Seven Spanish dioceses were reported for proposing sexual conversion therapies
Article by José Beltrán*, published on the Cristiano Vida Nueva website (Spain) on January 2, 2025. Freely translated by the volunteers of the Gionata project
The Spanish Association against conversion therapies (Asociación Española Contra Las therapy de Conversión) has filed a complaint against seven Spanish dioceses for the alleged promotion of sexual conversion therapies through the "Transformados" project. The dioceses involved are the archdiocese of Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia, and the dioceses of Getafe, Alcalá de Henares, Málaga and Sigünza-Guadalajara. The complaint also includes nine physical persons and two platforms: "Media Saludunción SL" and the "Fundación Nueva Evangelización Para the 21st century".
On 30 December 2024, the Association presented a detailed report of about one hundred pages to the Directorate General of LGTBI rights of the Ministry of Spanish equality, asking for the start of a sanctioning procedure pursuant to the so -called Ley Trans (Law 4/2023) , in relation to thirteen events carried out in five Spanish regions.
Penalties provided for by law
The complaint accuses the defendants of having committed a very serious administrative violation, as defined in article 79.4.d of law 4/2023, which prohibits the "promotion or practice of methods, programs or therapies of aversion, conversion or counter-control" aimed at modifying sexual orientation, sexual identity or people's gender expression, regardless of the consent of the same or their legal representatives. These infringements are punishable with fines from 10,001 to 150,000 euros.
In some cases, the violation of article 79.4 is also contested concerning the "convening of public shows or recreational activities" aimed at inciting classified or very serious behaviors classified.
Warnings from the Vatican
As reported by Vida Nueva, four years ago the Holy See officially sentenced these practices, with particular attention to the situation in Spain. In addition, a few months ago, Pope Francis, during a meeting behind closed doors with several Spanish bishops, clearly expressed his "no" to conversion therapies. However, these warnings from Rome seem to have not had the desired effect.
The complaint is the result of two years of investigations conducted by Saúl Castro, president of the Spanish association against conversion therapies (Asociación Española contra las therapy de conversión). The report highlights how the "Transformados" project promotes the "healing" of homosexuality, associating it with trauma, stigmatizing the LGTBI community and proposing chastity as a "solution".
It is underlined that the speech of the reported combines religious prejudices, pathologizing and dehumanizing language, and the implicit promotion of conversion therapies, creating a hostile environment for homosexual people. In some activities, homosexuality is defined as a "sexuality disorder" and homosexual people as "sexual degenerates".
"Return to one's biological origins"
The document describes "transformados" as an apostolate aimed at people with tendencies or attraction towards the same sex, proposing a path of conversion or change of life to "return to one's biological origins", that is, to become heterosexual.
The "transformados" methodology is based on absolute chastity, encounter with Christ and daily religious practice, with the aim of "remedying emotional wounds" that would have generated homosexuality. The people involved are directed to two options: to train a heterosexual family and abandon homosexual orientation, or live their homosexual sexuality in full chastity and abstinence.
Criticisms of “conversion testimonies"
The relationship also criticizes the diffusion of "conversion testimonies" which falsely suggest the possibility of "coming out" from homosexuality and paint "gay life" as dangerous, sad, lonely, immoral and harmful. Those who advocate this initiative of deceiving the public are accused, making believe that it is possible to change the sexual orientation following the proposed precepts.
Related documentaries and activities
Among the activities promoted by the project, there are two documentaries entitled "Camino Abierto" and "Transformados", which according to the study attached to the complaint, strengthen the topics of the project.
The complaint also lists the places and dates in which "Transformados" operated, including the Parish Mother Maravillas of Getafe, the Santa María Magdalena parish of Ciempozuelos, the Sistal BuenaFuente monastery in Guadalajara, the church of Corpus Christi in Barcelona and the San Isidoro parish y Pedro Claver in Madrid.
In one of the testimonies reported, a participant says he has participated in the "First Dates" television program to meet children, then defining this experience as a "deception of the devil" and explaining that he had done it because of his family's refusal towards his own sexuality. In addition, he reports that he prayed to God for the healing of a sick nephew, hearing an inner voice that told him: "This is the only opportunity I give you".
*José Beltrán is a journalist specialized in religious themes and director of the magazine "Vida Nueva".
Original text: "You are Diócesis Españolas, denunciation Por Practicar therapy de converseón sexual "
