Christian Therapist Faces Expulsion for Views on Homosexuality
A Christian psychotherapist is the subject of a professional conduct inquiry in London for supporting therapy for those with unwanted feelings of same-sex attraction. The dispute arose as, in response to a question, Dr Davidson had said: “yes, I do believe homosexuality is a sin.” Commentators speak of a "worrying trend where the door to practising professional therapy is being closed to people with Christian sexual ethics."
Dr Davidson is a trainee with the British Psychodrama Association (BPA) and also a director of Core Issues Trust, a non-profit Christian ministry supporting men and women with homosexual issues who voluntarily seek change in sexual preference and expression.He took part in a BBC local radio broadcast in January 2012. As a result of comments he made about homosexuality, the BBC interviewer – among others – complained to Dr Davidson’s professional body. In response to a question, Dr Davidson said: “yes, I do believe homosexuality is a sin.”
The Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) of the BPA wrote to Dr Davidson on 22 January 2012: “your comments breach UKCP’s [United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy] Ethical Principles and Codes of Professional Conduct.” The Chair of the BPA then wrote to Dr Davidson on 29 January, saying he was suspended because of “the views expressed by yourself.”
Dr Davidson’s ethical and professional conduct was above reproach, as confirmed by his supervisors. One supervisor, Peter Mulhall, stated in a letter: “I have never heard Dr Davidson make statements that were homophobic, nor have I heard him try to impose his beliefs over another’s, including his clients”.
Dr Davidson had always been open and honest about his interest in and support for therapy dealing with unwanted same-sex attraction.
In another letter concerning Dr Davidson, supervisor Dr Moore stated: “…As a committed researcher Mike follows the outcome studies with rigour and is not given to misusing research in a dishonest way to bolster some argument...”
Director of the Christian Legal Centre, Andrea Minichiello Williams, commented: “Along with the case of Lesley Pilkington, we are witnessing a worrying trend where the door to practising professional therapy is being closed to people with Christian sexual ethics”. The professional conduct inquiry is on-going.
Source:
http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/religious-freedom/christian-therapist-faces-expulsion-for-views-on-homosexuality