DUP VETO THREAT

Conversion ban fears for churches

THE DUP has warned it will veto any proposed legislation to ban gay conversion therapy if there are not “robust protections for churches”.

The party supports prohibiting “harmful practices” but said it wants to ensure “religious freedom is not curtailed”.

A majority of MLAS backed an Assembly motion on Tuesday urging Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey to introduce a ban before the end of the current mandate.

And a DUP amendment which sought to include protections for “legitimate religious activities” such as prayer was defeated by 59 votes to 28.

First Minister Arlene Foster met with faith groups yesterday following the motion.

The DUP leader tweeted: “Any law coming forward must define therapy in a way which does not harm freedom of religion – a right protected by ECHR [European Convention on Human Rights].

“If no safeguards for churches, it will not be supported by us.”

Mrs Foster backed the DUP amendment, but there have been questions over why she did not join the majority of her party in voting against the original motion. Twenty-three DUP MLAS opposed it, but Mrs Foster and four other party reps did not record a vote. They were Economy Minister Diane Dodds, Education Minister Peter Weir, and MLAS Pam Cameron and Paula Bradley. Of the DUP Assembly members, only Ms Bradley’s name was absent from both votes on Tuesday. The DUP said its MLAS were free to abstain on the motion.

A party spokesman said: “We support a ban on conversion therapy but the original motion took no consideration of religious freedom.

“We will not support, indeed we will veto, any legislation which does not contain robust protections for churches.”

Mrs Foster TWEETS