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Protests planned at gay ‘cure’ church forum

Saturday, 20 February 2010

Angry protests are expected this weekend at a Christian conference in Ballynahinch which claims to offer a cure for homosexuality.

The conference is organised by CORE Issues, a Northern Ireland-based group which, according to its website, seeks to “support men and women with homosexual issues who voluntarily seek change in sexual preference and expression”.

Event organiser Michael Davidson said: “The conference is an opportunity for people to move away from homosexuality in a Christian context.”

In regards to planned protests, he said: “It’s very important that people be free to express their point of view and we welcome engagement with those people. But by the same token we hope to be able to express our own experiences.”

Speaking at the conference is Rev Mario Bergner, who says his faith not only cured his sexuality, but also his infection by HIV.

The programme for the conference, called Setting Love in Order, also the title of Rev Bergner’s book, includes various seminars and prayer sessions, and advertises itself as “an important opportunity to confront the personal confusion associated with sexual and relational brokenness in all its forms”.

The three-day event is being held in Ballynahinch Baptist Church, where the Stop Conversion Therapy Taskforce (SCOTT) plan to hold a peaceful protest outside.

The protest group SCOTT was created by journalist Patrick Strudwick.

When Ballynahinch Baptist Church was contacted, church administrator Audrey Harte confirmed the church was hosting the event.

However, she directed all further inquiries to the CORE Issues website.

Former-MP Iris Robinson caused controversy last year with remarks about a psychiatrist she knew who could help people turn away from homosexuality.

However, the Royal College of Psychiatrists has stated homosexuality is not a psychiatric disorder.

It added: “There is no sound scientific evidence that sexual orientation can be changed. Furthermore, so-called treatments of homosexuality create a setting in which prejudice and discrimination flourish.”

This was echoed by John O’Doherty, acting-director of the Rainbow Project, Belfast’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender support group.

He said: “You can’t change your sexuality. In fact, attempts to do so have been proven to be very dangerous to mental health.”

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So many people have tried and failed to change our sexual orientation, resulting in depression, discrimination,ostracism and even suicide. I pray they come to their senses somehow - we are not sick! just different...

Posted by saddened | 21.02.10, 21:25 GMT

Its big business. An internet search reveals thayt organizations who specialize in curing homosexuals have budgets in the millions of dollars. Maybe christians here need some of that money.

When viewed with the natural disaster in Haiti and the spiralling out of control homelessness in LA and other large US cities. Jobless never-before middle class homeless, swelling existing numbers,one wonders why Jesus Christ's followers are diverting money away from issues like these, to cure gays?

I do not understand it.

Would Jesus?

Posted by Gerry | 21.02.10, 20:09 GMT

Idiotic. What next,... therapy to turn black people white? (It's just as unscientific). I just can't understand what the fascination is, that extreme christian groups have with homosexuals? Seriously, what is it that they (homosexuals) are doing that is so morally wrong? Even if I were to accept the bible argument (which I don't) There are murderers and rapists and thieves aplenty running in and out of our revolving door justice system and these groups think gay people are their most pressing problem? Why not save all that repressed homosexual gay bashing energy for somebody who deserves criticism and conversion?

Posted by OldSod | 21.02.10, 17:12 GMT

I am glad that the Belfast Telegraph have brought this to our attention. It is entirely unethical for psychiatrists to be professing to carry out work which the Royal College of Psychiatrists believes to be impossible.

Perpetuating the idea that sexuality is something which can be "cured" is not only irresponsible and damaging to society and those vulnerable members within it, but also immoral.

I hope that most people within Northern Irish society can see sexuality as something other than an illness and do all they can to create a society which tolerates difference and one where we can all live side by side without trying to change the other.

Posted by Danny | 21.02.10, 16:07 GMT

The strategy is to pathologize homosexuality in time for the genetic therapies that are being prepared to "cure" it - and this will not even be imposed except by parents for their own offspring in a free market. Prepare for a new eugenics disguised as "parental liberty" - offering a pre-natal genocide not of homosexuals, but of the gene that makes them that way.

Posted by Terri Murray | 21.02.10, 12:07 GMT

Christians, and indeed religionists in general need to find a cure for naivety before they attempt to address more profound issues.

Posted by jimi | 20.02.10, 22:42 GMT

Another example of The complete and utter nonsence that is religon. A disgrace of the highest order. This should be made illegal as it is an example of homophobic descrimination.

Posted by Neill | 20.02.10, 19:06 GMT

Can anyone at the Belfast Telegraph tell me where CORE uses the word "cure" in regard to its ministries?

Does your reporter not understand the difference between a "cure" and the actual work with which CORE is concerned?

Posted by Christian | 20.02.10, 18:48 GMT