CI welcomes Equalities Minister’s intervention on ‘conversion therapy’ ban

Jan 19, 2023 by Jill

from The Christian Institute:

The Christian Institute has welcomed a letter sent to MPs by Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch pledging to ensure the Government’s proposed ban on so-called conversion therapy does not criminalise parents, teachers and church leaders who uphold the Bible’s teaching on gender and sexual ethics.

The Westminster Government announced its proposals yesterday, and a Bill is due to be published in full later this year.

LGBT activists have been demanding a ban that criminalises repentance, preaching, ‘gentle, non-coercive prayer’, pastoral advice and parenting that fails to endorse liberal theology.

Freedom of religion

In the letter sent to all MPs, the Minister for Women and Equalities said the legislation “should not, through a lack of clarity, harm the growing number of children and young adults experiencing gender related distress”.

She restated the Government’s commitment to pre-legislative scrutiny of proposals, saying it would help ensure “faith leaders, parents, teachers or counsellors continue to be able to have exploratory conversations with people about their sexual orientation, sex or gender identity”.

“The freedom to express the teachings of any religion, as well as everyday religious practice, will not be affected by the ban.”

Read here

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