Protest at gay 'lepers' conference

Published Saturday, 21 January 2012
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Gay rights campaigners have protested outside a church in Belfast, where a conference - entitled The Lepers Among Us - was held by a pastor claiming he can help people turn straight.

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The event at Orangefield Presbyterian was organised by Californian preacher Jim Reynolds.

Mr Reynolds says he wants to work with local gay men and women who wish to change their sexual preference.

Activists from Northern Ireland's biggest gay rights organisation have picketed the conference on Saturday morning, branding it "very offensive".

John O'Doherty, from the Rainbow Project, said: "We find the use of the term leper to be very offensive, we can't understand why the organisers have decided to go ahead with this title when there's so much outrage about it.

"If this title was used about disabled or black community it wouldn't be acceptable and shouldn't be acceptable to LGBT community.

"We're here to say let us be ourselves let us live our lives, stop telling us there's something wrong with who we are, that we're sick and need to change."

Mr Reynolds acknowledged the protesters and said he had spoken with many of them and respects the rights of those who are happy as they are.

He says the aim of the event is to help people who voluntarily seek change their sexual preference.

"We had people in who are Christian, we agree about Jesus, about the love, the church," the pastor told UTV.

"We all agreed that we had hurt them and we confessed to them.

"Church has sinned against them but we do disagree about the fact they want to live life in a homosexual relationship and we don't think that's the will of God.

"There is a disagreement but I respect their right to disagree with me."

In a statement, Orangefield Presbyterian said that the buildings are used by a wide range of organisations and local businesses.

The church added that although the event is being held on its premises, the content is a matter for the organisers.

The conference began on Friday and ended on Saturday - it is scheduled to visit two more churches in Northern Ireland on Sunday before moving to London.

© UTV News
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8 Comments
marc in texas wrote (122 days ago):
if anyone here would ever see a baby fall into deep water and not do anything to try to help? all of us have been that baby and Jesus is holding out His hand to help... if we take it. it's still a choice... why are you so offended? is it possible that a person at some point got themselves into something and doesn't know how to get out of it and just waiting for someone to help? it only seems if the church disagrees, then it's the church that is wrong? What about me being offended by your actions and your statements or does it only work one way? The bible states that we have all fallen short and missed the mark...also known as sin, same gender relationships is just one of them. Jesus told the woman caught in adultery to 'go and sin no more'... and He is telling us the same.
Kieran Longton in Belfast wrote (123 days ago):
It's so sad...........and so crazy...........that people in 2012 quote the 'word of God' as if such a god said it. This is bunkum.......pure nonsense............it's like saying 'Santa Claus said he likes milk and cookies'.........don't they get get it???????? 'MAN' wrote the bible......'MAN' invented religion...........there is no 'GOD'...........
IDIOTS UTD in ARDS wrote (123 days ago):
why does he not help the priests and ministers etc who have sexually abused children ?is he another iris robinson type?i am not gay but i think that this is another idiot and the people who listen to this rubbish are worse ?go out and help the needy instead of wasting your time on this nonsense.
Kieran Longton in Belfast wrote (124 days ago):
Jesus was a Jew...........he never campaigned for a new religion (Christianity) during his short time on this earth. Man invented Christianity..... and man wrote the Bible years later.....Jesus' message has been lost...
Andy A in Bangor wrote (124 days ago):
It really isn't good enough for Orangefield Presbyterian Church to try to avoid their responsibilities by claiming that the content is a matter for those who hire their premises. This makes the Church little better than the moneychangers who were whipped out of the Temple by Christ himself. As I understand it fees are charged for the American 'pastor's' 'services' which reduces the whole enterprise into a tawdry money-making exercise, and one which the Church, indeed any Church, should shun. The Bible clearly states that God created Man in His own image .... would someone tell these Americans who have managed to create a God in their own image [complete with all their prejudices, mean-spiritedness and lust for money] to stay at home!!!
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