Christians in New South Wales could face up to five years in prison for praying with someone struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction, as the state effectively criminalizes traditional religious teachings under the guise of “protection.”
At a Glance
- New South Wales’ Conversion Practices Ban Act 2024 imposes jail sentences of up to five years for anyone attempting to change or suppress LGBTQ+ identities
- Critics argue the law criminalizes core Christian teachings and prayer, effectively making the government the arbiter of acceptable religious practice
- Healthcare professionals and counselors are now restricted to providing only “affirming care” regardless of patient wishes
- The ban doesn’t theoretically prohibit “general religious teachings” but leaves that definition dangerously vague
- Christians could face $100,000 fines for offering counseling to those seeking help with unwanted same-sex attraction
Government Overreach Criminalizes Prayer and Religious Counsel
Welcome to New South Wales, where praying with someone who asks for help with unwanted same-sex attraction could now land you in prison for five years. You read that right, folks. The Conversion Practices Ban Act 2024 has taken effect, and with it comes a chilling government overreach that should send shivers down the spine of anyone who values religious liberty.
The legislation doesn’t just ban abusive “conversion therapy” practices that we could all agree are wrong – it broadly criminalizes any attempt to “change or suppress” someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity, including through religious counseling and prayer.
Let’s be clear about what’s happening here: the Australian government is now policing prayer. They’re telling religious leaders and concerned parents what guidance they can offer troubled individuals. And if you step outside their approved talking points?
You could face up to five years behind bars and fines of $100,000. The state has decided it knows better than your church, your family, and your conscience. The vague language in this legislation is a feature, not a bug – it creates a chilling effect where religious people will self-censor rather than risk prosecution.
The Left’s War on Religious Freedom
The legislation ostensibly includes exceptions for “general religious teachings,” but who decides what constitutes acceptable religious expression versus criminal “conversion practices”? The government, of course! If history has taught us anything, it’s that giving government bureaucrats the power to determine legitimate religious practice never ends badly, right? This ban was celebrated at Parliament House with activists and academics congratulating themselves while traditional religious communities were left wondering if expressing their core beliefs could now result in criminal charges.
“What are we, China? This is straight out of China. It criminalizes Christianity,” observed commentator Evelyn Rae. “The state has literally become the arbiter of truth and authority and they are now deciding what Christianity is allowed to say and do.”
This legislation isn’t simply targeting abusive practices – it’s forcing healthcare professionals and religious counselors to provide only “affirming care” regardless of what patients actually want. Imagine someone struggling with unwanted feelings seeking counsel from their pastor or priest, only to be told, “Sorry, helping you align your life with your religious beliefs is now illegal.” The government is essentially telling people they have no right to seek help aligning their lives with their sincerely held religious convictions. What happened to individual autonomy and freedom of choice?
The Attack on Traditional Teaching
The ban doesn’t stop at outlawing specific therapy techniques – it criminalizes taking someone out of New South Wales for counseling and empowers Anti-Discrimination NSW to investigate complaints about alleged conversion practices. This creates a surveillance state where religious communities must constantly look over their shoulders. As one pastor noted, “The Church’s core business is discipleship – bringing people out of darkness and into the kingdom of Christ.” But apparently, that discipleship is now subject to government approval and potential criminal penalties.
Supporters of the ban trot out horror stories to justify this sweeping legislation, but they conveniently ignore the countless individuals who have found peace through religious counsel freely sought. The law makes no distinction between coercive practices and compassionate guidance requested by the individual.
It’s the equivalent of banning all pain medication because some people abuse opioids. This sledgehammer approach doesn’t just crack down on abuse – it criminalizes legitimate religious practice and counsel that has helped countless people live in accordance with their faith.
The Slippery Slope
What’s particularly alarming is that similar bans have already been enacted in Victoria, ACT, and South Australia, with activists calling for Western Australia and Tasmania to follow suit. This isn’t an isolated incident but part of a coordinated effort to marginalize traditional religious views on sexuality and gender. The message is clear: conform to progressive orthodoxy or face criminal penalties. Anyone who believes this will stop with “conversion therapy” is naively ignoring the left’s long march through every institution that upholds traditional values.
Remember when we were told that same-sex marriage legislation wouldn’t affect religious freedom? Well, here we are just a few years later with pastors potentially facing prison for praying with congregants. This ban sets a dangerous precedent where the state decides which religious teachings are acceptable and which deserve criminal punishment. Today it’s conversion therapy, tomorrow it could be sermons on traditional marriage or gender. The government has no business policing prayer or dictating religious practice, period. Religious freedom isn’t just another right – it’s the foundation upon which all our other liberties stand.
