Comparing Himself To St Paul, Matthew Grech Appears On Fox News Slamming ‘Real Face Of Conversion Therapy Ban’
As he faces prosecution for promoting ‘gay conversion therapy’, River of Love musician Matthew Grech has spoken to Fox News about the potential implications of his case.
“It is concerning the other countries will follow suit, but we need to alert other nations and to show them what the real face of a conversion therapy ban is,” Grech told the major US media outlet, who described him as a “charity worker”.
“It’s just a foothold for these LGBT+ lobbies to get into churches and to get the pastors and get the gospel ministers to shut up and conform, and it’s just simply not sustainable.”
Malta became the first EU country to criminalise conversion therapy in 2016 and earlier this year, Parliamentary Secretary for Equality Rebecca Buttigieg announced that the law would be updated to ban its “promotion”.
Shortly after the new law was announced, police prosecuted Grech for giving an interview to PMNews in which he recounted how he used to be in a relationship with a man until he joined a London church and delved into the Bible, including St Paul’s letter to the Romans which condemns homosexual desires.
Grech said he came to the conclusion that homosexuality isn’t a sexual identity but an urge that should be suppressed to please God, drawing parallels with someone who considers engaging in adultery.
His views, which he expanded on in detail in a 2019 film called “Once Gay”, have been widely condemned by LGBT+ activists as inaccurate, unscientific and prejudicial against gay people.
“Self-control is one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit from a biblical perspective. I believe it’s a powerful quality to be able to control yourself in order to live a balanced life in peace with others,” he said.
Grech told Fox that other people agree with him but that they’re being driven underground due to fear of prosecution.
“To deny people access to spiritual or secular support in any context is barbaric,” he said, warning that proponents of the conversion therapy ban want to ban Christian views.
Parliamentary Secretary for Equality Rebecca Buttigieg
“They want to ban Christian counseling in churches simply because it does not conform to their religion,” he said. “They claim not to be religious, but I can tell you that they are just as religious as everybody else. They do have a belief system, they do have a very specific vision.”
Grech compared his legal battle with the biblical story of St Paul’s shipwreck on Malta.
“That story speaks to us to this day, because when Paul arrived in Malta, a fire was set because it was cold, and a snake fastened itself against his arm,” Grech said. “He shook it off, told it where it needs to go, and it went back to the fire.”
“People at first thought he was being judged by the gods because that snake fastened itself around his arm, but when they saw that nothing happened to him, they changed their minds.”
“I believe that as we survive this snake that is trying to poison us and harm us, as we look toward God, who is able to save us and redeem us, people will shift their perspective.”
River of Love pastor Gordon-John Manche’
Grech’s Maltese church, the evangelical River of Love, has often been accused of practicing “conversion therapy” but has never been charged over it.
Its pastor Gordon-John Manche’ recently told Lovin Malta that River of Love has never practiced “conversion therapy” and that Grech’s prosecution breaches his right to free expression.
“Freedom includes the freedom to share and exchange ideals which everyone is also free to accept or reject, as well as to honourably agree or disagree with,” Manche’ said.
“In reality it shouldn’t be that hard, unless one wants to impose his/her ideals. Equality is the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, or opportunities. Equality is about ensuring that every individual has an equal opportunity to make the most of their lives and talents.”
Cover photo: Left: Matthew Grech, Right: Stock image, Insets: Parliamentary Secretary for Equality Rebecca Buttigieg, Fox News host Tucker Carlson
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