Church of England and Catholic Leaders Warn UK Conversion Therapy Bill Could Criminalise Prayer
The Church of England and Catholic bishops have raised concerns that the UK's draft Conversion Practices Bill could unintentionally criminalise prayer, pastoral advice, and parental guidance.
In Brief
- •The Church of England and Catholic bishops have raised concerns that the UK's draft Conversion Practices Bill could unintentionally criminalise prayer, pastoral advice, and parental guidance.
- •The proposed legislation would criminalise attempts to alter an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, establishing potential prison terms of up to five years for offenders.
- •Church representatives emphasized support for banning abusive and coercive practices, but urged lawmakers to protect open religious discussions and non-coercive pastoral care.
- •Catholic leaders called on politicians to scrap the bill entirely, maintaining that existing laws already provide adequate protection against abuse and coercion.
Why It Matters
The dispute underscores the ongoing tension between legislative efforts to curb harmful conversion practices and legal protections for religious freedom and family life. Religious leaders argue that ambiguous drafting could subject parents, therapists, and clergy to criminal investigation over non-coercive conversations.
Key Details
- Maximum Proposed Sentence
- Up to 5 years imprisonment
- 2017 Synod Vote
- Church of England voted overwhelmingly to request a ban on sexual orientation conversion therapy
- Primary Focus of Bill
- Criminalising attempts to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity
Context & Background
In 2017, the General Synod of the Church of England voted overwhelmingly to call on the UK government to prohibit conversion therapy related to sexual orientation. Subsequent debates over extending legislation to gender identity and pastoral guidance have raised questions regarding the scope of legal safeguards for religious practices.
Original Reporting & Sources
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