By Chris Eyte, Christian Daily International.
The attorney general of New South Wales (NSW), Australia last week reaffirmed a ban on praying for sexually struggling people even if they request it.
Lyle Shelton, national director of the Family First Australia political party and a candidate for a seat in the Upper House, stated on Friday (Sept. 5) that Attorney General Michael Daley had reaffirmed the ban in a parliamentary session.
The NSW Parliament on March 22, 2024 had banned LGBTQA conversion practices, which took effect when it enacted the Conversion Practices Ban Act 2024 (NSW) on April 4 of this year. The law includes a ban on “performing a ritual, such as an exorcism or prayer-based practice to change or suppress someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity.”
“Some prayers are now illegal in NSW,” Shelton stated on LinkedIn. “If a mum, dad, pastor, or friend prays with someone who asks for help to follow God’s word, they could face sanction.”
Calling prayer a freedom and not a crime, the party leader said the government has “no business” deciding which prayers are lawful or unlawful.
He pledged the party would introduce legislation to restore the freedom to pray for anyone who seeks it, specifically to restore “the right to pray for anyone who asks for prayer for unwanted same-sex attraction or gender confusion.”
“Prayer is at the heart of religious freedom,” Shelton said. “If someone asks for prayer to live in line with their faith, it is an extraordinary overreach for the government to make that illegal.”
The commitment comes after Liberal Member of Legislative Council Susan Carter revealed in parliament that the new Conversion Practices Ban Act makes some prayers unlawful, even if people freely seek them.