Church of England warns conversion therapy ban must not 'unintentionally criminalise' prayer

Church of England warns conversion therapy ban must not 'unintentionally criminalise' prayer Campaign groups warned it was 'more important than ever' to make clear that LGBT+ people do not need 'fixing' Sign up to the News Newsletter I agree to receive updates and information about my account, the GB News Community, and related products and services from GB News. Email address Sign up By signing up you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy and Community Rules.

Thank you for signing up! See the latest from GB News here . Choose GB News on Google - add us as a preferred source Choose GB News Support GB News Champion free speech and independent journalism while unlocking exclusive benefits. Support us The Church of England has said Labour's proposed ban on conversion therapy must not "unintentionally criminalise providing appropriate prayer". The General Synod, the Church’s legislative body, argued that pastoral care and prayer "should never be coercive".

The draft Conversion Practices Bill is set to make it a criminal offence to try to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. However, some senior church figures have warned the bill "appears to go far beyond the protection of citizens". TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say A Church spokesman told The Telegraph: "We believe that everyone is made in the image of God and should be cherished for who they are. "In 2017, the General Synod voted overwhelmingly to call on the Government to bring forward a ban on conversion therapy with respect to sexual orientation, which has since been echoed by senior leaders.

"It is, however, important to ensure that any legislation does not unintentionally criminalise providing appropriate prayer and pastoral care to those who seek it, and we will reflect this concern in our evidence to the pre-legislative scrutiny process. "Of course pastoral care and prayer should never be coercive. A ban on conversion therapy must still allow space for discussion and disagreement. "We want to prevent abuses of power and coercive practices, which should be the focus of any legislation."

The report offered a scathing outlook at the current state of the Church of England | GETTY Meanwhile, some Catholic church leaders have raised concerns about the legislation, with John Sherrington, Archbishop of Liverpool, saying it could "create uncertainty". He said: "There is a danger that this legislation will create uncertainty around lawful pastoral care by the Church, family life and the legality of open conversations that might take place in a range of social settings.

"There are clearly a range of scenarios under this proposed legislation in which legal action of various types may be taken against individuals or organisations, including parents of children who express well-informed opinions and make well-intentioned statements. "We are concerned that this legislation will challenge the Church’s ability to fulfil its calling to proclaim an authentic understanding of the human person with clarity, simplicity, love and respect.

"People of faith must remain free to express their beliefs through speech and prayer. We call on politicians to abandon this bill and focus instead on enforcement of existing protections and accessible support for anyone facing abuse or coercion." LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Nottinghamshire cathedral could become first to close in Church of England's 492-year history Church of England is 'heading for financial disaster' due to net-zero targets and slavery reparations, report warns Archbishop of Canterbury doubles down on £100million slavery payouts as she vows to 'repent' for Church’s past LGBT+ groups have welcomed the proposals | PA However, Jayne Ozanne, a gay evangelical Christian and the founder of the Ban Conversion Practices Coalition, told the bill committee that she was traumatised by people praying for her to be straight.

She said: “A lot of prayer will be directed; somebody will have their hand on you and pray. “It is the fact that they are trying to pray for you to be changed to a thing that they think you ought to be as opposed to praying for you to find a point of peace. "You might say that that is too subtle a difference, but they are worlds apart. Helping me come to a place where I know who I ought to be is very different from telling me that I have to be straight."

Jayne Ozanne said LGBT+ people can be traumatised by people praying for them to be straight | GETTY Bishop of Manchester David Walker also welcomed the legislation as "a positive step" towards stopping practices which have "harmed LGBT+ people over many years, leaving many with lifelong trauma". Campaign groups argued it was "more important than ever" for Labour to make clear that LGBT+ people do not need "fixing". Jasmine O'Connor OBE, Co-CEO of Galop, the LGBT+ anti-abuse charity, said: "We know all too well how gaps in legislation have left LGBT+ people unprotected against covert and insidious forms of abuse, and we welcome this long-overdue legislation.

"It’s a vital first step toward addressing conversion practices as a distinct form of harm...this legislation is urgently needed, and we will keep working to inform the parliamentary process and ensure the ban protects LGBT+ people from all conversion practices." LGBT+ figures have called the legislation an 'important first step' | GETTY A Government spokesman said: "Our draft bill would outlaw a specific form of abuse, setting high bars which protect freedom of expression, including for religious leaders, while ensuring no one is free to commit abuse.

"LGBT+ people should never, without exception, have to suffer coercion or abuse in an effort to change who they are. "Successive governments have agreed for almost a decade that conversion practices have no place in modern Britain. "This Government is clear that freedom of belief, whether faith-based or wider, will be respected by the ban, while our draft bill has already been welcomed by religious groups." Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter News Migrants are now smuggled to Britain on small boats as far away as the Netherlands News Man jailed after 'shock confession' to murdering mother of seven 28 years ago News Critical incident declared after car 'damaged by gunfire' in Swansea as residents told to avoid area News Schoolchildren taught vital lessons of Remembrance at moving Lincolnshire ceremony News Britain braced for migrant crossing surge with hundreds already in the Channel as conditions ease News Six people arrested after several police officers injured by fireworks thrown at a building engulfed in 'misinformation' campaign News Disgraced childminder who wilfully neglected children in her care jailed for two years News Armed police rush to school as boy injured and man seen holding long blade News London set for tube strike chaos as RMT announces new wave of 24-hour walkouts News Kemi Badenoch accuses police officers of 'cover up' over Henry Nowak murder News Britain's hospitality industry could be missing out on £500MILLION over unclean toilets, report reveals News Police vehicle set alight and ambulance workers targeted with fireworks in Bonfire Night chaos News Honour-based abuse cases soar to record high in England and Wales as victims face forced marriage and genital mutilation News Afghan migrants allegedly raped autistic girl, 14, in toilets on busy commuter train News Henry Nowak's killer has life sentence INCREASED after failed bid to cut it News Henry Nowak’s parents slam killer’s appeal against sentence and call his mother’s early release ‘an absolute disgrace’ News Bosses could be sent to JAIL if their staff use wrong pronouns under new trans law News French presidential candidate blames Britain for small boats crisis in Channel News Officers recover £80MILLION cocaine stash after lorry driver makes tip off at burger van News Ministry of Defence 'failed' British soldier killed during training exercise on Salisbury Plain News Labour apologises to young Ukrainian refugees after 'pushing' them to learn Russian News Apprentices dropping out of courses due to 'box-ticking' and 'weak' management, report warns News Pregnant Briton dies in Nigeria as devastated family set up fundraising page to bring body home News Halfords fined £600,000 after tyre fitter killed during roadside repair News World's 'greatest' military air show leaves RAF base at centre of terror probe News NHS nurse at heart of trans changing room row appeals court ruling on gender discrimination case News Birmingham councillors chant 'Free Palestine' after vote to ban Israel-linked investments Exclusive News How an 80s fashion revival created a 20-year British business success story News Appeal launched over controversial 125ft gas drilling rig near Scarborough News Ketchup sachets SAFE from EU diktats but Labour says any ban ‘would be our choice’