GayNZ.com voiced concern on Dec. 1 that Exodus Global Alliance is spreading involuntary and fundamentalist ex-gay programs down under, in the form of Member of Parliament Jonathan Young. His anti-Semitic Christian “Teen Challenge” has been linked to two U.S. ex-gay activists — David Kyle Foster and Janelle Hallman. Australia recovers from the allegation by several women that the global Mercy Ministries involuntarily detained women and denied them access to professional medical and mental-health care.

What if LGBT adolescent substance abusers entered Teen Challenge’s programmes? What if they are exposed to this unhealthy and unscientific message about the allegedly “essential” pathology of their sexual orientation? It is quite probable that they will experience sexual identity conflict, which could seriously impede their recovery from substance abuse problems, and/or face summary expulsion from fundamentalist oriented Teen Challenge programmes if they refused to “degay” themselves, without referral to mainstream counselors or psychotherapeutic professionals.

According to one professional study, the latter behaviour is rife in fundamentalist ‘exgay’ programmes, and not restricted to those alone. Over the last year, I’ve become aware of the toxic environment of “Mercy Ministries Australia,” a fundamentalist organisation that stated to young women that it could assist existing problems from eating disorders, past child sexual abuse, self-harm, substance abuse and sexual identity conflict. They were told that they would receive ‘professional’ help, but did not have such access. Moreover, if young female residents complained about the programme, or were labeled ‘non-compliant,’ they were summarily expelled from the programme.

Survivors of Mercy Ministries have reportedly assembled the following checklist for people to consult before submitting themselves or loved ones to Exodus-affiliated ex-gay programs:

1. Do you abide by a Code of Conduct that outlines client rights? Can I have a copy?
2. Do you have professional indemnity and public liability insurance?
3. Are you a financial member of an accredited professional body?
4. Do you receive regular professional supervision and guidance?
5. Are your qualifications from an accredited program?
6. Have you completed your training as a counsellor?

The former leader of an Australian “ex-gay” ministry has been named one of the continent’s most influential gay people. Brisbane Times reported Dec. 17:

During the 1980s, Paul Martin was at the helm of an ‘ex-gay ministry movement’ – one that tried to turn homosexual people into heterosexual people – in Melbourne.

Providing ‘treatment and religious counselling’ to hundreds of men and women, the group still operates in cities across the country.

However, Mr Martin, 45, eventually “saw the light” and confronted his personal demons.

“At the time I truly believed I was on a journey to being repaired, I was convinced my sexuality could be changed,” he said.

Two decades on, the counselling psychologist helps confused and troubled gays and lesbians come to terms with their own sexuality.

The organization that Martin led is said to still be in existence, misinforming participants that they are psychiatrically disordered and violating the will of God if they practice sexual honesty.

Mr Martin was this week named as the sole Queenslander in samesame.com.au’s annual Gaylies list – for the 25 Most Influential Gay and Lesbian Australians. …

While he disagrees with their methods and beliefs, Mr Martin does not believe the organisers of such groups are deliberately hateful people.

“The people involved with these groups don’t actually mean harm – they are lovely individuals, I’m sure. However, they are genuinely ignorant and driven by personal belief that is not in tune with reality.”

Of the dozens of so-called reformed gays Mr Martin worked with 20 years ago, only a few are still heterosexual and the majority wound up leading “messy lives”, he said.

“Some of those people got married but it inevitably ended in divorce and the sad part is most situations involved children.”

Martin, now a counseling psychologist, helps confused and troubled gays and lesbians come to terms with their own sexuality.

On March 1, 2008, 35 Australian Christian ministers apologized for years of antigay defamation and discrimination, which they called “un-Christian.” More ministers would have apologized, but several ministers were threatened into silence by antigay superiors.

Anthony Venn-Brown of Freedom 2 b[e] has just released video of these apologies to gay and gender-variant persons.

Addendum, April 13: Venn-Brown announced via e-mail this evening that the “100 Revs” apology has won an award for Most Outstanding Political Comment from the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

Become ex-gay — or else: Sydney, Australia, Anglican Rev. Richard Lane once wrote to High Court Justice Michael Kirby, urging him to join an “ex-gay” ministry or face the wrath of God. Lane’s letters were publicized at a Sydney forum on religious tolerance and homosexuality. In response, Kirby accused the churchman of using intemperate language, ignoring modern discoveries about sexual orientation and missing the “central loving message of Jesus and the Gospels.” Kirby stated, “There is not a single word of Jesus that sustains the thesis of animosity in your letter.”

Kern’s double-talk: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) released recordings of its 40-minute meeting with Oklahoma state Rep. Sally Kern, refuting Kern’s subsequent claims that she did not object to antigay discrimination and that she did not agree to meet again with the families of gay Oklahomans.

Exodus support for Kern? Video is now available of Exodus member activist Stephen Black giving his support to Oklahoma state Rep. Sally Kern and falsely claiming that most gay people are abused or badly parented. Exodus’ national office declined to affirm or condemn Black’s statements.

Door open to future antigay violence: Massachusetts antigay group MassResistance, which has been classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, has declined to condemn violent threats made against Lexington, Mass., School Superintendent Paul Ash. Antigay parent David Parker, whose campaign against tolerance in Lexington schools has been trumpeted by Exodus, conditions his own opposition to the threats by simply saying that violence is not justified “at this time.”

Reclaiming Judaism: A new Hebrew-language website has been launched in Israel to counter ex-gay propaganda published by Atzat-Nefesh. (XGW)

Shock ‘em straight? Maybe not: Officials of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints have accepted an invitation to meet with Affirmation, a support group for gay and lesbian Mormons. Affirmation wishes to discuss the church’s historical support for ex-gay therapies including electric shock aversion therapy, which prompted some Mormons to commit suicide. (BTB)

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, former clients of Mercy Ministries — an antigay residential program serving Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom — say they were denied professional psychotherapeutic or counseling services and granted only occasional, program-monitored visits to a general practitioner.

Instead of professional care, residents were dictated Bible verses, prayed at, and “exorcised” — and then denied support for appropriate follow-up care. Some residents say they required years of professional care to recover from abuse suffered in the program.

Mercy is a residential program for 16- to 28-year-old women that claims to offer “Christian counseling” to women who struggle with abuse, depression, eating disorders, unplanned pregnancy, and sexuality. Residents are monitored during their trips outdoors and denied access to family and friends for four to six weeks at a time. Some participants reside on-site for months.

Ex-transgender and former Exodus North America executive director Sy Rogers was reportedly featured often in the program’s in-house videos. Former clients who experienced no same-sex attraction say they were disturbed by the program’s preoccupation with stamping out “lesbianism.” Program rules forbid hugging and any other physical contact among clients.

Despite harsh rules and inordinate repetition of ex-gay rhetoric, “Mercy Ministries denies it runs an ‘ex-gay’ program,” according to the Herald.

New Zealand government agencies have allegedly subsidized the abuse:

Government agencies such as Centrelink have also been drawn into the controversy, as residents are required to transfer their benefits to Mercy Ministries. There are also allegations that the group receives a carers payment to look after the young women.

Corporate sponsors have since yanked funding — except for Gloria Jean’s Coffee, which continues to subsidize what appears to be an abusive cult-like environment:

Deeply felt ties bind Mercy Ministries, Gloria Jean’s and the Hillsong Church, connected through a complicated chain of directors and former directors – as well as donations.

More from the Sydney Morning Herald:

• God’s cure for gays lost in sin, March 19
• No mercy for transgressions, March 19
• The business of giving Mercy, March 18
• Corporates move quickly to cut ties, March 18
  
• Why Mercy Ministries was godsent for Hillsong, March 18
  
• Hell or a godsend: women tell their stories, March 18
  
• Ethics, financial probity for review, March 18
  
• They prayed to cast Satan from my body, March 18
  
• They sought help, but got exorcism and the Bible, March 17
  
• Women ‘mistreated’ by secretive ministry, March 17
  
• Lives at risk when vulnerable patients taken in by cult-like groups, March 17

Bene Diction Blogs On explains Mercy Ministries’ close ties to Hillsong, Australia’s largest pentecostal church, and finds the ministry planning to expand in Canada and the United States.

Ongoing coverage: Religion News Blog

Thoughtful religious analysis: One Salient Oversight

Hat tip: GayNZ