A church pastor received violent threats from LGBTI activists after his church screened a so-called ‘gay cure’ film.
Rodney Stout spoke out after Christian group Core Issues Trust screened film Voices Of The Silenced at Ballynahinch Baptist Church, County Down on Tuesday (14 March).
An estimated 100 people attended the screening, which Core Issues Trust argues is ‘a critique of the sexual politics in the Western world’.
The film’s message says that gay people can choose ‘not to live out their homosexuality’
Ballynahinch Baptist Church, Co Down, Northern Ireland (Picture: Google Maps)
Around 30 people demonstrated outside the church including Sinn Fein’s Member of The Legislative Assembly (MLA) Emma Rogan, reported the Belfast Telegraph.
Stout said he supported the protesters right to freedom of speech, but criticised those who ‘used the threat of extreme violence’ on social media.
‘I went out and welcomed the protesters – I was totally behind their right to be there.
Pastor is ‘more afraid for the disservice it has done to the gay community’
‘[I] asked them if any minority group should have its right to be heard suppressed, and they said no.’
‘People were trying to stir up controversy against us – I think it is just hot air.
‘I’m not afraid for my safety or that of the people using the church building.
‘I’m more afraid for the disservice it has done to the gay community.’
Core Issues Trust director, Mike Davidson, introducing the controversial film (Picture: YouTube.com/voicesofthesilenced)
Meanwhile MLA Emma Rogan said: ‘Sinn Fein totally opposes the use of ‘therapies’ which are aimed to change, repress and/or eliminate a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity and, or gender expression.
‘These ‘therapies’ are damaging, extremely dangerous and can have a very damaging psychological effect on people,’ she continued.
‘Sinn Fein believe that ‘conversion therapies’ should be a banned throughout Ireland.’
Gay Star News has reached out to Core Issues Trust for comment.
