Church Of England Pushes For Ban On Conversion Therapy

The Church of England has recently called on the government to officially ban the harmful practice of conversion therapy.
Conversion therapy is the practice (typically done in religious circles) of attempting to change one’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) has condemned the practice as unethical.
‘There is no good evidence this works and we believe it has the potential to cause harm. Often these approaches are based on religious interpretations about sexuality rather than on a researched and informed understanding of sexual orientation,’ the UKCP states.
The Church voted 298 to 74, with 26 abstentions, to ban the practice. This motion was backed by all three houses of the synod, as well as the bishops, clergy, and laity.

Paul Bayes, the Bishop of Liverpool said that he doesn’t believe LGBT identity to be a crime or a sin. ‘We don’t need to engage people in healing therapy if they are not sick,’ he stated.