英格兰与威尔士天主教主教团发声明:促撤回禁止「转化做法」法案、忧牧灵辅导被入罪

英格兰与威尔士天主教主教团11月10日发表声明,呼吁撤回正在议会审议的禁止「转化做法」法案。利物浦总主教 John Sherrington 代表主教团发声。
主教团在声明中说,法案的措辞宽泛,可能把正常的牧灵陪谈、祈祷辅导,以及父母与子女之间的谈话都置于刑事风险之下,威胁宗教自由与家庭权利。主教团强调,教会反对任何形式的胁迫与虐待性做法,但立法必须界定清楚,不能把自愿寻求牧灵帮助的人与提供帮助的神职人员当作罪犯。
这项法案由议员提出,旨在禁止以改变或压制他人性取向、性别认同为目的的做法,在英国社会引发广泛讨论,多个宗教团体已公开表达忧虑。主教团表示将继续就法案措辞与议会沟通。
(来源:英格兰与威尔士天主教主教团)
England and Wales Bishops Urge Withdrawal of Conversion Practices Bill, Citing Pastoral Care Concerns
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales issued a statement on November 10 calling for the withdrawal of a bill before Parliament that would ban so-called conversion practices. Archbishop John Sherrington of Liverpool spoke on behalf of the conference.
In the statement, the bishops said the bill's broad wording could place ordinary pastoral conversations, prayerful accompaniment, and conversations between parents and children under criminal risk, threatening religious freedom and family rights. The conference stressed that the Church opposes coercive or abusive practices in any form, but that legislation must be precisely drawn so that people who voluntarily seek pastoral help, and the clergy who offer it, are not treated as criminals.
The private member's bill aims to prohibit practices intended to change or suppress a person's sexual orientation or gender identity and has prompted wide public debate in Britain, with several faith groups voicing concerns. The bishops said they will continue to engage Parliament over the bill's wording.
(Source: Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales)
来源:英格兰与威尔士天主教主教团
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