“Under the title of conversion therapy, they have a definition that could include parents guiding their child or a pastor providing counsel.”

Craig Macartney
Spur Ottawa Writer

Ottawa believers have organized a religious freedom summit addressing conversion therapy and Bill C-6. The bill has passed its second reading in the house of commons, but many faith groups are concerned it may infringe on religious freedom, potentially criminalizing evangelism and Christian counselling in certain contexts.

“We [organizers] were quite alarmed when we found out about C-6 and how that threatens religious freedom, in terms of being able discuss sexuality from a Christian perspective,” says Andrew Harwood. “Many Christians and pastors we spoke to didn’t know anything about it. So we brought together a number of speakers, speaking on topics related to being able to preach the Gospel, living in a secular society, and how to live out our religious freedom.”

Due to COVID restrictions, the Summit will be livestreamed between 1 and 4 p.m. on Saturday, January 30. The event will also include personal testimonies and a question-and-answer time. Harwood says they have more than 1,000 participants already registered.

“If that’s what we are talking about when we say, ‘Let’s ban conversion therapy,’ I think we are of one mind.”

“When we talk about conversion therapy in pop-culture, it invokes images of electric shock therapy or other types of therapy that we would think are torturous and dehumanizing,” explains Andre Schutten, director of law and policy with the Association for Reformed Political Action. Schutten will be speaking on the legal implications of the bill.

“If that’s what we are talking about when we say, ‘Let’s ban conversion therapy,’ I think we are of one mind. The problem with Bill C-6 is that the definition is incredibly vague.”

“It is a definition that no professional medical association has adopted,” Harwood adds. “There is a bait and switch. Under the title of conversion therapy, they have a definition that could include parents guiding their child or a pastor providing counsel. Until the wording of the bill is tightened up, you have to assume it could include everything that is implied.”

In fact, when Bill C-6 was examined by the justice committee in Parliament, a majority of submissions flagged the concern over the bill’s definition and the implications for religious communities. The committee was asked to state in the bill that it would not limit religious freedom or parental conversations, Harwood says.

“They were unwilling to do that.”

“There are legitimate reasons why anyone would want to reduce any kind of sexual behaviour.”

“We saw a bad bill go to that committee and a worse bill come out,” Schutten adds.

Another of the Summit speakers, Jojo Ruba, understands the risks first hand. While studying at Carleton, he began meeting with a Christian counselor for help with his unwanted same-sex attractions.

“The counseling hasn’t reduced all my same-sex attractions, but has helped me see that my identity is more than just my attractions. I don’t have to label myself using a sexual orientation or identity, but instead by God’s description of me as His son. Because I benefited from that counseling I feel very strongly that it be available to others as well.”

Ruba underscores that the bill’s wording never mentions coercive therapies, but criminalizes any practice designed to “repress or reduce non-heterosexual attraction or sexual behaviour”.

“There are legitimate reasons why anyone would want to reduce any kind of sexual behaviour,” Ruba states. “A person may want to stop using pornography, stop a sex addiction, or stop an extra-marital affair. According to this law, a heterosexual person would be able to get any support they wanted to reduce their sexual behaviour. An LGBTQ adult would only be allowed to get free counseling. Anyone under 18 wouldn’t be able to get any support.”

“Even if the government won’t go after churches yet, activists will use this ban to go after biblical teaching on sexuality.”

Schutten stresses that Bill C-6 is not yet law and Christians who have hearts of compassion for those struggling with questions of identity and sexuality need to respond.

“Now is the time for Christians to speak up with nuance about why Bill C-6 needs to be improved so that ambiguity is removed from the law and the ministry of the Church can continue.”

Ruba says Christians must not fear culturally-sensitive issues. Yet, he stresses that the Church needs to prepare for increased persecution.

“Even if the government won’t go after churches yet, activists will use this ban to go after biblical teaching on sexuality. One activist just made a video, for example, arguing that preaching from Romans could qualify as conversion therapy.”

Even beyond this bill, Harwood says the Summit aims to explore strategy for Christians to navigate living in an increasingly hostile culture.

“We are concerned about our ability to evangelize and share the Gospel down the road. We want to make sure we protect those religious freedoms, because they affect our basic abilities to share the Gospel.”