The social justice chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales warned that a bill targeting conversion therapy threatens fundamental rights.
“The Bill defines ‘conversion practices’ as conduct towards someone which intends to make a person have, or not have, a particular sexual orientation or transgender identity, or make them believe they have or do not have such an identity,” said Archbishop John Sherrington of Liverpool.
“This Bill proposes to extend the legal definition of abusive practices in ways that threaten a person’s fundamental rights, including freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression,” the prelate continued. “The legislation will also create uncertainty around lawful pastoral care by the Church, family life and open conversations that can take place in a range of social settings.”