Date: Tue, 25 Jul 1995 10:19:58 +0200 (MSZ) From: Bj|rn Skolander Subject: OutRage! Zaps the Bishop of St. Albans OUTRAGE! 5 Peter Street, Soho, W1V 3RR outrage@smml.demon.co.uk PRESS RELEASE 22/7/95 IMMEDIATE Bishop who supports fundamentalist homophobic cults driven from his own farewell service by angry protesters OutRage! on Sunday interrupted the Farewell to the Bishop service for the Bishop of St. Albans with its own Good Riddance to the Bishop protest in St. Albans Cathedral. As Rt. Reverend John Taylor rose to give his farewell address, protesters stormed the altar chanting "Taylor Out, Courage Out". Unable to continue his sermon, the Bishop left the pulpit which was immediately taken over by one of the activists who delivered an alternative sermon. Protesters were shaken by the level of violence used by church officials, including clergy, who unsuccessfully tried to silence them. "It was amazing to see so-called peace loving Christians resort to violence to stop out protest. I was put in an arm-lock and punched", one protester complained. The protest ended after 10 minutes. Protesters left blowing whistles and chanting "Church of hatred, Church of fear, Stop crucifying queers". The out-going Bishop Rt. Rev. John Taylor is a supporter of the Courage Trust (an ex-gay group) which seeks to change people's sexuality from gay to straight. The Courage Trust has operated out of his diocese for a number of years with his knowledge and support. The Bishop has repeatedly refused to comment on the matter. This is in spite of the Archbishop of Canterbury's statement that "there is no place for homophobia in the church". Such groups have a history of damaging their victims using moony-style tactics of isolation and indoctrination. Evidence from America shows that some victims of ex-gay organisations there have subsequently attempted suicide and self-mutilation. Despite assurances that the church was considering with urgency the concerns of the Lesbian and Gay community, the Archbishop of Canterbury admitted at last week's Synod in York that they had not considered the matter at all. OutRage! has repeatedly tried to get the Church hierarchy to address the issue of ex-gay groups and acknowledge the emotional damage that such groups do to the vulnerable, often young, people that they target. OutRage! spokesperson Glenn Halton said "Today's action sends a message to the Church of England that the Lesbian and Gay Community will not stand by as the Church allows other gay people to be damaged in the name of their religion by fundamentalist bigots. We are seeking an unequivocal condemnation of the actions of the ex-gay groups from the Church and will not stop our campaign of disruption until the Church acknowledges its moral responsibilities." Note: On 21st July 1995 OutRage! members intervened at a meeting of another ex-gay group, the 'True Freedom Trust' at one of its 'support groups' at the Westbourne Park Baptist Church in North London. They gave out leaflets with information about responsible groups for Lesbian and Gay christians and engaged Trust members in dialogue.