Debate contribution: Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill: Second Stage
Debate contribution by Mr Paul Frew on .
- MLA
- Mr Paul Frew
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 15 September 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Private Members' Business
- Heading
- Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill: Second Stage
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5707202
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank the Minister for his intervention. Do we know what the definition of "conversion therapy" is and whether it includes a definition of "instruction"? I will read clause 4(1) again. A person commits an offence:
"if the person provides or carries out ... instruction"
of another person. That is how wide the offence is. What does "instruction" mean? The only person who can answer that is the Bill sponsor. Does it mean biblical instruction or religious instruction? Will someone fall foul of the offence if they tell somebody, "This is what the Bible says" and quote scripture? Acts chapter 3, verse 19 states:
"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord."
That is nothing to do with sexuality, but the victim may perceive it to be, and if the victim perceives it to be, it will be part of the offence, because of the alarm and distress caused. Matthew chapter 18, verse 3 states:
"Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."
That may get closer to the knuckle. Pastors and preachers could be susceptible of causing offence in our land because of the wide definition in the Bill. Although it is not directly linked to conversion therapy, as we thought it was yesterday before reading the Bill, it is at the heart of the Christian faith to be converted: unless you are born again, you will never see the kingdom of heaven. It is about conversion. That is what the Christian faith is about. Although it is not talking directly about conversion through conversion therapy, there is a link that people will confuse. That is why preachers would also fall foul of the law. As Christians, we are told in James chapter 5, verses 19 and 20:
"Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."
That is massive for the Christian faith and for everyone who pertains to be Christian and who loves the Lord Jesus Christ. There will be times when campaigners and actors will try to merge belief with gender identity. Indeed, it has already happened. I fear that the Bill would provide people with a campaigning arm.
414 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Uncertain: weak signal Religion and belief (including people of no religion), churches, faith communities and religious prejudice (including antisemitism and anti-Muslim prejudice)
Uncertain: this record is published but not counted in any total.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.64 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- The text adopts the identity-based framing in its own voice (0.61).
- Subject area: Religion and belief (including people of no religion), churches, faith communities and religious prejudice (including antisemitism and anti-Muslim prejudice).
- The answers did not meet either automatic threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.44 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.20 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.30 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.52 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.44 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.57 | No |
| Overall judgement | 0.64 | Between thresholds |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing | 0.29 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.10 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it (chosen) | 0.61 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Religion and belief (including people of no religion), churches, faith communities and religious prejudice (including antisemitism and anti-Muslim prejudice) | 0.56 |
| Gender, sexuality, abortion and related social issues | 0.44 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.00 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 16:22 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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