January 13, 2014

The following excepts are from the Liberty Counsel Press Release “Gov. Christie Blocking More than Bridges – Ban on Change Therapy Heads to Appeals Court:” … “‘Gov. Christie signed a bill that blocks licensed counselors from providing and young people from receiving any counsel to change unwanted same-sex attractions, behaviors, mannerisms, or identity. This law is causing immediate harm to young people and to licensed counselors,’ said [Mat] Staver.”

… “‘A3371 is a textbook example of viewpoint discrimination. (more…)

January 13, 2014

The following excerpts are from the report “Defenseless, Surrounded” on Andrew Comiskey’s blog: … “I am mindful of God’s willingness to become utterly vulnerable, as are those of us who stand for the healing of persons with SSA. On every side, we are derided: politically by the flourishing of ‘gay marriage,’ clinically by the new trend to bash therapeutic efforts of persons seeking to align their sexuality with their faith, and spiritually by churchmen who, caught in the crossfire, abandon those seeking transformation.”

“You could say we have never been more vulnerable. Protective walls have thinned or fallen. But actually, we are surrounded; together we bow before the luminous Babe, all the more grateful for the mercy that exposed the depth of our sin and surpassed it many times over. We join with the angels and saints—the entire host of Heaven–in worshiping our King. (more…)

January 9, 2014

The following excerpts are from Executive Secretary of Anglican Mainstream Rev. Andrew Symes’ essay on the Christian Concern website: “According to the Bible, God is in the ‘conversion’ business. Christian faith is not an emotional or intellectual construction, something we create or imagine, but a response to God who reaches out to rebels, calls them to turn around and enter into a restored relationship with him. God wants all of us to repent, to be transformed, to be born again. He has acted definitively in Jesus to change us from enemies into friends; he continues to act through his Holy Spirit to change us from within so our behaviour becomes more aligned with his agenda. This is conversion: not often instantaneous, but a process of change which follows the life-transforming realization that Jesus is Lord.”

… “This Bill [UK Parliament Counsellors and Psychotherapists (Regulation) Bill 2013-2014] is a threat to Christian counsellors who work in this area, and to people with same sex attraction who want to access counselling that is trained and accredited. (more…)

January 8, 2014

The following International Healing Foundation press release is reprinted in its entirety: Bowie, MD — Today, Delegate Jon Cardin introduced House Bill 91, legislation that would ban minors in the state of Maryland from seeing a licensed mental health practitioner to resolve unwanted same-sex attraction (SSA). International Healing Foundation (IHF), a non-profit organization that has since 1990, helped thousands of individuals and families struggling with sexual orientation issues, strongly opposes this legislation and is asking the Maryland Legislature to consider all viewpoints and review all the research on the efficacy of Sexual Orientation Change Effort (SOCE) therapy. (more…)