UK Church pays out to man after harrowing homophobic "exorcism"

A gay man has received a significant five-figure settlement from St. Thomas Philadelphia, a Church of England parish in Sheffield, after being subjected to a deeply disturbing "exorcism" aimed at eliminating his homosexuality. Matthew Drapper, 37, endured the traumatic experience while volunteering at the church in 2014, highlighting the ongoing dangers posed by harmful "conversion practices."

According to The Telegraph, Drapper was targeted during a church event, where a married couple told him that “sexual impurity” had allowed demons to enter his body and that an exorcism was necessary. The couple, acting as "prayer leaders," claimed to witness "demons leaving" his body during the procedure. The incident left Drapper feeling "empty" and triggered suicidal thoughts. He left the church in 2016.

After a formal complaint and subsequent investigation by Barnardo's, which confirmed the "exorcism" attempt, Drapper launched legal action. The settlement is believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, setting a precedent for accountability in cases involving harmful LGBTQ+ conversion practices.

"Looking back, it seems like something out of a horror movie," Drapper told The Times. "For someone to be standing over you saying they can see the demons leaving your body is quite terrifying."

Richard Scorer, Drapper's lawyer, condemned the church's actions. "As far as I am aware, this is the first-ever payment of damages in respect of harm caused by conversion or exorcism practices," he said. "It demonstrates that churches which engage in these abhorrent homophobic practices may face legal claims and damages awards, and I hope it will encourage churches to ban such practices entirely."

St. Thomas Philadelphia issued a statement saying they were "saddened that one of our community was not cared for in the way we would have liked" and offered an apology. However, advocates emphasize that this case underscores the urgent need for a complete ban on conversion practices and for religious institutions to actively promote LGBTQ+ inclusion and acceptance.