The Scottish Government’s plans for a wide-ranging ban on LGBT ‘conversion therapy’ will terrorise parents for “simply trying to help their children navigate normal adolescence” and criminalise Christians for “teaching what Christians have always taught” and should be dropped, church leaders in Scotland have said in a letter to the new Minister for Equality Emma Roddick. The Scotsman has the story.
Reverend Dr. William Philip, of the Tron Church, Glasgow, and signatory on the letter, said the planned ban was “alarming”.
He said: “The presentation – as a law to protect LGBT people from abuse – is disingenuous; all such abuse and coercion is already, quite rightly, illegal. It is these proposals which are abusive towards ordinary people, including loving parents protective of their children – by criminalising simply speaking with them, praying for them, or daring to disagree with LGBT ideology.
“Threatening to punish church leaders and churches for upholding Christian teaching; terrorising mothers and fathers with the spectre of removing their parental rights for simply trying to help their children navigate normal adolescence – are these really the marks of a free and tolerant society?”
Professor David Galloway of the Lennox Evangelical Church in Dumbarton [and former president of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons], said church leaders wanted to be able to share the teachings of Jesus [with] all.
He said: “We could never support abuse or coercion, which are completely at odds with the Bible’s teaching. But we have a duty to lead our congregations in living for Christ, in the way He has taught us. And that means teaching what the Bible says about all areas of life – including sexuality and gender.
“An evidence-based case for a new law has not been made and no gaps in existing law have been identified. Yet the Scottish Government is continuing to press ahead with a law that could see ordinary Christians criminalised for merely expressing their beliefs.”
Other signatories include reverends and pastors from the Church of Scotland, Scottish Episcopal Church, the Elim Pentecostal Church, the Free Church of Scotland, the United Free Church of Scotland, Associated Presbyterian Churches, and the Free Church (Continuing).
Conversion therapy is usually understood as any practice of attempting to change or suppress an individual’s sexual desires or behaviour or his or her gender identity. The Scottish Government has committed to a full ban on these practices covering both transgender identity and sexual orientation. The ban is a key aspect of the Bute House Agreement between the Scottish Greens and the SNP, and is thought highly unlikely to be dropped by the new First Minister, Humza Yousaf.
The Scotsman story is worth reading in full.
Dr. Philip told the Daily Sceptic that the the proposed ‘conversion therapy’ ban “is a major assault on freedom of speech and of religion. It is another dire piece of SNP legislation, which offers nothing that existing legislation does not already cover in terms of protection against abuse, coercion or torture, but will criminalise ordinary parents, and ordinary traditional church teaching”. You can watch Dr. Philip talk about the proposed ban and his letter here.
To join in with the discussion please make a donation to The Daily Sceptic.
Profanity and abuse will be removed and may lead to a permanent ban.
Bit confusing calling it conversion therapy. Isn’t that when you try to convert people from something they are to something they are not? But aren’t a lot of these men trying to convert themselves to women?
Abu Humza is an islamist – he will support anything that helps to destabilise western countries.
If my kids were afflicted by this spiritual illness no law would stop me from rescuing them.
This is war.
“…a law that could see ordinary Christians criminalised for merely expressing their beliefs.”
What is Humza Yousaf’s religion? What are Ms Sturgeon’s political beliefs
It’s useless to read the article because its entirely devoid of details, it just contains some people’s interpretations and opinions of the unknown particulars.
NB: I’m perfectly happy to be convinced that these interpretations and opinions are correct, however, I’m not willing to accept that without being convinced of it.
I think this is something which has been known for a while now but perhaps is not common knowledge; the link between Gender Dysphoria and Autism Spectrum Disorder.
”A natural question is: could ASD and GD be linked? While the epidemiology of both conditions is not well developed, several papers have reviewed the available evidence and have found a link. Van Der Miesen et al, in a narrative review concluded that about 20% of GD patients indeed have ASD.
So the next time there is a news story on transgender rights, surgical advancement, hormone therapy, and psychological outcomes, keep in mind that autism is likely playing a role in the interpretation of what is portrayed to the public.”
https://petermcculloughmd.substack.com/p/autism-spectrum-disorder-and-gender
Gender dysphoria is a condition vulnerable people get talked into by political activists. And autistic kids are a prime example of such vulnerable people.
Garbage.
We hate autists (because they’re different) and really want to blame them for everything we also don’t like! is almost as common as We hate Germans [and …]! As someone who happens to be a member of both groups, I’m willing to tolerate this nonsense because I can’t change it. But that’s not a melody I’m going to go along with and you’re more than invited to keep all your bizarre sexual perversions to yourself.
So nobody’s sexual desires or behaviour should be suppressed? Gary Glitter will be pleased.
Yes, I know that’s not what the author meant… The point is that the law already makes certain acts illegal. Like assaulting people to ‘change’ them or to force sexual practices on them.
And if coercion is illegal then what the hell has been going on for the past few years?
The Scots who have been voting for the SNP when they fell out of love with New Labour were really just looking a for an anti Tory party instead of labour. They found one in the SNP, and overnight were all suddenly convinced they wanted “Independence”, even though they had never wanted it before. ——–But this gender stuff will be the knitting needle in the balloon for the SNP. ——-Scots can decide they don’t want Tories, and decide they don’t like Westminster, but this gender garbage is NOT what they will put up with for the sake of that.
Sexual desires change, even gay activists like Peter Tatchell (he has expressed the belief most will be bi in a few decades – judging by Gen Z he could be right!) and Camille Paglia readily admit it. Prof Lisa Diamond’s research demonstrates degrees of fluidity. Desire is not some fixed, genetic trait. There are many sexual desires, homosexuality is just one. It can change by changed perceptions. If someone wants to try to lessen homosexual desire through counselling, prayer therapy etc to preserve his marriage or stay healthy (from HIV, Hep B & C, STDs – all much commoner in gays) then why should he not have the right?