January 10, 2014

The following excerpts are from the Core Issues Trust “Response to Association of Christian Counsellors Statement to its Membership: 10 January 2014:” … “‘One of the most important aspects in counselling is client autonomy. Any client seeking counselling has the right to indicate their goals and aspirations within counselling and to be respected for that choice. If a client seeks to explore change to their lifestyle or behaviour then using the core conditions the counsellor needs to respect that desire and work with them to their benefit. For the counsellor to reject this out of hand implies that they are seeking to impose their own agenda on the client and this is unethical.” (Association of Christian Counsellors, December 2012)”

“In January 2014 the ACC statement to its members now claims that supporting such an autonomous client’s goals to reduce or eliminate homosexual practice and/or feelings, is unethical. (more…)

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 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…)

January 7, 2014

The following excerpts are from the news release “North Star Announces New Executive Committee” on the North Star website: … “Ty is a co-author with Fred and Marilyn Matis of In Quiet Desperation: Understanding the Challenge of Same-Gender Attraction (Deseret Book, 2004), which includes a personal memoir of his spiritual journey as a member of the Church who has experienced homosexual attraction. He has also compiled Voices of Hope: Latter-day Saint Perspectives on Same-Gender Attraction (Deseret Book, 2011), an anthology of gospel teachings by a number of prominent LDS inspirational writers, as well as a number of personal essays written by LDS men and women who have first-hand experience with homosexual attraction. Ty also co-directs the Voices of Hope Project, an online extension of the book by the same name and which is a repository of video and written essays.” Other committee members include: Dale Larsen, Sarrah Groves, Blaine Hickman, and Greg Harris.”

January 1, 2014

The following press release “Leading Same-Sex Attraction Ministry Organizations for Latter-day Saints To Unite Under North Star Umbrella” comes from the North Star International website and is reprinted in its entirety: Salt Lake City, UT – January 1, 2014: The Board of Directors of North Star International and Evergreen International announced today that North Star International will absorb certain resources and assets of Evergreen International, and beginning January 1, 2014 those resources will operate under the name and direction of North Star International.

Since its founding more than 20 years ago as a support organization for the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Evergreen’s mission has always been similar to North Star’s in its desire to assist those who experience same-sex attraction and who desire to live in harmony with their spiritual and religious values. (more…)

December 12, 2013

The following excerpts are from the “NARTH Response to the WMA Statement on Natural Variations of Human Sexuality” on the NARTH website: “The National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) is greatly dismayed by the recent statement from the World Medical Association (WMA, 2013), which is not so much a reflection on human sexuality as it is a clear attempt to discredit any and all professional attempts to assist clients who wish to modify same-sex attractions and behaviors. NARTH observes that the WMA’s statement in many places lacks scientific integrity, sometimes providing conclusions that are no more supportable than speculation and at other times failing to provide adequate scholarly context. Given these serious shortcomings, NARTH believes that it is necessary to provide the public with information WMA irresponsibly neglected in their statement.” (more…)

November 12, 2013

Following is the unabridged News Update by the Freedom of Conscience Defense Fund regarding the JONAH defense against the Southern Poverty Law Center’s lawsuit: The parties in the JONAH case will soon be ending the written discovery phase of this precedent-setting case and beginning numerous depositions. As a result of having to file multiple motions with the court, JONAH has been successful in getting plaintiffs to provide valuable information while at the same time it has protected the identities of its clients and potential clients. Many thousands of documents have been exchanged by the parties. This includes key documents which should help JONAH prove at trial that this ill-conceived case is the contrivance of homosexual activists like Wayne Besen and the SPLC. Wayne Besen has been quoted as stating the following about the importance of defeating what he calls the “Ex-Gay” movement: “This is the keystone issue that underlies every single LGBT issue that’s out there…If you win this issue, you’ve won, in essence.” (more…)

November 2013

The beginning of the Family Watch International policy brief entitled “Laws Banning Sexual Orientation Change Therapy are Harmful and Violate Fundamental Human Rights” follows: “’Sexual Orientation Change Efforts’ (SOCE),a term used to describe therapeutic approaches to help people with unwanted same-sex attraction (SSA), has become increasingly controversial in recent years. This is because activists opposing SOCE therapy (also referred to as ‘change therapy’) falsely claim it is ineffective and harmful. Such claims are not based on any scientific data, and instead, run counter to widely available evidence.” (more…)

October 17, 2013

Following is the Freedom of Conscience Defense Funds unabridged News Update entitled “Ten Reasons Why the JONAH Case is Probably the Most Important Religious Liberty Case in the United States at This Time”:

(1) The lawsuit against Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing (“JONAH”) was initiated by the extremist Southern Poverty Law Center (“SPLC”), which has branded many pro-marriage and family groups, including Family Research Council and the American Family Association, as “hate groups.” (more…)