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UK government: Christian teaching on homosexuality will not be criminalized

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – UK officials have told a group of Church leaders that the government has no intention of criminalizing Christian teaching on homosexuality, the Christian Post report. Officials gave the assurance last week at a meeting of leaders who are concerned any future ban on conversion therapy may ultimately criminalize and punish Christians who teach against LGBT ideology.

Held at 10 Downing Street with officials from the equalities office, the meeting was held after 2,500 UK clergy signed a letter warning that a ban on conversion therapy may result in the silencing of Christian teaching on homosexuality.

In a statement, Rev Matthew Roberts, Minister of Trinity Church York and co-author of the letter said: “Believing in marriage, the faithful union of one man and one woman, is profoundly loving and life giving to women, men and especially children. But this belief, which has always been a cornerstone of Christian teaching, may be about to become a criminal offense.”

“The government has proposed a ban on something so ill-defined that even loving conversations between parents and their children could be made illegal,” Roberts said. “Ordinary Christian ministers could find themselves in prison for doing their normal Christian duty,” he added.

Nevertheless, in a statement to UK’s Telegraph after the meeting, Roberts said the government officials had made it “very, very clear that there is no intention to criminalize Christian teaching,” the Christian Post reports.