The Beginning of the
Thalamus Center
The idea of the Thalamus Center began on Father’s Day June 2008. The prime focus of the Thalamus Center is aimed at the continuous protection, safety and well-being of children. It initially began as a “letter writing campaign” to help the Vatican to RENOUNCE all their unsubstantiated antigay teachings, because they have been proven to be extremely harmful to children in their early childhood psychological developmental years who grow up to be gay. However, before people could write letters to the Vatican they would have to know more about the facts and details of the early childhood psychological development years growing up gay.
A Educational and Interactive
LGBTQ&I
Professional Resource
The Thalamus Center then evolved into an educational resource with plans in the future to be an interactive resource as well, providing the information from science and religion as related to human sexuality beginning from birth. The prime focus of the Thalamus Center is on the safety and well-being of children by providing an abundance of information from all available global professional resources and references related to LGBTQ&I issues, organizations, from major medical, mental health associations and researchers nationally and internationally. It is based on what was found to be successful when I came out to my parish in March 1997. It was by providing plenty of substantiated information regarding human sexuality that created better understanding and acceptance among the people regarding the issues of sexual orientation even in a Catholic parish. Yes, it is most definitely possible.
The Time and Organization
of the
Thalamus Center project
The Thalamus Center has only been in its preliminary stages of development of organizing the blueprint of its future structure. However, for the past two years I (Fr. Marty Kurylowicz) have been the sole operator of the Thalamus Center working on what the future hope for the Thalamus Center will be. (1) On average I easily (as those who do the same kind of work will agree) log between 60 to 70 hours a week working on the Thalamus Center. (2) This includes the continuous work on the design, presentation, and format of the Thalamus Center, besides posting and writing articles. (3) It includes the constant moderating of the public antigay religious statements made in the news media anywhere in the world - most especially those made by Benedict XVI and members of the hierarchy. (4) This is done for the purpose of drawing to people attention the inaccuracies made in their statements and (5) by providing the correct documented information regarding human sexuality. If this is not done continuously it leaves people, especially Catholics no other resource but to believe as true the inaccuracies made by Benedict XVI and the like - regarding human sexuality in particular homosexuality, and gender identity, which is detrimental to the well-being and safety of children, first. (6) The Thalamus Center is set-up to be like a relay system that displays and is continuously connecting to all the LGBTQ&I professional and community resources available globally. Next, (7) the future plans are that this accumulative information would be organized in an easy accessible way available on the Thalamus Center website for the general public, which includes individuals, parents, teenagers, ministers, clergy, hierarchy members, educators, teachers, therapists, news reporter, and people in government, etc. (8) The Thalamus Center is meant to be a visual display of issues pertaining to sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex that these are not in the closet as many people would want think but instead are truly a part of the normalcy of the human race everywhere. (9) And that the ignorance of these facts regarding human sexuality can be and are detrimental, even life threatening to children growing up worldwide.
My Expertise and Contribution
to the
Thalamus Center Project
My own particular expertise regarding my contribution to the Thalamus Center happened quite by accident. I am an ordained Roman Catholic priest and a psychologist. It was in my own private efforts to understand myself that I studied in great, great depth the issues of homosexuality from the perspectives of science, the bible, Catholic Dogma, contemplative spirituality, and my own extensive psychotherapy sessions. This background makes it nearly clear as day the psychological makeup of Benedict XVI and that of the members of the hierarchy; they simply cannot run away from the truth, no more than I could. And although the Vatican’s unsubstantiated antigay teachings are an implicit form of child abuse – I see them so clearly, now, that they are to me explicit forms of child abuse. When Benedict XVI or a member of the hierarchy makes some public unsubstantiated antigay statements - I clearly see it as if they are severely physically beating millions of children as young as 4 and 5 years of age and even younger. I know too much to remain silent.
I have the unique advantage of having come out publicly as a gay Catholic priest precisely to stop the harm cause to children by the Vatican’s unsubstantiated antigay teachings. I have the experience that after having come out to spend time with the parishioners teaching and explaining issues and complexities of human sexuality in particular sexual orientation answer their questions and listen to their stories and concerns. It is from this background experience, at the parish level that gives me first hand knowledge how people react at first to issues of sexual orientation and what is most beneficial and help to them to bring brought a more knowledgeable understanding of human sexuality, which is not in conflict the bible or the Catholic Doctrine. My “coming out” to my parish, March 1997, to Holy Family Church, in Sparta, MI - is documented in the Grand Rapids Press by Charles Honey, the Religion Editor.
Marriage Equality (Gay Marriage)
Essential
to the
Well-Being of Children
Marriage Equality, (gay marriage) is essential to the well-being to very young children. “Marriage Equality will not become a reality until people learn that its most vital purpose is that it restores the “hope of love” to children in early childhood – essential to their development and well-being for life. Without Marriage Equality we teach children how to hate love and how to be mean and indifferent to people as adults. With all due respect, without Marriage Equality we would teach them in much the same way as has been shown by Benedict XVI and the hierarchy, especially in their lack of care and protection of children for decades. MSK”
The following passages have been rooted in me as far back as I can remember and have remained the motivating force in my life that drives me forward through life.
Know thyself
Plato
This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
William Shakespeare
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
Luke 6:40-42
I Knew Too Much To Remain Silent
From my extensive background well over nearly some 50 years – it all came together quite unexpectedly - one day when I learned at the News Ways Ministry National Symposium March 1997 that children as young as 4 and 5 years old know that they are different. Not that they are gay just different. It is only in their adult years looking back can they identify this feeling “different” as the being gay. It was so vividly clear to me the kind of harm cause to children (globally) by antigay social norms but in particular the Vatican’s unsubstantiated antigay teachings. First, they are not based on Catholic Doctrine, the bible - no more than with condemning Galileo, who insisted that earth revolves around that sun and not as the bible clearly stated that the earth does not move. At that point I knew way too much to pretend I knew nothing. And so, I came out to my parish March 1997 in attempts to draw public attention as well as the Vatican to the pervasive harm that is cause very young children who grow up to be gay throughout the world.
The motivating scripture passage for me was and is from Luke 9:23-26.
Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”
The Lifetime Psychological Harm
Caused To Children
By the Vatican’s Unsubstantiated Antigay Teachings
The psychological harm caused to these children who are subjected to the influences of the Vatican’s unsubstantiated antigay teachings is significant and remains disruptive throughout their adult lives. The harm is not limited the individual child only but affects their families, friends and anyone who might become special to them. It is a severe implicit form of child abuse. The harm that is caused to these children is it affects their ability to love another person and to be loved. It causes the child to grow up in an environment of a societal imposed form of isolation and puts many children at risk of committing suicide beginning in their adolescence years and on into their early twenties. This is the same societal imposed form of isolation that conjured up the inhuman “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy.
It is important to note that this societal imposed form of isolation, is a disconnect from love that is not only related to human beings. It likely will include nearly every aspect of that child’s life from careers, even to ideas, never being comfortable with anything or anyone that this child might like, admire or want to be one with, in an extreme form.
Benedict XVI and the Hierarchy
Are Likely
Victims of The
Vatican’s Unsubstantiated Antigay Teachings
With all due respect, Benedict XVI and the hierarchy appear to be prime examples of the harmful effects of the Vatican’s unsubstantiated antigay teachings in their lack of care, empathy and protection for children for decades including adults, parents, families and each other. (1) Benedict XVI and the hierarchy failed at their “No. 1” top priority given to us all by Jesus Christ to care of children. Not just one time was a child abuse but 100’s of 1000’s of times - an endless count of children sexually abused, globally. They were the people in charge and they did not do their job. They (2) continuously failed miserably for decades and worst they (3) continuously collaborated with then Cardinal Ratzinger (now Benedict XVI) to cover-up these crimes against children for decades. Even worst they (4) continuously knowingly try to shift their blame for their criminal negligence publicly onto innocent unsuspecting gay people even though they knew it was against all major national and international medical, mental health professional associations’ findings that homosexuality is not the cause of pedophilia, no more than heterosexuals. (5) They knowingly threatened people in order to silence abuse victims and their families, including Church personnel and other would be informants. (6) Their behind the scenes - bribing and pressuring influential people globally in governments and in the news media to continue the silencing, the attempts to control the press.
Nixon and Benedict XVI
Groupthink & Blind Guides
There are similarities between Nixon and his men and Benedict XVI and his members of the hierarchy (though not all members) and their supporters. Nixon was obsessed with gaining power, which has been also said of Benedict XVI, by insiders and close associates. And it is this obsessive thirst for power that caused them both to be blinded to reality of their individual situations. And in their thirst for power they gathered to themselves the kind of people who would blindly follow them making their situations critically more susceptible to the symptoms of groupthink, which leads to disaster for everyone. Groupthink “… refers to a deterioration in mental efficiency, reality testing and moral judgments as a result of group pressures.” Christ called this psychological phenomenon 2000 years early as “the blind leading the blind.” "Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind and if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit. Matthew 15:14”
Aftermath of Groupthink
Throw Open
The
Windows Of the Church
The aftermath of groupthink is easily seen in the Nixon Watergate cover-up events, which ended in many convictions and with Nixon finally resigning from office. Benedict XVI situation is in the process of being played out, which thus far has been and continues to be disastrous. It is easy to see the folly of their plans and organization. Being so tightly insulated from all outside influences they are quite blinded to the reality of the immensity of the child sexual abuse cover-ups.
This tragic phenomenon that presently is engulfing the Vatican gives to new meaning to Pope John XXIII statement for initiating theSecond Vatican Council, 1962, "I want to throw open the windows of the Church so that we can see out and the people can see in." This just happens to be one of the recommendations to help avoid the tragedies of groupthink. Like it or not it appears that the Holy Spirit is bringing us all back to the original focus of Vatican II. And even though Benedict XVI, certain members of the hierarchy and their accomplices may have been able to influence and in some cases silence certain news media reporters – they seemly have not been able to stop the women and men who are standing up for justice and the protection of children, globally.
Collaboration & Collusion
The collaboration and collusion of many of these people who have joined in with Benedict XVI and his accomplices behind the scenes fit like a glove with what Christ had to say about “The Rich Man and Lazarus” Luke 6:19-31. The major sin of The Rich Man was not that he was rich – but that he did not even notice the sufferings of Lazard at his gate (passage found below). It is true that money “talks” but Christ warns us – that money can also “fry.” This is also, true for those who do not even look to see the documented harm that is caused to children by the Vatican’s unsubstantiated antigay teachings. Other accomplices, which include many hierarchy members, clergy, associates and laity who also collaborated and or colluded by their silence about this ongoing harm caused to these children - fit the words of Christ regarding “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? (Luke 9:23-27).” But all will suffer the consequences that Jesus spoke of to those who collaborate or collude by their silence in allowing this continuous harm to the “little ones who believe” “… whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. Matthew 18:6”
UNPRECEDENTED STATEMENTS
Of Support For
LGBTQ&I People
I would like to thank Cardinal Schönborn of Vienna for making this courageous and unprecedented statement in defense of children that lasting gay relationships deserve respect. Our hope is that this may be a beginning for the hierarchy members to follow Cardinal Schönborn’s example. And maybe we will see the Roman Catholic Hierarchy move the Vatican to RENOUNCE all their unsubstantiated antigay teachings and begin protecting children.
LASTING GAY RELATIONSHIPS DESERVE RESPECT
Roman Catholic
Cardinal Schönborn of Vienna
By David Gibson - May 18, 2010 - Politics Daily
Tony Blair, a world leader speaking most diplomatically about Pope Benedict XVI needing to rethink his ideas on homosexuality is a most encouraging act human compassion, which is non existent at this level of world leaders. Although throughout 2009 more world leaders and people in goverments spoke out in support of LGBTQ&I people than ever before. And we are most grateful for their courage and support, especially for children who grow up to be LGBTQ&I. Thank You. You will not be forgotten.
Tony Blair, on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 choose to truly be an ally for all gay people for their parents, families and friends. It is an unprecedented act by a world leader. How very reassuring for the world in many more ways than most people can possibly imagine. Christmas 2008 was so cruelly dampened by Benedict XVI insensitivity and unChirst-like message. However, Easter 2009, Tony Blair, beat Benedict XVI to the punch by doing a very Christ like action that simply stunned the world. Thank you, Tony Blair in more ways than I could possibly describe, for people of all forms of human sexuality harmed so severely by ignorance. The harm that Pope Benedict XVI Christmas 2008 message caused I feel slowly healing by your Holy Week 2009 Easter message.
VATICAN OUT OF STEP ON GAY RIGHTS, SAYS
TONY BLAIR
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 8 April 2009
Unfortunately
I Have Come To My End
Financially
Presently, I have come to my end; it is just a matter of time that I will lose my home. My car has been repossessed at the end of July 2009. I sacrificed everything I have to get the Thalamus Center started with the hope that the necessary funding would be forthcoming, which it has not. My hope was that funding would come in early and I would have been able to continue the work on the Thalamus Center while keeping up mortgage and car payments and pay off my other debts. But even though money has not been forthcoming it was important to get the message out about the harm caused to children globally by the influence of the Vatican’s unsubstantiated antigay teachings.
But now I have to change plans to begin looking for a job and begin paying my debts off, it too is the Christian thing to do. This means that I have to stop my work on the Thalamus Center, because in less than 20 days I am to be evicted from my home.
As has been shown that the Vatican in the recent past is not above sabotaging a person’s livelihood for making a living and to render that person silent. Early in 2009, my creditors have asked me with amazement what happened to me to fall behind in payments, which has never been the case in my credit history. My credit rating has always been excellent and that is on record. However, looking back the sabotage by the Vatican, in particular Cardinal Ratzinger - began the day I came out in March 1997 and continued ever so slowly though not noticeably. It gradually pick up a little at the beginning of 2004 and then again at the end of 2004. After Benedict XVI became Pope in April 2005 it became more regularly though not all was noticeable. I believe that it was designed this way having never been in debt in my entire life I began slowly falling into debt though my outlook on income remained promising. The rest of this information is for attorneys to analyze and have investigated.
Ratzinger’s Retaliationto
Fr. Marty Kurylowicz
For
“coming out” 1997
To
Protect Children
Who Grow Up To Be Gay
“After, I came out to protect children in 1997 - I was ordered by then Cardinal Ratzinger (Benedict XVI) to be sent away to be reeducated regarding sexual orientation, to subject myself to conversion, reparative therapy, not a lobotomy but close. I refused to consent to this inhuman treatment for the obvious clinical research data. And because I did so in retaliation I lost my regular priest salary, my earned sabbatical terms and my status for any future assignments in my Diocese of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
At the time, an insider to the Vatican warned me that I could really be hurt severely by people in the Vatican. At the time, I past this warning off as being someone’s over active imagination that was a bit bizarre. I thought that after all this is the USA, what do I have to fear. However, as time has shown, I was so naive to the tactics of Ratzinger and his accomplices both in and outside the Vatican to realize that this person was telling me the truth in order to protect me.
When I came out in 1997 it was before the first public out break of the child sexual abuse cover-ups by Benedict XVI and the hierarchy that happened in 2002. It became clearer this year with the even larger second wave of child sexual abuse cover-ups the began in 2009 and has continue onto into 2010 that revealed the type of retaliation taken against clergy and laity who do not conform to the devious ways of secrecy set by Benedict XVI and his accomplices. In 1997 it was clearly an extreme form of discrimination against me because of my sexual orientation, however, knowing what has happened to me and Benedict XVI and the Vatican most recent track record it borders now closer to a crime of hate. “And even though I am an upstanding citizen of the USA with no criminal record of any kind, I am not protected under any USA civil laws. The same is true for the children who grow up gay are not protected by any USA civil laws from the harmful influence of the Vatican's unsubstantiated antigay teachings the effects of which last throughout their lives.”
It is clear why there is so much silence in the Catholic Church worldwide, by witnessing what has happened to me. Priests and religious do not make the normal salaries that they would be making in the outside world. Our salaries are considerably lower, which can be used and a means of control, especially when you are past the age of 50. This means that if you make a public stand for protecting children – you can be systematically removed and left penniless and homeless. So, the rule becomes not to make waves or you can lose means of support and become homeless. And to the public you can be label by your bishop as either a malcontent or troublemaker. However, today 2010, it is more clearly seen why such a person, a priest like myself may be considered a malcontent or a troublemaker, because he or she publicly calls attention to the pervasive harm caused to children. I rather be on the streets and homeless than to remain silent about the harm that is caused to children. I am considered a malcontent or troublemaker because I foolishly thought that the Catholic Church authorities would care about what happens to children. And sadly we have all found that they do not care. In a strange way, because I did graduate research on the Holocaust, I feel like someone you gave shelter to Jewish people and got caught by the Nazi and is being sent along the Jewish people to the concentration camp.
Eliminating
PayPal
Donate Button
I eliminated the PayPal Donate button of the Thalamus Center, because (1), it never brought in any money and (2), I was sinking so far into debt I did not want to jeopardize the possibilities for any future funding. And there was a third reason, which was my not knowing enough about trusting Internet money transactions.
Having facilitated the new construction and renovations of parish facilities I knew before I started the only best accounting and legal practices would safeguard the parishioners and myself from any unfortunate mishaps regarding money or the completion of the project. The funding for this project solely depended on the sacrifice donations of the parishioners. And so right at the start I hired an accounting firm as well as a legal firm as the needed protection to run a totally transparent, and successful construction and renovation project at the parish level. People trusted me with their money, which is overwhelming; I wanted to be sure that I could show them where very dime was spent.
So, beginning something as important as the Thalamus Center, which is dedicated to making the world a safe place for children, I would like to have the same safeguards set in place of accountants and lawyers before accepting in monies from people. My hope is the Thalamus Center would remain a professional and academic project and resource to people globally long after I am gone.
Making Contributions
to the
Thalamus Center
If anyone is able to make a sizable contribution please do not attempt to contact me through email, or the Internet. I prefer to meet face to face for any transaction of funding. This is so all the necessary safeguards can be set up, before accepting any monies for the Thalamus Center. This will help to prevent any kind of fraud from taking place. There are a number of ways to check into my background, which are all necessary safeguards to be taken. My address of 4005 Cornerstone Dr., Canton, Michigan 48188 will not be mine after June 26, 2010 that is unless a miracle happens.
I think that the contributions I have made on the Thalamus Center are unique because of being a gay Catholic priest who came out for children and in addition I am a psychologist. From this background my contribution begins with the piece I wrote to counteract Benedict XVI harmful public statement made against homosexual and transgender people at Christmas time 2008. ‘Auschwitz - Benedict XVI Christmas 2008 - A flashback far more severe than in Brokeback Mountain - Fr. Marty Kurylowicz - December 26, 2008”
Benedict XVI & the Hierarchy
Hearing Benedict XVI’s Christmas message 2008 sent shock waves through me that so closely reminded me of the Holocaust research that I had completed in 2002. That was the window that opened for me little bit of understanding into the life of Benedict XVI. It also started for me a way to begin to understand what was going on with Benedict XVI and the hierarchy. The research and documentation about early childhood psychological development growing up gay has been available well over the past 30, 40 years. The question becomes why doesn’t anyone among the hierarchy voice this information. I could not understand how the better majority of the hierarchy members could silently go along with this incorrect information about homosexuality that is so harmful to millions of children who grow up to be gay. Then my background studies on group behavior kicked in and the reality of groupthink became so evident that at first I doubted that it was really true. But as time went on and the more individual hierarchy members spoke publicly sounding more like Benedict XVI it became clear that the dynamic of groupthink was a foot, a real possibility.
This understanding about Benedict XVI and the hierarchy I believe helps some world leaders and people in governments globally, especially those who are Catholic to make decision that are much safer for all children who grow up to be gay. Again, it is not about me it is how the emotional impact of this research data about the facts of early childhood psychological development growing up to be gay resonate in a person that is the convincing element. I believe too that it helps Catholics to know that they are not going against the Catholic Church but instead standing up for truth that they stand with Christ.
When we start explaining human sexuality as it begins with children – everyone learns more about himself or herself and begins making this a safer world for children worldwide.
With all best wishes,
Fr. Marty Kurylowicz
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Luke 16:23-26
The Rich Man and Lazarus
There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'
But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'
He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'
Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'
'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'
He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'
Luke 9:23-26
Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
******------******------******------
Full Disclosure - The Roman Catholic Church must confront its failings with contrition
Ignorance about human sexuality is harmful to children.
“Someday, maybe, there will exist a well-informed, well considered and yet fervent public conviction that the most deadly of all possible sins is the mutilation of a child’s spirit.” Erik Erikson
…whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. Matthew 18:6
Protect children and the entire world will be safe.
Important note: No disrespect meant to Pope Benedict XVI or the hierarchy, the one and only concern is the safety and well-being of children.
Kids Are Being Hurt!!!
