Can Prayer Be Prosecuted?

Can prayer be prosecuted?

Let me give two examples.

First, in my home state of Victoria, there is the Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Act 2021 s5.(3).(b) which explicitly criminalizes the use of prayer to change or suppress someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

Now I believe that “pray the gay away” is pastorally irresponsible and potentially harmful, so I can concur up to that point. But here’s the thing. You can be prosecuted even if the prayer is requested by someone. Or else, you could potentially be prosecuted if you pray for the ability to remain celibate and I have celibate same-sex attracted friends who do that. When I’ve met people wrestling with these issues, I’ve urged them to discern in the precincts of their own conscience how to love God, love themselves, and to live a life of holiness and devotion to God. But because holiness entails suppression of one’s sexual desires, even a prayer for holiness could see me prosecuted.

But it gets worse …

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