The government has formally announced that it will enact a ban on conversion therapy.
The draft of the Conversion Therapy (Prohibition) Bill currently defines conversion therapy as: ‘any practice aimed at a person or group of people which demonstrates an assumption that any sexual orientation or gender identity is inherently preferable and which has the predetermined purpose of attempting to – (a) change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, or (b) suppress a person’s expression of sexual orientation or gender identity.’
Doubtless, this definition will undergo considerable legislative scrutiny. However, as it stands (and notwithstanding any corresponding religious exemptions in the Equality Act), there is a genuine possibility that the law will criminalise any Christian counselling or publication which, for example, encourages the straight-married, who experience same-sex attraction, to remain faithful to their vows of lifelong sexual fidelity, instead of divorcing in readiness for a new life with a same-sex partner.
'Agree to disagree' isn’t how Jesus handled false teaching
For over fifteen years, I’ve been a prolific contributor to online theological and church-related discussions and debates. However, the robust …