Homophobic Christian Course Kicked out of Prison

KENILWORTH, 6 JULY 2006 — The Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) has welcomed the axing of a so-called Christian “discipleship” course from Dartmoor Prison after it was adjudged to be homophobic and not in line with “diversity policies”.

The Inner Change programme – based on an American idea – has been closed down by the Prison Service after one year of operation. Lady Georgie Wates, of the Prison Fellowship, who helped to set up the course in Dartmoor, told the Church of England Newspaper: “There are two reasons for the closure. First we don’t comply with the diversity policy of the Prison Service because we teach the sanctity of heterosexual marriage as the Bible says, which is seen as homophobic. And secondly, because we don’t fit in with the multi-faith agenda. They think we should be teaching a bit of every religion and that what we’re teaching offends other faiths.”

The Inner Change programme is based on the Alpha Course (pioneered in this country by Rev. Nicky Gumbel who makes no secret of his homophobia) and it aims to create a Christian community in the prison and includes follow-up and Christian mentoring after release. The course’s proponents claim that in some American states recidivism has been reduced to eight per cent by the programme.

Inner Change came to the attention of the Chaplain General, The Venerable William Noblett, who cast doubt on its principles after visiting last year, but it has the support of the Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev. Michael Nazir-Ali, who said he regretted its closure.

GALHA’s secretary, George Broadhead, said: “We are very pleased to hear that this outfit has been booted out of Dartmoor Prison. There are dozens of similar courses running in other prisons – all of them fundamentalist in nature and, of course, homophobic. They should all be cleared out – including the Alpha Course. Why should these groups be allowed to proselytise among people who are at an extremely vulnerable time in their life? Why should they be permitted to go into prisons – already extremely dangerous places for gay people – and reinforce the homophobia that is rampant already? There is no evidence that they have any effect on recidivism, but we know that many would like to use public money for their programmes. The Prison Service should take a much tougher line and ban all these extremists.”