Free speech in danger
as police hound bishop

The Christian Institute is appalled that the Bishop of Chester is being investigated by the police merely for stating orthodox Christian doctrine. In a newspaper interview the Bishop suggested that some homosexuals can ‘reorientate’ themselves.

The Lambeth Conference of the Anglican Communion recently reaffirmed biblical teaching that homosexual acts should be repented of.

There is a significant body of research to supports the Bishop’s comments that some homosexuals can change their orientation through therapy. Over 1000 studies were published between 1966 and 1974 alone. Even though it is much less fashionable to carry out research into this area, there are still studies showing that some homosexuals can become heterosexual.

A recent study at Columbia University found that homosexuals could become “predominantly” heterosexual through psychotherapy. This study was significant because it was carried out by Professor Robert Spitzer, a Psychiatrist with a very long track record of supporting gay rights.
Speaking today, Colin Hart (Director of The Christian Institute) said: “The police should not hound a Bishop just for stating Christian belief. I am alarmed that Cheshire Police now believe that they can adjudicate on matters of Christian doctrine. Some gay rights campaigners may want to lock up their critics but it is not the business of the police to act as their agents. They should be out catching criminals.”

“I am shocked that the police are even looking into this matter. Freedom of speech is being sacrificed on the altar of political correctness. Free speech means the freedom to say things which others disagree with, the freedom to say things which others may find offensive.”

“The views of the Bishop of Chester are entirely reasonable, backed up by sound research, and were made in a gentle and humble way. The Bishop’s views on sexuality are completely in line with historic, traditional Christian teaching.”

“It is worth reminding ourselves that homosexuality is an extremely controversial issue among the public at large. The largest and most reliable study of sexual attitudes to date was published in 1994.* It covered 18,000 people aged 16-59. It found that 70% of men believe that homosexual acts are always or mostly wrong.** A much smaller study of people aged 16-44 found that 54% of men in the study believed it to be sometimes, mostly or always wrong.***”

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Note for editors

1. In 1973, under pressure from gay rights advocates, the American Psychiatric Association voted to remove homosexuality from the officially approved list of psychiatric illnesses. Instrumental in the campaign which led to the change in policy was Professor Robert Spitzer. In Spitzer’s recently published research, 83% of the homosexuals/lesbians in the study became heterosexual and a majority married by the end of the study.

2. Many Psychiatrists still provide therapy to help homosexuals become heterosexual. A professional association for this therapy has a web site at www.narth.com. This contains details of a vast body of studies showing evidence that homosexuals can change their orientation.

The Christian Institute, Registered Charity No 100 4774 seeks to promote the Christian faith in the UK
Registered Office: 2nd Floor, Block A, Scottish Life House, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 1DB

* Johnson, A M, Wellings, K, et al, Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles, Blackwell, 1994. The paperback version was published as Wellings, K et al, Sexual Behaviour in Britain, Penguin, 1994.
** Wellings, K et al, Sexual Behaviour in Britain, page 271
*** Copas A J, Wellings, K et al, ‘The Accuracy of Reported Sensitive Sexual Behaviour in Britain: Exploring the Extent of Change 1990-2000’, Sexually Transmitted Infections, 78 (1), 2002, page 29