Maltese Christian Prosecuted for LGBT ‘Conversion’ in His Witnesses
A Christian charity worker in Malta is facing prosecution for sharing his personal testimony about the rejection of homosexual activity on the radio.
Matthew Grech, 33 years old, trustee of the Core Issues Trust Christian nonprofit, will face trial on February 3, 2023, at the Magistrates’ Court in Valletta, together with the media presenters, PMnews Malta. The prosecutors claim that Grech and the presenters violated Chapter 567, a Maltese Law prohibits “conversion practices.”
said Grech The Daily Sign that the Maltese authorities are targeting issues of “EVERY DISSENTING OPINION regarding LGBT”, which threaten free expression in the name of suppressing “conversion therapy.” He insisted that “there is no proof that people are being forced to ‘become straight’ anywhere on the island” of Malta, which became the first European country to ban “conversion therapy” in 2016.
“You advertised conversion practices and this violation of article 3 (a) (iii) of Chapter 567 of the Maltese laws,” wrote the police in other words. summons on June 29, 2022. The police wrote that Grech violated the law on April 6, 2022. The law defines “conversion practices” as “any treatment, practice or sustained effort that aims to change, repress and, or eliminate sexual orientation, gender identity and, or gender expression.”
Grech did not advertise any form of “conversion therapy” at that date, according to the transcription. Rather, he told his personal story and advocated the freedom of a therapist to advise clients as they direct, without government intervention.
Grech said he was confused about sexuality during his teenage years, and started a same-sex relationship when he moved to London, keeping that relationship a secret from his family. “When I was in London, a woman came to me and started sharing the Gospel with me, and started telling me about Jesus and what he did for us on the cross,” he said. “I entered a church, and I can say that I loved it. I felt accepted. I felt loved.”
“Jesus consumed my life,” he added. “His presence brought freedom, freedom that I never had, joy and continuous peace in my life.” He read the Bible and saw clear condemnations of homosexual activity. “This is the basic gospel, that one needs to repent of sin, and homosexuality is not the only sin.”
Then Grech spoke against the law prohibits “conversion therapy.” He noted certain forms of therapy to address underlying trauma that may, as a byproduct, deal with unwanted same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria.
“Many forms of therapy involve controlling one aspect of yourself,” he said. “Controlling yourself is not a bad thing, to a certain extent. One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit from a biblical perspective is self-control.”
“Many times, they discover that when someone helps them overcome the trauma and pain that was behind their homosexual attractions, or their transgenderism… they find that they no longer look at the same sex the same way ,” he explained. “No one told them, ‘If you do this, or listen to this, or stop doing this, you will become straight…’ They were genuinely in an emotional crisis and sought help.”
Grech filed the police claim against him. According to the police Neil Farrugia, and confirmed by Inspector Roderick Attard, who wrote the summons, PMnews Malta published on its website and Facebook page an advertisement for the interview about “conversion practice.” The news continued to broadcast the interview on April 6 on Facebook Live, where the presenters introduced Grech as secretary general of the A conservative Christian ABBA political party and representative of the International Federation for Therapeutic Selection and Counseling (IFTCC), which the police characterized as a group that promotes and provides “conversion practices.” (Grech works with IFTCC, though disputes the characterization.)
The Police also claim that Grech advertised “conversion practices” and promoted their effectiveness. “They claim that both the program and the ‘announcement’ come against provisions of article 3aiii of Chapter 567 in Maltese law,” he told The Daily Signal. The authorities are also charging presenters a fee for providing a platform for “advertising.”
“The evidence clearly shows that Matthew Grech did not violate the statute,” Jeanise Dalli, Grech’s attorney, told The Daily Signal. She also claimed that “this prosecution undermines Matthew’s freedoms under the Maltese constitution and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, particularly the Fundamental Human Right to freedom of expression and – His Fundamental Right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.” The Christian Legal Center is also assisting in Grech’s defense.
Grech said that the Maltese legislature started working on an amendment to the law on Monday. He said that the amendment “will aim to redefine the advertising clause of the law to include publication, advertising, display, distribution, referral and circulation of any material promoting the practice. This is of great concern for all Christians in Malta, as it is clear that what they are looking for is ANY DISSENT OPINION regarding LGBT.”
Even if the legislature expands the law, this will not affect Grech’s case, said Dalli, since Maltese criminal law cannot be applied retroactively.
Grech also noted that the government’s move to amend the law comes shortly after Grech’s pastor reported to the police a satirist who posted on Facebook that Grech’s church, River of Love, should be carpet-bombed. The satirist also compared the church to the Islamic State (ISIS).
The Maltese Police refused to comment on this story for The Daily Signal. The attorney general’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
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