CI urges Phillipson to ditch ‘ill-judged conversion therapy ban’

The Christian Institute has challenged Bridget Phillipson over her recent claims that Government proposals to ban so-called conversion therapy do not threaten freedom of religion or parental rights.

Contradicting an article by Phillipson in The Independent, the Institute, Greater Love Declaration and Affinity emphasised that the draft legislation leaves ordinary Christian ministry, pastoral care, prayer or conversations between parents and children open to prosecution.

Published in June, the Conversion Practices Draft Bill for England and Wales covers “emotional pressure” that causes a person to believe they do or do not have a particular “sexual orientation” or “transgender identity”. Any person found guilty of an offence faces a fine, up to five years in prison, or both.

‘Ill-judged’

The Christian groups told Phillipson that there is “nothing on the face of the Bill” which reassures Bible-believing Christians “that religious teaching, pastoral care, prayer, or the ordinary work of churches could not be subject to prosecution. Courts will apply the statutory words, not a newspaper article”.

Courts will apply the statutory words, not a newspaper article

They added: “We are also concerned by an apparent lack of religious literacy in the framing of the proposals. The deliberate use of the word ‘conversion’ – a foundational Christian term describing the work of the Holy Spirit in turning a person to Christ – to label the conduct to be criminalised is particularly ill–judged.”

The letter called on Phillipson “to abandon this terminology and adopt language that does not appropriate or distort a core Christian concept.”

Censorship

The Institute’s Deputy Director, Simon Calvert, said: “This draft legislation is one of the most troubling attempts at censorship we’ve seen.

“Parents should not be treated as criminals for expressing concern when their child wants to make permanent changes to their body, especially when such changes can cause long-term physical and psychological harm.

“Neither should pastors be threatened with imprisonment for Christian teaching on marriage, sexuality or gender identity in the presence of a gay or trans person.”

The conversation police

Mr Calvert asked: “Shouldn’t a pastor be allowed to advise a congregant not to leave his wife and family in order to explore a new ‘sexuality’? Shouldn’t a church leader be allowed to teach the positive, affirming message that no one is made in the “wrong body”?

He concluded: “It’s clear that this legislation goes much too far into policing reasonable conversations and statements of belief. This disproportionate and controversial measure should be shelved.”