Originally published in Premier Christian News
A group of church leaders have said that the Prime Minister’s proposed conversion therapy laws could threaten to criminalise some Christian practices.
In a letter representing more than 1 300 churches, the group warned that Sir Keir Starmer’s plans for a “full trans-inclusive ban” on conversion therapy risk “legislating away” basic Christian practices, including prayer and pastoral care.
The group argue traditional Christian teachings are being unfairly mixed with illegal and abusive practices.
The letter reads: “Campaigners often imply that expressing mainstream, traditional Christian beliefs on sexuality or gender identity in pastoral conversations is, inherently, a form of ‘conversion therapy’.”
Co-signatory of the letter Revd Dr Matthew Roberts told Premier the plans don’t account for or understand Christian teaching.
He said proposals for the bill include “anyone who wanted to negate or suppress people’s sexual orientation or gender identity”.
“If you think that you’re doing that by doing something abusive, that’s horrendous. But of course, a Christian sermon that calls people to repent of their sin and to live in a godly way is also about negating and suppressing our sins,” Roberts said.
“It would capture any Christian minister or youth worker who gave normal Christian teaching, commending marriage as being one man and one woman, faithful for life.”
According to the letter, some activists are calling for the ban to cover “gentle, non-coercive prayer”.
“This raises the alarming prospect of police and prosecutors having to decide whether someone has prayed ‘the wrong kind of prayer’,” the letter reads.
Such proposals, Roberts said, could be “very damaging” and leave “perfectly normal Christian ministry, ending up on the wrong side of the law”.
The letter to the Prime Minister offers to help the Government understand marriage doctrine, distinguish it from abusive behaviours, and ensure “normal Christian teachings” are not criminalised through “religious illiteracy”.
Church leaders are asking for “safeguards” to be included in the bill, to avoid criminalising non-coercive prayer and ordinary church teaching.
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