The Church has issued a statement on the reaction to its position paper on conversion therapies, the statement is shown in full below:

"It is unfortunate that the reactions to the Church's position paper authored by us have attributed statements to them which neither express their sentiments nor correspond to what they have written.

a) There is nothing in the paper that can be remotely construed as implying that homosexuality is a disease or disorder.

b) It is untrue that the paper links homosexuality with child abuse.

c) There is no statement in the paper which expresses negative sentiments or disrespect towards the dignity of LGBTIQ people.

d) It is nowhere claimed that sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression are to be suppressed or eliminated.

e) There is no reference that bisexual persons can be labelled as being promiscuous. Nowhere in the position paper have these opinions been expressed. No way are these opinions that we expressed in the position paper.

On the contrary, the position paper clearly states that:

a) the sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression of each and every individual is to be affirmed rather than changed, repressed or eliminated. This is an ethical and legal principle which cannot be compromised.

b) conversion therapy against one's own free and informed consent is to be prohibited.

c) the issue of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression may not always be so simple and clear-cut in practice.

d) professional people should not be precluded from applying their due discretion in the exercise of their profession to help their clients.

It is ironic that in a democratic country which claims to promote civil liberties, the proposed Bill permits only counselling that can help one to explore one's sexual identity but prohibits voluntarily assistance for people seeking to resolve doubts or questions related to their sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression through appropriate forms of therapy.

Thus, the Bill should recognise clearly that any adult person would be free to have whatever psychological services and other therapeutic services one may desire or require in relation to one's sexual orientation, identity and gender."

Rev Prof Emmanuel Agius – Dean of the Faculty of Theology & Member of the European Group of Ethics in Science and New Technologies (European Commission)

Prof Kevin Aquilina – Dean of the Faculty of Law

Dr Austin Bencini – Constitutional Lawyer

Judge Giovanni Bonello – Former Judge of the European Court of Human Rights

Dr Nadia Delicata – Lecturer at the University of Malta

Rev Prof Paul Galea – Psychologist

Rev Prof George Grima – Professor at the Faculty of Theology

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