CofE warn Govt not to criminalise prayer under ‘conversion therapy’ ban

The Church of England (CofE) has warned the Government that a ‘conversion therapy’ ban must not criminalise consensual prayer and pastoral care.

A spokesman explained that the CofE will respond to the call for evidence to highlight its “concerns” about the Bill. Although a 2017 General Synod voted in favour of a ban on so-called ‘conversion therapy’ in relation to sexual orientation, the current Bill goes further by covering ‘gender identity’ as well.

Under the Draft Conversion Practices Bill for England and Wales, a person could face up to five years in prison for applying “emotional pressure” that causes a person to believe they do or do not have a particular “transgender identity” or “sexual orientation”.

Criminalising prayer

A statement from the CofE said: “We believe that everyone is made in the image of God and should be cherished for who they are.”

It explained that while the General Synod had supported the Government in bringing forward a ban, it is “important to ensure that any legislation does not unintentionally criminalise providing appropriate prayer and pastoral care to those who seek it”.

The spokesman said that while pastoral care and prayer should never be coercive, a “ban on conversion therapy must still allow space for discussion and disagreement”.

The Roman Catholic Church also criticised the Bill for going “far beyond the protection of citizens, overreaching into normal daily family life, pastoral conversations and everyday teaching”, and called for the legislation to be abandoned.

Posting on X, Maya Forstater of women’s rights group Sex Matters said: “Hallelujah for the Church of England and the Catholic Church standing up for their principles. The state should not be policing prayer.”