Catholic Church in Scotland promotes gay ‘cure’ therapy groups on website
The diocese of Paisley defended the resources claiming they do not endorse them
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
A Catholic Church in Scotland has been promoting gay cure therapy groups.
The Catholic Diocese of Paisley has faced backlash after it included several pamphlets for the so-called ‘gay conversion therapy’ on its website.
In one pamphlet in encourages parents to pray to God to cure their children of homosexuality and implies that they should send them for conversion therapy, The Sunday Times reported.
The resources refer the parents to the US-based gay ‘cure’ advocate group National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) which claims that childhood sexual abuse causes homosexuality.
As well, the diocese also advertises a local branch of Courage International, a global Catholic gay ‘cure’ network which encourages LGBT men and women to “live chaste lives in accordance with the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching on homosexuality”.
Gordon MacRae of Humanist Society Scotland said: “There is no such thing as ‘converting’ LGBT+ people.
“It is a lie based of pseudo-science that puts people’s lives in danger.”
However, despite advertising for Courage, the church defended the resources and said: “The diocese of Paisley carries links to Courage, which may signpost other links or resources.
“This does not represent an endorsement or recommendation.”