians 5:2, Philippians 3:2-3 are good starts.
Your comment about barbarians is, I expect, directed to Muslims. It is unworthy, uncharitable, un-Christian, and impolite. I only let it stand to demonstrate the silliness of your comment.

Re: Male Circumcision

Andries — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 07:53:22 -0000

Male circumcision - yes - that is biblical. Woman circumcision - no. that is barbaric, and should be banned in 1st world countries. Leaf that to the barbarians!

Re: Contact Me

Bob Walsh — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 20:47:19 -0000

Tony, just a suggestion: Could the embassy in Indonesia be used as an immigration assessment centre to handle the needs of refugees, instead of the illegal boat operators? Those then choosing the trip by boat can be returned to Indonesia. Indonesia is the last port used not the place where the alleged abuse occurred. Keep up the pressure on the Labor Govt. Warm regards Bob Walsh

Re: Phimosis

Phimosis Treatment — Sun, 22 May 2011 10:50:35 -0000

Hi Sam,
I agree with Col considering a non-surgical approach before moving on to more aggressive treatment options. While I'm not sure if Betamethasone cream would work in your case since you have already entered your teens. Have you tried any stretching techniques - manually or device assisted?

Also, I agree that you should try to resolve this problem before you become sexually active. Because the foreskin does not retract completely in phimosis patients, the chances of micro injury to the foreskin is greater.

Re: Phimosis

cthornby — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 01:45:20 -0000

Hi Sam.

It would be best if you went to see your doctor.

Lots of cases of phimosis can be treated medically, and at your age, lots of young men have phimosis. It is important, though, to have it treated before you start to become sexually active.

You can expect that it will take around a month for a circumcision to heal properly. It won’t be painful for that whole time, but it will be for perhaps the first week. You can have pain relief for that, though.

The amount of skin left depends on the technique used by the surgeon who does the circumcision. Some favour looser circumcisions, some tighter.

There is always scarring with surgery, but if the surgeon is competent and experienced, you shouldn’t have too much trouble.

Any surgical procedure has risks. At your age, the risks are those associated with any surgery - the anaesthetic (general or local) has a risk, so does cutting tissue (bleeding being the chief one). There aren’t any particular risks associated with being circumcised. In the immediate post-operative period there is a risk of infection.

There is a less radical procedure called a preputioplasty, which widens the opening. That might be an option you’d like to consider with your parents and doctor.

Ultimately, as you’re 14, I’d say it is up to you whether you want to be circumcised. My advice would be to check out the non-surgical options before doing it, though. In the future you might find that being uncircumcised is what you’d prefer, and there is no going back once you’ve had the operation!

Col

Re: Phimosis

Sam — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:19:58 -0000

Thanks Dave...

I think I have Phimosis. I am 14, close to a stage of sexual contact... I looked at your story and I think I might go for a circumsision though I have some questions:
-How long will it take to heal?
-Will the skin be able to stretch back and forth in sex (As easy as it would for a 'Normal' person)?
-Any scaring?
-More importantly, what are the risks of 1. The operation? and 2. Just generaly with circumsision?

I am not scared but want to make the right choice, I have not taked about it with anyone but I think I will talk with my parents today. Then go to see a doctor. There is a build of of segma and my penis looks exactly like image 1 on the right.

Help me please (Anyone)
Thanks,

Sam

Re: Where to from here?

Scott Thornby — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 21:12:14 -0000

Write about you, brother. You don't need to be struggling with moral dilemmas or for your very life for us to want to read what you have to say.

Blesséd be.

Re: Emptiness

Smileyjack2 — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:52:05 -0000

I too am in this situation. Im a Roman Catholic and for me it influences everything, since I live in a country where it has had a huge influence on our way of life in the past. I have been compared by priests to people who are mentally handicapped, I have been told to prey to jesus to make me a hetrosexual, and I have been told Im going to hell! But you know what, at 18 years old I am no longer a child, and I have learnt that sometimes people take orders from others without questioning those in charge. To add insult to injury those telling us what to do (in this case the vatican) brake their own rules and in many recent cases this has been through the physical and sexual abuse of inoccent children. But despite what these people may tell me (and they are people not god) I believe in the basic foundations of my religion. I treat others with respect, I embrace who I am and what god has made me, I strive to help those who need a helping hand and I aim to put a smile on the faces of those who are hurting. I do not condemn people who do not share my opinions, I do not judge others based on their maritial situation, I do not believe that christs love applys only to a small minority of people. Why? Because I believe in god, not the church! You hold your head up high because god loves you, and if you find a man to love who loves you just as much, then that is a true blessing, because no matter what anybody tells you love is all that matters, in gods eyes and in those who have found god.

Re: Depression and anxiety in gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex people (GLBTI)

Depression Crystal — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 05:53:24 -0000

Most often depression for gays and lesbians is because of the racism or the in acceptance of other people sometimes their loves ones for their sexuality. But as our world becomes modernize acceptance for the third sex is slowly being accepted by the society.

Re: Phimosis

cthornby — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 19:38:01 -0000

Thanks for your comment, James. You're right to point of the level of distress some men have when they discover they've been surgically altered without their consent. That's the root of my concern - these boys and men don't consent. If an adult wants to be circumcised - more power to him.

Re: Phimosis

James — Mon, 31 May 2010 23:34:43 -0000

I my self was diagnosed as a young child as having phimosis back in the early 80's. I'm incredibly thankful that my parents and my pediatrician agree that they didn't have the right to choose to mutilate someone who wasn't old enough to choose for them selves considering there are non invasive options such as stretching the foreskin over time. Over the years the idea of circumcision has become a topic of great interest to me and I've done a lot of research on the subject. Also I've spoken with many males from the United States who had no idea whether they were cut or not (due to how common place a practice it has become), and more often than not were incredibly upset to find out that they were. I've also come across a few men over the years who have tried to regrow their foreskin using medical tape to slowly stretch the skin back up and over and was glad to hear it worked for them. It's a slow process but at least it gives hope to those who want to feel intact again.

Re: Suicide is never painless

Karen — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 06:33:40 -0000

My deepest sympathy goes out to all those that were close to Brian.

Re: Infant Male Circumcision – position statement of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (Canada)

Fred Rhodes — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:19:36 -0000

Is it ethical to allow the parents who practice known false god worshipping customs to sacrifice body parts from their children? It is now common knowledge that the masculine Y chromosomes were first created/mutated/evolved/given birth to by a feminine X chromosome, and not by the Heavenly Father myth. Allowing this farce to continue will only lead to more and more cases of circumcision induced paranoid delusional terrorism. This is why all this bogus pseudo-scientific data-twisting misinformation is preventing true knowledge from progressing. It is quite clear that false creation myths will only lead to the opposit which is self extinction.
There was no mention of the sexual enhancement functions of the masculine and feminine prepuce. These parts of the prepuce feel good to play with, therefor excising them is a form of eugenics or sacrifice. They also contain specialized cell structures that are known to function as anti-viral defence for our epidurmal, reprodution, and renal organs.

Re: Should Australia reintroduce routine infant circumcision to reduce HIV rates?

Shay — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:02:07 -0000

John
I'm afraid science is going to let you down and prove against your argument. Trends change all the time. We need to promote safe sex to avoid spreading disease. The fact of the matter is that Circumcision is a matter of human rights! No one may ever take a scalpel to my son for no reason whatsoever. And to me, there is never a good enough reason to circumcise. I will teach my son clean habits and trust in him that he will make wise decisions. To mutilate your children because you already have condemned them to be promiscuous or unwise is a very sad thing.

Re: Doctors back call for circumcision ban

Shay — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:35:04 -0000

And as to Johnny's comment on bacteria growing on boys who can't retract their foreskin, I'm afraid you are talking out of ignorance. The penis is self-cleaning and doesn't require cleaning until becoming sexually active really. As I have said, smegma is antibacterial and urine is sterile, so it works perfectly. The vagina is self-cleaning too, and doesn't smell all that pretty. But you know what, douches aren't that popular in Australia either. If were such a problem, don't you think they would be? So people aren't as obsessed with that as some may think.

Re: Doctors back call for circumcision ban

Shay — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:20:28 -0000

As a woman, I prefer an uncircumcised man. I find it typical that a cut man gives me UTI's. This is also true of my friends. I wondered what the difference could be until I learned that smegma contains antibacterial and antiseptic properties, which I believe work during intercourse to protect the woman from foreign bacteria as well. I think they should do studies on the correlation between circumcision in men and UTI's in their women partners. I haven't seen any thus far.

Not to mention the fact that a circumcised penis is dry. And when you can't use synthetic lube due to aggrevating the UTI problem and have hormonal changes yourself drying things up down there, sex becomes abrasive and unsatifying. This is simply fixed by leaving the foreskin intact.

This is just another reason to add to the long, overwhelming list of reasons not to circumcise.

Re: Are you … straight?

Smile Face — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 15:49:05 -0000

i somehow found this video, and um...
i know my english is not that good.. but this is nice...
you brought new point of view at least for the place i come from, homosexual is still prohibited..
thanks for making this video.

Re: Should Australia reintroduce routine infant circumcision to reduce HIV rates?

cthornby — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 21:48:04 -0000

Dear John

Thank you once again for your comment. However, once again, it contains errors, assertions and inaccuracies. I wasn't highly subjective or emotional in my response to you, but your response to either my comment or the post was both. What it comes down to, I believe, is that the science is still not good enough to say whether or not circumcision of infants will result in the prevention of HIV infections. Some studies of men in Africa have shown that circumcision of adults appears to have a small protective benefit. What we know is that science is not always generalisable.

On your assertion: "The parents' right to decide what is best for their child has been taken away from them and WE WANT IT BACK !!!" - I'm not sure what you're referring to. As far as I know you're still able to consent to elective circumcision of any son you might have. You need to find a doctor who will perform the procedure, but that's up to you, as is paying for it - it is elective surgery, after all.

Colin

Re: Should Australia reintroduce routine infant circumcision to reduce HIV rates?

john glazebrook — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 08:53:35 -0000

Cthornby makes gross assumptions about peoples's sexual behaviour which favor his or her argument I did not comment this area

Mate, you either carry the bug AND transmit it or you don't !!!
Its not all that complicated

Unfortunately, and sadly, it is the women in our society who are now suffering because of the uninformed and misguided policies of the majority of the medical profession with respect to circumcision in Australia over the past 20 to 30 years

The parents' right to decide what is best for their child has been taken away from them and WE WANT IT BACK !!!

More than 400 scientific papers on the preventative health benefits
of circumcision have been published over the last 10 years
Is that not sufficient ?

The bad news for the anti circs is that the science is not going to
go away and will keep on coming ! No amount of highly subjective and emotional argument will be able to counter the scientific facts I refer you to the The Communicable Disease Centre's publication in Feb 2008 on Male Circumcision

Re: Doctors back call for circumcision ban

Johnny — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:05:47 -0000

Mutilation? WOW! Seriously? It is NOT mutilation. The penis works perfect when it is circumcised. It IS cleaner, no matter what anyone says. Imagine all the bacteria growing in your childrens foreskin, because they cannot retract it for 8 or 10 years, sometimes even longer! I can't have my children go through that. I have two sons and a daughter, their mum and I decided it would be best for them. They are perfect children, complete. Foreskin SERVES NO PURPOSE! I got circed at 19 because I had many complications with my foreskin! Doctors in Australia did not want to do anything (This was like 5 years ago, until I went to Sydney and got care of it! Seems like larger wester cities still perform routine circumcision, and especially in the suburbs where most upper-middle class families live and know the advantages. I would not let my children suffer because some Tasmanian backward men think differently. We are now seeing the effects of that generation that does not
circumcise...circumcision is therefore necessary later in life, infections and phimosis are the trend now, and STI rates are higher than ever! HIV/AIDS is growing thanks to this generation and what can we do about it? Circumcision is a natural and safe practice! I lost no sensitivity, do not go with those FOLK MYTHS! Trust WHO (World Health Organization) and UNAIDS, they highly recommend circumcision..and not some nuts from Tasmania!

Re: Religion and politics

Brian Ralph — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:07:29 -0000

Mr Rudd attends our church whenever he is in Sydney for the weekend but then the other choices don't amount to much. I have never taken a survey but would think our parishioners would be evenly divided.

Re: Life of gay people in the church

cthornby — Fri, 29 May 2009 19:20:26 -0000

Hi Adem

Thanks for your comment. It is a hard issue. We generally internalise a lot of what others think of us, and it sounds to me like your friend may have. Ultimately, it will come down to him being convinced - in his heart rather than his mind - that God loves him for who he is, whether he loves men or not. I believe that God works like that, and that God creates us into who he wants us to be. In my understanding, then, God created me (and you) as gay men, and we reach our fulfilment when we have loving and faithful relationships with other men.

There is some information on the Romans 1:26-27 passage over at the Metropolitan Community Church website. Your friend may like to try attending worship at an MCC church - there could be one close to you (I think you're in the UK, based on your email address). The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement may also be of help.

I'll keep both you and your friend in my prayers.

Cheers,

Col

Re: Life of gay people in the church

adem nicholas — Fri, 29 May 2009 19:11:01 -0000

i am a gay man but non christian and i have been in a relationship with a christian guy who is not gay, for the last two years he cares alot abot me but is struggling with his christian beliefs. The passage of scripture that concerns him the most is Romans 1:18-2:11. We would like to move forward as a couple but can not do so due to his guilt and feeling seperation from God can you help us on this matter.

Re: Should Australia reintroduce routine infant circumcision to reduce HIV rates?

Mark — Sat, 23 May 2009 03:41:35 -0000

cthornby

Is the only one making any sense in this debate. I am very glad my parent's didn't decide to get myself snipped. There is no stable evidence to back up the HIV "myth". For anyone who doesn't know, circumcision was introduced to prevent masturbation. A handful of "sick" people have been trying to promote male genital mutilation ever since.

These people try to make up and promote bogus claims to try to increase the rate of such a barbaric ritual. Another thing what is it about the claim "cosmetic surgery"? Is your son going to grow up to be a nudest?

There are even numerous cases of when the mutilation has been botched and the parents have had to bring their new "daughter" home instead of their son. Even much worse the death of their son due to complications.

This information can be found in a matter of minutes through any search.

I would like to hear back from anyone who thinks differently.

Re: Should Australia reintroduce routine infant circumcision to reduce HIV rates?

cthornby — Sun, 17 May 2009 20:31:46 -0000

Thank you for your comment, John.

I assume you mean the citation in New Engl J Med. 2009 Mar 26:360(13):1349:51, which is a comment on New Engl J Med. 2009 Mar 26:360(13):1298:309.

Doing a rapid Google on you leads me to think you're a scientist, and I think you're right to say that scientific evidence is objective and reproducible. My issue with the findings in these studies is whether they're reproducible, generalisable, and whether the health advice is good enough to suggest to people that they rely on circumcision as a preventative for HIV and STDs, because this is the message people will get. Condoms will get ditched, and people will assume that circumcision protects them: if it does (and this is the reproducible and generalisable bit - we don't know yet, because the sample isn't large enough), it only has a 50-60% reduction of risk compared to being uncircumcised. Now, this is a good reduction if we're talking about something ubiquitous - HPV for example (though the vaccines for HPV give much better protection). It is a poor reduction if we're talking about something life-threatening, like HIV. Will you, John, take responsibility for those men who ditch condoms and rely on circumcision based on your advice, and become seropositive for HIV? Will you take responsibility for their sexual partners and children? I don't mean to be emotive, but this is what it comes down to. You know, presumably about numbers needed to treat and relative risk reductions - the numbers are just not there. If circumcision was such a terrific preventative for STDs we would not have seen the large-scale problems with them in the '60s, '70s and '80s, and would not have seen the rapid spread of HIV in the population of gay men in the US - an overwhelmingly circumcised population.

When we talk about sex, and how STDs spread, we're not simply talking about viruses or bacterium. We're talking about people and behaviours - that's what ultimately prevents STDs: people making good choices about their behaviours.

Anyway - thanks. I realise we don't agree, but I thank you for your contribution.