A church in Lancashire has been feeling the effects of cancel culture after it’s website was shut down because of its opposition to government plans to ban ‘conversion Therapy’.
The church, Stanley Road Baptist Church in Morecambe had, until last week its website hosted by Torrix, a small local web hosting provider. However, after the owner of the web host discovered the leader of the church had co-signed a letter criticising the proposed ban, he decided to shut the website down with immediate effect.
Speaking to the Lancaster Guardian, Matt Fletcher, owner of Torrix said, “I am an ally to the LGBT community, and endorse an outright ban on conversion therapy worldwide. I therefore cannot support any organisation that seeks to perpetuate the abuse of LGBT and/or non-binary people. Therefore, I have decided to withdraw my hosting provision for this website with immediate effect.”
Some 2500 church leaders have signed the letter to Equalities Minister Liz Truss. The letter outlines a number of concerns around the proposed ban, particularly the potential for criminalising pastoral support for people who want to move away from homosexual lifestyles.
“We see in these proposals a clear possibility that our duty as ministers, of proclaiming the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and calling people to find life in him, which includes living by his laws, will be criminalised,” the letter reads.
“We also believe it could be used against Christian parents who could equally be criminalised for loving advice and teaching given to their own children.”
The proposed ban on so-called ‘conversion therapy’ represents one of the most sinister attacks on civil liberties. There are laws already in place that protect against harmful forced conversion practices. This latest proposal is about shutting down any and all opposition to homosexuality by making it a criminal offence to seek or give help to those wishing to move away from homosexual lifestyles.
We need to pray that this proposal does not become law. We need to pray that the voices of those who have been liberated from the harm of homosexuality are raised and we need to pray people will be able to continue to seek the help they need.
There is an agenda being pushed here against God. It started with homosexuality being legalised, then it was normalised and encouraged. Now we see the next part of this insidious agenda to shut down any opposition to it. It is part of the spiritual battle that is raging and we must stand together against it.
