Conservative candidate Miriam Cates was a trustee of a church while it promoted so-called conversion therapy, the BBC has learned. An independent report has concluded that conversion practices – which seek to change or suppress someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity – were “endorsed and supported” by St Thomas Philadelphia church in Sheffield between 2014 and 2019.
Mrs Cates was a member of the church between 2003 and 2018, and a trustee from 2016 to 2018. She told the BBC she was unaware of the allegations and that she does not endorse gay conversion therapy. Although the BBC has not found any evidence Mrs Cates had direct knowledge of gay conversion therapy taking place, the report found that it was openly discussed and part of the church’s culture during the time she was a member, and some of her time as a trustee.
The Church of England’s Diocese of Sheffield requested charity Barnardo’s carry out an independent investigation into the church after Matt Drapper, a gay man, complained he was the victim of an “exorcism” ritual there in 2014 – before Mrs Cates was on the board of trustees. The report was published on Monday shortly after it was leaked to the BBC
It said “the culture of the church [in 2014] was one in which the presence of evil spirits and ‘ungodly soul ties’ were believed to be the cause of homosexual thoughts, feelings and behaviour, and prayers of ‘deliverance’ for homosexuals were not uncommon”. Contributors told the report authors that while gay members of the church would be welcomed, there was a “firm belief” that these individuals would “eventually understand the need to be transformed to live in accordance with biblical revelation and orthodox church teachings
Source: BBC
In other news – Jeremy Corbyn accuses Starmer of rewriting history
Jeremy Corbyn has accused Sir Keir Starmer of “rewriting history” when the current party leader claimed he had known Labour would lose the 2019 general election.
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