sexuality and the ecumenical movement.' He explains that he meets homosexuality on three different levels.

'There is the homosexual who decides to live out his life alone, without real relationships with other human beings. Here there is much depression, loneliness, despair. I doubt if it is really satisfactory. Those who do it say that it is nearly impossible.

"'Then there are those who form a stable friendship and set up a home with another person of their own sex. These friendships can be very good, very happy.

'Finally, there is the third group-alas, I must be honest, and admit that it is the largest-in which promiscuity flourishes, and which shades off into prostitution.

"'When young men come to me and tell me that they are homosexual I urge them first of all to accept the situation-I believe the chances of cure are not good and those who claim to be cured are usually bisexual anyway and secondly to develop a good and enduring friendship. Homosexuals need a positive attitude-to feel that good can come out of it-not to feel guilty.'

"How, I asked, could he say this when the Roman Catholic Church regarded homosexual intercourse as mortal sin?

"'It is not a mortal sin, I am sure. All the priests who work on the problem become convinced of that. I personally tell practising homosexuals that they are free to receive the sacraments. I am sure the attitude of the Church must change.

""In sexual matters Catholics argue from 'the natural law.' But the concept of 'natural law' arose in the 12th century, and in those days 'natural' was defined by what was natural biologically. But now

we know that there is much more to man's nature than biologypsychology, for example.'

"Pater Gottschalk's positive attitude to homosexual friendships finds expression elsewhere in Amsterdam at a club for homosexuals called 'Centre for Culture and Recreation.'

"The club owns pleasant premises in the heart of the city, and declares its aim to be 'the promotion of humane judgment and treatment of homosexuality; the giving of psychological, moral and legal assistance against prejudice and harmful legal codes; and the discouragement of homosexual prostitution.'

"There are now seven such clubs in different parts of Holland, and about 4,000 members altogether, both male homosexuals and Lesbians.

"The club is recognised by the police, and enjoys their approval so long as it is careful to admit no one under 21. Police officers have been quoted as saying that its existence reduces importuning.

"Sitting over a drink beside the club dance-floor I was struck by the quietness of dress and the total absence of the exhibitionist behaviour which, like most heterosexuals (and many homosexuals) I find a distasteful feature of bars frequented by homosexuals in England.

"And given the basic difference that people come to this club to meet their own sex, there was nothing here that one might not find in any dance-hall, except that (I am not sure why) people seemed to be more relaxed and at ease than in most mixed gatherings.

"Later I asked the man who founded the club whether it had always been like this.

" 'Not when we started after the war. In those days you see, we