Of Pan paniscus and the Pope infallabus

From Professor A's Weekly Science Fix:

"Female bonobos “advertise” their homosexual bonds. As you all know, bonobos (Pan paniscus) are famous for being very erotic and for using sex as a form of communication and bonding with members of the group, including both sexes, different age groups, etc. Bonobos live in matriarchal societies and bonding between females often involves face-to-face sexual contact (genital rubbing) with other females; this is possible because female bonobos have forward facing genitalia. Also, our cousins make a lot of noise during sex. But there is a pattern to the se vocalizations during sex. Vocalizations seem to be a way to advertise and boost their social status, because they occur mostly during encounters in which a lower-ranking female was “selected” by a higher-ranking female, and the intensity of the vocalization increases even further if the alpha female is within earshot." --P.A.W.S.F.

One of the favorite arguments of the Religious Right in their attack on evolution science goes like this: "You don't find homo behavior in the lower animals, so it's obviously a choice, not a innate thing." The play on words may have been unintentional, but it says plenty about the believer mindset (that is, their minds set their opinions in stone).  I hate to contradict them, but neuroscientists like Sam Harris believe our behavior toward others is itself an inherited trait, a propensity for our species to be caring and compassionate toward others, having nothing to do with religious belief.  Biologists point out that many species have same-sex behavior.  Out there in the wild, having no closet handy, they do what comes naturally.  What is completely unnatural, and what produces pedophile priests, is dogma preventing clerics from having sex.  We are so hardwired for that we'll get our rocks off even if it means sticking it through the confessional glory hole.