The bill is intended to create new offences in relation to the ‘carrying out of abusive conversion practices on individuals’, according to the government’s Office for Opportunity and Equality.
The Archbishop of Liverpool, John Sherrington, has voiced ‘serious concern’ about the Conversion Practices Bill currently undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny before it is discussed in Parliament, and called on politicians to abandon it and focus instead on enforcement of existing protections and accessible support for anyone facing abuse or coercion.
He said the Catholic Church opposed abuse in all circumstances and its bishops recognise that it is important for governments to use appropriate legislation to protect people from harm and abuse.
Current legislation already covers such abusive practices and makes them illegal.
‘This bill proposes to extend the legal definition of abusive practices in ways that threaten a person’s fundamental rights, including freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression,’ said the Archbishop.
‘The legislation will also create uncertainty around lawful pastoral care by the church, family life and open conversations that can take place in a range of social settings.’
Earlier this month Deputy Ozanne, a former government LGBT adviser and equality campaigner, gave evidence in parliament to the joint committee examining the bill, as founder of Ban Conversion Therapy Coalition and Ban Conversion Therapy Legal Forum.
She told the Catholic newspaper The Tablet: ‘History shows us that religious organisations are very slow to recognise the abuse that is practised by those in positions of authority over vulnerable adults and children in their midst.
‘The Catholic Church is no exception and indeed has often been at the forefront of such abuse. The Archbishop would do well to recognise this.
‘To me, lamenting and addressing the harm it has done to LGBT people who seek to love and be loved is by far the most effective and authentic way of proclaiming the good news of Christ in this generation.
‘All conversion practices are forms of abuse, and there can be no “holy grail” that provides a cloak under which this harm can continue to be allowed.
‘The draft bill is fully compliant with the rights to religious freedom. As I am sure the Archbishop is aware, there is a clear legal distinction between the right to hold a belief, which is absolute, and the qualified right to practice that belief.
‘Where those religious practices cause harm, such as prayer that aims to try and change a person’s sexuality or gender identity, they can and should be curtailed in order to protect the lives of LGBT+ people.’
Christian organisations including the Christian Institute have written a joint letter to Minister for Women and Equalities, Bridget Phillipson, warning that the legislation contains no guarantees that would prevent the prosecution of ordinary Christian ministry, pastoral care, prayer or conversations between parents and children.
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