Faith chiefs’ LGBT+ statement

► HUNDREDS OF faith leaders from around the world have sought forgiveness from L GB T+ people whose lives have been damaged by religious teaching sin a declaration launched on Wednesday.

The faith leaders called for an end to the criminalisation of people on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity and a cessation of attempts to suppress their identity through“conversion therapy ”.

The Global Interfaith Commission on LGBT+ Lives has been co-chaired by Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner, former Senior Rabbi of Reform Judaism, and the Bishop of Liverpool, the Right Reverend Paul Bayes.

There were 370 signatories to the 10-point statement titled: “Declaring the Sanctity of Life and the Dignity of All ”.

The 40-plus signatories from the UK are mostly Reform or Liberal rabbis but include Rabbi Eryn London, who was ordained at the Orthodox women’ s academy, Yeshivat Maharat, in New York.

Its international signatories include a number of Orthodox rabbis including Rabbi David Rosen, who is originally from the UK and is now international director of inter-religious affairs for the American Jewish Committee; the founder of Clal, Rabbi Yitz Greenberg; and Rabbi Asher Lopatin, of Kehillat Etz Chaim, an open Orthodox synagogue near Detroit.

The launch incudes a conference sponsored by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and a celebration at Westminster Abbey.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis was invited to attend the launch and sign. He replied that unfortunately he was busy that day but sent his wishes for the event to be “a great success”.