Witness Christian therapist case threatened
A Christian psychotherapist who was to appear before a professional conduct panel today has asked that the hearing be postponed while police investigate threats against a primary witness in the case.
Lesley Pilkington, who counsels clients who want to leave the homosexual lifestyle, was due to appear before the review panel of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) after a complaint was made against her by a homosexual activist.
Shortly before the hearing, the Christian Legal Centre reports, an expert witness who was to testify on Pilkington’s behalf received several “menacing” phone calls that included threats and intimidation telling him not to attend.
The counselor has asked for an adjournment in the case and for police to be called in to fully investigate.
Pilkington had been the object of a sting operation by undercover journalist Patrick Strudwick, who approached her to ask her for help with his sexuality. He had told Pilkington that he wanted to leave the homosexual lifestyle.
However, he secretly recorded two counseling sessions and published them in The Independent newspaper. Strudwick then launched the complaint against Pilkington with the BACP, claiming that she had failed to respect the natural immutability of his homosexuality.
During the counseling sessions, Strudwick repeatedly stated that he wanted to leave the practice of homosexuality. Pilkington has said that she clearly informed Strudwick that her therapeutic methods were Christian-based.
Since writing the article, Strudwick has become a campaigner against Christian-based therapies for homosexuality and has organized protests at Christian conferences. He has stated in interviews that no-one can change his sexual orientation and has claimed that attempts to do so are extremely harmful.
