That got me thinking. We've had extensive revelations about child abuse, indecent assaults on priests etc. but now the new guy names himself after Francis of Assisi - the patron saint of animals.



Surely not that?

Surely you're not suggesting bestiality are you ?

I thought it might be after Frank Sinatra, but then there are skeletons in THAT closet too. Allegedly

There were probably some very literal skeletons in that closet, including a few horse skeletons with no head attached.

Should have listened to Tom Hagen the Don's consigliere!

[uPedants' corner.[/u

1. Homosexual genes is a bit of a puzzler, how do they get passed on to another generation?

2. Being as how he's the Pontiff, isn't it now Francis's job to pontificate?



Don't mind me, I'll go away soon.

So, are you confirming that in your opinion that people are not "born" homosexual? Or at least they are destined to be single-generational (within their family's context) abberations? If people are neither born nor choose to be homosexual how does homosexuality come about? Serious question.

No, he's not.



And there are possible (as in discussed by the scientific community) reasons for the development of sexuality that don't involve genes or choice.

Quote Dally="Dally"So, are you confirming that in your opinion that people are not "born" homosexual? Or at least they are destined to be single-generational (within their family's context) abberations? If people are neither born nor choose to be homosexual how does homosexuality come about? Serious question.'" I don't think he was, but he can speak for himself. However as the world's leading scientific brains haven't found the answer to that yet, I am thinking your question that El Barbudo should explain it is a tad demanding. It might be more fruitful for you to google 'epigenetics'. A whole libraryful of work has been done on the subject across the globe, and here's just one interesting study: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3030621/

Quote Dally="Dally"So, are you confirming that in your opinion that people are not "born" homosexual? Or at least they are destined to be single-generational (within their family's context) abberations? If people are neither born nor choose to be homosexual how does homosexuality come about? Serious question.'" I don't think he was, but he can speak for himself. However as the world's leading scientific brains haven't found the answer to that yet, I am thinking your question that El Barbudo should explain it is a tad demanding. It might be more fruitful for you to google 'epigenetics'. A whole libraryful of work has been done on the subject across the globe, and here's just one interesting study: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3030621/

No, of course I am not confirming that, I was simply (light-heartedly) puzzling over how such a gene could be passed on.

Whether someone is born homosexual is neither proof nor refutation of whether a genetic predisposition to homosexuality exists.



However (and I'm guessing here), I'd reckon that a recessive gene could maybe do it, only showing up a characteristic in an individual where two genes have a matching allele.

That's how certain genetic characteristics can skip a generation or several before showing up again.





You seem to under the illusion that characteristics determined by genes will show up in every generation.

This is not the case.



If it is ever proven that there is a "homosexual gene", I get the feeling that you'll be recommending gene therapy for gays rather than accepting that is natural.

Could there perhaps be a multiplicity of "causes"?

How do you explain the significant % of gay men that have very feminine traits - high voices, very slim bodies effeminate mannerisms is that all learned/copied?