A reporter in Liverpool has gone undercover to expose a church that’s been using running prayer sessions aimed at ‘curing’ gay people.
The Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries has allegedly been telling gay people that they can be “cured” through prayer and depriving themselves of food and water for three days, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Journalist Josh Parry was invited to a private counselling session where he was told that being gay was biologically wrong.
Parry spoke to a pastor called Brother Michael, who told him that celebrities pretend to be gay to gain attention.
“How many professors, how many airlines, except those in Hollywood, except the boxer, except the sportsmen, except the singers, are coming out to say they are feeling gay,” he told the reporter in a recording.
“Their reward is the celebrity. That is what you are following in. So many people now want to do it for publicity.
“I thank God that you have come to where you think you will get help and I know you are going to get the help.
“With the help of God, with prayer, with praying, with the help of God you will have children. You will marry and have your children.”
Another pastor from the church—Dr Desmond Sanusi—denied that gay conversion sessions were being conducted.
“If you come to the church to come and pray to come and know God better you are welcome. We don’t discriminate against people," he said.
While it’s illegal for medical professionals to offer gay conversion therapy, the practice is not yet a criminal offence in the UK.
Church of England bishops in the UK recently backed a motion to ban gay conversion therapy.
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, said during the debate: "The sooner the practice of so-called conversion therapy is banned, I can sleep at night."
