Hundreds of church leaders and 1000’s of extraordinary Christians have signed an open letter to the brand new Equalities Minister, Olivia Bailey, to reconsider plans for a ban on “conversion therapy”.
Critics of proposed bans on “conversion therapy” have previously noted that existing laws already make abuse of any kind illegal.
Additional laws aimed toward “conversion therapy” are, critics argue, simply designed to placate a fringe lobby and will find yourself getting used to criminalise normal Christian behaviour.
The open letter is an element of a campaign run by The Christian institute called “Let us Pray” and has been signed by nearly 1,000 church leaders and greater than 3,000 lay believers.
The letter raises concerns that the brand new law against “conversion therapy”, which is currently being drafted by Bailey’s department, could penalise parents who refuse to affirm their children’s homosexuality or trans identity.
Standard Christian practices like praying for somebody or counselling them could, they fear, also fall foul of the law.
“As Christians, we oppose abuse of any kind and are grateful for the various good laws that exist. However, the lead campaigners for a recent law routinely conflate the extraordinary work of churches with abuse,” the letter reads.
“They imply that merely expressing Christian beliefs on sexuality and gender in prayer and pastoral conversations constitutes ‘conversion therapy’ and needs to be outlawed.
“Humanists UK has even called for repentance – which is central to the Gospel – to be included in a ban.”
Aside from mandating what Christians cannot do, a recent law, could potentially decree what they need to do.
The letter cites an analogous law that got here into effect in Victoria, Australia, “Official state guidance on learn how to comply with the law tells Christians learn how to pray and what they will and can’t teach – effectively imposing a recent state-mandated theology.
“The guidance also stated until recently that a parent discouraging their child from taking puberty blockers is guilty of illegal conversion therapy. This was only removed following a backlash.”
Signatories of the letter include Andy Lines, Presiding Bishop of Anglican Network in Europe, Graham Nicholls, Director of Affinity Church Network, and theologian Ian Paul.
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