Activists storm `anti-gay' church service

EDMUND HALL

Gay and lesbian activists stormed a packed church in central London last night in the latest in a series of protests against Christian groups that claim to be able to cure homosexuality.

In a military-style operation several groups of activists converged on St Michael's Church in Belgravia holding placards with slogans like "From Queer to Eternity". The demonstrators burst unexpectedly into the church where Living Waters International was holding a large service and prayer meeting with a congregation of about 300 people.

Living Waters International is an American-backed umbrella group for the growing number `of "anti-gay" evangelical Christian groups that have been accused by homosexual activists of causing emotional trauma to men and women trying to equate their sexuality with their Christian faith.

According to Living Waters and other similar organisations, intensive prayer and the intervention of Jesus Christ can "turn" lesbians and gay men away fram the "path of sin".

Drew, a 28-year-old Christian, from the Wirral, spent 10 years struggling with his homosexuality. He went to the True Freedom Trust, which has offices in London and Liverpool, where he received intensive counselling that he claims placed the blame for his homosexuality on the relationship he had with his parents.

His church in the Wirral carried out an exorcism to rid him of the gay "demons" that they believed were inside him. According to Drew, a group of about 20 men and women stood closely around him one Sunday night in the church, laid their hands on him and prayed intensively for the demons to come out.

The service was conducted by a Church of England priest and other senior members of the local church hierarchy. He says the experience left him feeling profoundly depressed for a considerable period afterwards.

The Church of England has consistently refused to condemn the activities of these groups, many of which used their premises to carry out their work.

The Courage Trust, based in Watford, Hertfordshire, ran intensive residential courses, and used property owned by the diocese of St Albans. Last month, gay activists stormed St Albans Cathedral in protest at the bishop's refusal to condemn the group's activities.

The leader of another group, U-Turn Anglia, is Pastor George Harvey, whose son, Harvey, committed suicide as he could not reconcile his homosexuality with his Christian faith. Mr Harvey has been reported as saying that his son was "better dead than gay".

Activists such as Peter Tatchell claim that the groups are growing in strength with links to at least 150 churches throughout the country.

An investigation by the Carlton Television programme, The Big Story, to be broadcast tonight, has revealed close links between the British organisations and much larger groups in the United States - most based in California. Reports in the United States have talked of residential centres in the Nevada desert, where young people are sent by parents concerned that their children may be becoming gay.

Last night's demonstration was part of an on-going campaign by gay activists to highlight these groups. David O'Keefe, a spokesman for OutRage, which took part in last night's protest, said: "We have written to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, calling on him to ban these groups within the Church of England.

"These groups have been shown to pick on vulnerable young people.They are driving young people to become depressed." The police were called last night to remove the demonstrators from the church where they were chanting, letting off stink-bombs and singing on the sanctuary step. Living Waters International stewards' responded by turning up the volume of the Christian rock group who were playing behind them. No one from Living Waters International was available for comment.