Dagenham vicar says homosexuality “can be cured”

Rev Steven Hanna Archant

A church leader from Dagenham has called gay marriage a ‘sin’ and says that homosexuality is something people can be cured of.

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Rev Steven Hanna from St Elisabeth’s of Becontree made the controversial remarks following the release of a letter signed by 21 leaders of Barking and Dagenham churches voicing their concerns about gay marriage.

It comes a month after MPs voted in the Commons to allow gay couples to marry.

Rev Hanna told the Post: “I am not saying that being gay is a sin. I am saying gay practice is a sin and gay marriage is a sin.

“There is a difference between having gay thoughts and performing gay practice. I can have adulterous thoughts and yet not commit adultery. People can be cured from being gay. Not everyone is but everyone can be.”

The letter released reads: “We believe marriage to be holy matrimony between a man and a woman. We believe that civil partnerships and gay marriage are not holy and are against God’s word. We believe that church leaders, politicians and government ought not to be promoting them and that to do so will bring God’s judgment upon us.

It continues: “Jesus spoke tough truths yet was still able to love people. We urge all churches and Christians to do the same in the knowledge that there is transforming grace and forgiveness for all who seek him.”

Rev Hanna defended it from being anti-gay, saying: “It is not against the gays. God loves the sinner but hates the sin. It is like me saying murder is a sin, but the murderer can be helped. With God you don’t have to live like that. Jesus is the friend of sinners because he wants to help us not sin.”

The signatories are as follows: Aboidun Adesanya (The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Akeem Adeyemi (Foursquare Gospel Church), Charles Adocco (South Park Chapel), James Akinola (Pentecost Baptist Church), John Arthur (Faith Believers Chapel), Christiana Asinugo (CofE denomination), Mike Barrett (Kingsley Hall), Kieran Bush (Dagenham Parish Church), Reuben Fajimi (CAC Kingdom Builders), Martyn Fisher (Barking Baptist), Steven Hanna (St Elisabeth’s), Tom Hart (DC Church), David Horncastle (Wood Lane Baptist), Mick Mednick (Barking Unite), Sue Millar (Becontree Baptist), Tunde Olu-Alabi (Foursquare Gospel Church), Dare Osatimehin (Total Word), Kingsley Osebor (Solution House), Kathy Playle (General Synod of the Church of England), Simon Smallwood (St George’s), Billy Young (Upney Baptist).