Australian state effectively declares Christianity a “false ideology”

There are concerns for Christian freedoms within the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) following the implementation of a ban on conversion therapy for individuals who discover as LGBTQ.

An announcement issued by Michael Daly, the attorney general of NSW, claimed, “Conversion practices are based on the false ideology that LGBTQ+ people have a ‘disorder’ or require treatment.”

Under the law, conversion therapy is defined as psychological or medical interventions with the aim of adjusting or supressing the sexual preferences of LGBTQ people. The definition is so broad that it might include counselling, prayer and even conversations with relations.

Conversion therapy that leads to “substantial mental or physical harm” is punishable by as much as five years in jail, while taking someone out of NSW to undergo conversion therapy elsewhere could lead to a three-year prison sentence.

The Conversion Practices Ban Act 2024 took effect on 4 April and will also lead to fines of as much as $100,000.

The attorney general’s statement claims, “The ban doesn’t prevent general religious teaching or expressions of spiritual principles, or parental discussions with their children related to sexual orientation, gender identity, sexual intercourse or religion.”

However, a video posted by NSW’s Anti-Discrimination Agency says that prayer and counselling and interventions by relations can now be construed as “illegal”.

It said, “These [conversion] actions might appear like counselling, never ending referrals, prayer or pastoral conversation … New South Wales now has a law against conversion practices … whether done by relations … or faith leaders, amongst others, are actually illegal.”  

While each the attorney general and the NSW Anti-Discrimination Agency each attempted to say that the brand new law, and indeed being LGBTQ, are completely compatible with being an individual of religion, it is obvious that is barely possible if the religion is subservient to LGBTQ ideology.

Notably, the Anti-Discrimination Agency’s video on the topic depicted the suitable face of Christianity as a priest wearing a rainbow stole.  

Church leaders have previously voiced concerns concerning the recent law. In an open letter to the Australian prime minister after it was passed last yr, they said that it “impinges on fundamental practices of our faith”, and that preaching and pastoral conversations shouldn’t be treated as “therapy”. 

“The laws, together with the accompanying media and Frequently Asked Questions document, makes it clear that our duty as ministers of proclaiming the Lordship of Jesus Christ and obedience to his commands is now considered criminal behaviour,” they said.

“Christian parents shall be criminalised for giving advice to their children concerning their sexual desires or gender identity. Christians shall be criminalised for praying with individuals in search of to live in a way that’s in keeping with their conscience and the Bible.”

Simon Calvert is spokesman for the Let Us Pray campaign against attempts to introduce an analogous ban within the UK. He called the NSW law “deeply repressive” and warned that it should have a “crushing” effect on basic human rights. 

He thinks that the implications of the NSW law should “function a warning” to the UK.

“The video is obvious that opinions and conversations that don’t conform to state-approved ideology about sex and gender are to be deemed ‘harmful’ and illegal,” he said. 

“Under New South Wales’ conversion therapy law, parents could face five years in prison for shielding their children from drugs which are so dangerous they’re banned within the UK, and church leaders might be carted off by the police for praying with a gay person.

“This Easter, many will attend church services in search of prayer and pastoral guidance for all types of life questions. The concept that church leaders in Sydney might be prevented by law from encouraging people to embrace the orthodox Christian faith is deeply repressive.

“New South Wales should function a warning to the federal government here. Some people thought their approach was ‘moderate’. It clearly will not be. It shows there isn’t any approach to legislate for an activist-approved conversion therapy law without crushing the fundamental human rights of innocent people.”

Despite claims that conversion therapy doesn’t work, there may be evidence on the contrary, notably the testimony of those for whom it has worked.

The Changed Movement is filled with such testimonies. Here is are some excerpts from an affidavit by Haydee Irving: “I continued to attend these [conversion] events with my girlfriend until I became convinced that the way in which we were living was flawed.

“Eventually, I asked her if our relationship was affecting her relationship with God, and she or he broke down and said, ‘Yes.’ In that moment I made the choice to stop pursuing the connection and to follow God.”

She finished her long and turbulent story, saying, “Today, I walk in wholeness… [God] blessed me with a loving husband and 4 wonderful children. Together we love travelling and spreading the excellent news … Once stuffed with fear, I’m now truly free.”