Drachma ‘expected Church to state no sexual orientation is an illness’

Drachma, a group representing LGBTIQ Christians, said that it expected the Catholic Church to clearly state that no sexual orientation is a disorder or illness in its position paper on gay conversion therapy.

“We did not expect the paper to say that the law can be a deterrent on anyone who out of his or her own free will seeks therapy to change his or her sexual identity,” Drachma said in a statement. “On the contrary, we expected the Church to educate the public by explaining that one’s sexual orientation should not need to be changed”

A position paper issued by the Church on Saturday caused outrage after it claimed that a Bill to criminalise conversion therapy would “affirm the superior status of homosexuals” and “make it a crime to assist paedophiles whose condition is manifested in same-sex behaviour”. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat later hit out at the paper, arguing that treating homosexuality as a curable condition is a “mentality of the dark ages”.

Drachma said that the Church “missed out on an opportunity to build bridges with the LGBTIQ community” by stating clearly that it is against gay conversion ‘therapy’ in its recent position paper.

It expressed disappointment that the Church chose to “erect walls” and argued that conversion therapy should be prohibited on religious grounds as “sexual orientation and gender identity are a gift from God”.

“Any form of therapy should encourage a person to embrace with serenity this God-given gift,” the group said.

“We did not expect this Paper to say that one should change sexual orientation for religious reasons.

 “One can, for religious reasons, change or address behaviour, and this applies equally to gay and straight people. Unfortunately, one can also opt to suppress one’s sexual identity. However, sexual orientation can never be modified, so why does the Church offer false hope, while giving the impression that it is defending the promotion of conversion therapies?”

A position paper issued by the Church on Saturday caused outrage after it claimed that a Bill to criminalise conversion therapy would “affirm the superior status of homosexuals” and “make it a crime to assist paedophiles whose condition is manifested in same-sex behaviour”. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat later hit out at the paper, arguing that treating homosexuality as a curable condition is a “mentality of the dark ages”.

Drachma expressed their disappointment that Church failed to ask for forgiveness in the name of its members, including priests, who recommended or practiced conversion therapy.

“At no point [in its position paper] was there any indication of concern towards the pain of such people or of their families,” it said. “We expected the prime concern of the paper to be the psychological, emotional and spiritual damage suffered by victims of conversion therapies.

“Instead, the paper focuses on the fear that the autonomy of the professionals might be at risk or that the professionals might be subject to criminalisation. In its conclusion, the paper is critical of the Bill that attempts to address the needs of a vulnerable group at the expense of the professionals who can face criminal charges. However, seen from a different angle, the Paper is also defending the interests of professionals at the expense of a vulnerable group.”

Drachma also dismissed the Church’s argument that the law “could discourage therapists from taking on cases of patients whose early life trauma is manifested in sexual confusion”.

“We did not expect the position paper to make any form of connection between homosexuality and childhood traumas, thus implying that the homosexual identity is the cause of pathological development,” it said. “It is interesting to pose the question whether the same approach would have been taken with a straight person who has undergone childhood traumas. Would she or he have been advised to heal from his or her heterosexuality and would the sexual identity been directly linked with the trauma?”

PN youths condemn equation of homosexuality with sickness

The youth branch of the Nationalist Party similarly condemned attempts to equate homosexuality with a sickness.

“We have continuously voiced out commitment to the full integration and support of all members of society – regardless of their gender identity, sexuality or otherwise – and have always done so with the backing and full endorsement of the party,” the MZPN said. “Whilst dialogue is important to understand all stakeholders’ positions and opinions, the starting point must be a clear and valid rejection of any notion that the gay community requires medical remedies.”