Church of England warns against criminalising pastoral care as Catholic leaders call for controversial legislation to be abandoned.
LABOUR’S controversial plans to introduce new criminal offences covering conversion practices have suffered a significant setback after senior Christian leaders warned that the legislation could threaten religious freedom, interfere with family life and potentially criminalise prayer.
The Church of England has raised serious concerns about the Government’s draft Conversion Practices Bill, warning that ministers must ensure ordinary pastoral care, religious discussions and prayer are not inadvertently caught by the proposed law.
The intervention is particularly embarrassing for Labour after government officials reportedly cited the Church of England’s support when defending the legislation.
However, the Church has now made clear that its longstanding support for banning abusive conversion practices does not amount to unconditional approval of Labour’s proposals.
A Church of England spokesman told The Telegraph that legislation must not unintentionally criminalise appropriate prayer and pastoral care, and that religious communities must remain free to discuss and disagree about matters of sexuality and gender.
The Church said it would raise its concerns during Parliament’s examination of the draft legislation.
The warning exposes a growing problem for ministers, who are facing questions over why legislation intended to prevent abuse should leave churches and families concerned about the legal consequences of ordinary conversations.
The proposed law, published in June, would introduce criminal offences relating to abusive attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation or transgender identity.
Under the draft Bill, the principal offence would require conduct meeting the statutory definition of an abusive conversion practice and causing serious physical or mental harm, or serious alarm or distress with a substantial adverse effect on everyday activities.
Those convicted of the most serious offences could face up to five years in prison.
Critics argue that the legislation’s wording creates uncertainty about how police, prosecutors and courts might distinguish abusive behaviour from sincerely held religious beliefs, parental advice or pastoral conversations.
The Church of England’s position is especially significant because its General Synod voted overwhelmingly in 2017 to support a ban on conversion therapy relating to sexual orientation.
That vote came before the current legislation was drafted to include transgender identity.
While Anglican leaders continue to support measures against coercion and abuse, they are demanding safeguards to ensure that legitimate religious practice remains protected.
The criticism has been accompanied by a far more direct intervention from senior Catholic leaders, who have called for the Bill to be scrapped.
Archbishop John Sherrington of Liverpool, speaking on behalf of Catholic bishops in comments reported by The Telegraph, argued that existing laws already prohibit abusive behaviour and questioned the need for new criminal offences.
He warned that the proposals could create uncertainty around family discussions, religious teaching and pastoral support, potentially exposing people acting in good faith to legal proceedings.
The Archbishop called on politicians to abandon the Bill and concentrate instead on enforcing existing protections against abuse and coercion.
Bishop Brian McGee, vice-president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, also warned that the legislation appeared to extend beyond protecting people from abuse into ordinary family life and religious conversations.
The growing opposition raises an uncomfortable question for Labour: if the Government genuinely intends to protect religious freedom and parental rights, why are senior figures from Britain’s major Christian denominations warning that its legislation could undermine them?
Concern has also intensified following evidence given to MPs and peers scrutinising the Bill.
At a parliamentary committee hearing on November 2, campaigner Jayne Ozanne, a prominent advocate of banning conversion practices, argued that praying for someone to change their sexuality or gender identity was wrong.
The hearing examined whether such behaviour should fall within criminal law, including when it takes place in religious or family settings.
Her evidence highlighted the considerable differences between campaigners seeking broad restrictions on conversion practices and religious organisations concerned about protecting freedom of belief.
Christian campaigners including Simon Calvert of The Christian Institute have warned that the proposed legislation risks bringing legitimate speech, private prayer and conversations between parents and children within the scope of criminal investigations.
The prospect of police becoming involved in disputes about family conversations or religious intentions has prompted particular concern among opponents.
Labour, however, insists that the warnings misrepresent the legislation.
Ministers maintain that the Bill is designed to target serious abuse rather than ordinary conversations, religious beliefs or parental decisions.
In a parliamentary answer on October 29, Labour minister Simon Lightwood stated that the proposals would not prevent parents raising their children as they choose, nor criminalise people simply expressing beliefs or having explanatory conversations.
The Government says the offence contains demanding legal thresholds intended to distinguish abusive conduct from legitimate discussion.
Its published equality impact assessment specifically identifies personal prayer and the expression of religious doctrine as examples of ordinary activities it does not intend to criminalise.
Nevertheless, critics argue that ministerial assurances are no substitute for sufficiently clear legal protections written into the legislation itself.
The dispute also raises questions about whether Labour has adequately demonstrated that existing criminal law is incapable of dealing with the abusive practices it seeks to prohibit.
Assault, harassment, threats and coercive or controlling behaviour can already constitute criminal offences under existing legislation.
The Government argues that gaps remain and that new offences are necessary to protect vulnerable people from serious harm.
Opponents, including Catholic Church leaders, dispute whether the case for additional criminalisation has been made.
With the Church of England seeking stronger assurances, Catholic leaders calling for withdrawal and campaigners warning of potential consequences for parents and religious ministers, Labour faces mounting pressure to explain precisely where its proposed criminal boundaries would lie.
The draft Bill is currently undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny by a joint parliamentary committee, which is accepting written evidence until November 16 and is expected to report by January 22, 2027. The proposals have not yet become law.
For Labour, the political difficulty is becoming increasingly apparent. A Government that has repeatedly promised to respect religious freedom is now facing warnings from the very Church whose earlier support it has invoked to justify its plans.
And until ministers can demonstrate that lawful prayer, parental guidance and religious teaching will remain protected, the controversy surrounding their conversion practices legislation is unlikely to disappear.
