Christian Institute Threatens Legal Action Over Gay Conversion Therapy Law

The Christian Institute — a charity that supported Ashers Bakery’s refusal to fill an order in the “gay cake” case — now says it will take legal action against a law that would restrict gay conversion therapy practices in Ireland.  

The Christian Institute is reportedly taking issue with the Northern Ireland lawmakers’ attempts to ban gay conversion therapy “in all its forms,” including prayer, preaching, and pastoral work. The Christian Institute says that it is against “harmful pseudo-medical practices,” but is concerned that the law would criminalise legitimate religious beliefs.  

In addition, the organisation is concerned that the law would restrict a parent’s right to not support the gender transition of their child.  

“A ban on spiritual guidance and prayer would be tyrannical and unworkable”, Deputy Director for Public Affairs at The Christian Institute Simon Calvert told the News Letter. “Do they expect police, prosecutors and courts to decide which kinds of prayer are criminal and which are not? Most people would be horrified by the prospect of someone being convicted for praying ‘the wrong kind of prayer’. We must not allow activists to exploit legitimate concerns as a cover for pursuing anti-religious agendas”. 

Indeed, the Christian Institute backed up Ashers Bakery in the so-called “gay cake” case. The Irish bakery had refused to fulfill an order for a cake celebrating a new law allowing same-sex marriages in the country based on their “Christian” values.  

The Christian Institute also says that it will take legal action to stop laws that it says curtail expressions of religious belief. After lawmakers failed to amend the ban on gay conversion therapy to exempt religious prayer and counseling, the Christian Institute reportedly threatened legal action in a letter stating that the group “will not hesitate, where appropriate, to seek a judicial review”. 

Advocates for the law say that gay conversion therapy, in any form, is cruel and inhumane, and exempting prayer and religious practices would give abusers an avenue.  

“The significant problem caused by creating loopholes in this ban based on freedom of religious belief or religious practices leaves LGBTQI+ vulnerable people at risk of further harm”, Aisling Twomey, Policy and Advocacy Manager with the Rainbow Project told the News Letter, noting that hundreds of faith leaders have called for an end to the practice.  

What do you think of laws prohibiting gay conversion therapy? Tell us in the comment section below.  

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