It replaced the Helsinki Accords on human rights after the cold war ended. The HDIM is organized by the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

When the invitation came to travel to Poland to participate in HDIM, I was surprised. Quite frankly, I had never heard of the OSCE, the HDIM or the ODIHR until last August. Because of Redeemed Lives' witness in Europe for the last fifteen years, I was asked to give a side-event at the HDIM on Addressing Unwanted Same-sex Attraction For Public Debate.

This seemed especially timely since my French publisher, Denis Ducatel, had recently informed me that the French translation of Setting Love In Order (Aimer En Vérité), and all books on changing same-sex attractions from a Christian perspective were now considered 'hate speech' throughout the Francophone world. Additionally, a university chaplain in England, was formally accused of 'inciting hate speech' against gays and lesbians for simply displaying on a table within his chaplain's office my book alongside three others on changing same-sex attractions. He had to hire a lawyer in the UK to address the charges brought against him. They have since been dropped. But, at any given time the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community can reengage these charges against him.

The HDIM meetings lasted for two weeks. At the first meeting with the team of Christians from across Europe, the Holy Spirit moved on several leaders to encourage me to present an Intervention before all the nations of the OSCE. I did not even know what an Intervention was - it is a request for drafting legislation or for exposing human rights violations. If all the states of the OSCE unanimously endorse an Intervention, then it becomes a 'soft law' meaning it is a viable piece of legislation that can be presented to each of the governments represented at the OSCE. As it turned out I gave two Interventions at the HDIM. My first Intervention, which occurred on Tuesday, September 29th asked the states of the OSCE to draft legislation to protect the rights of men and women seeking treatment for unwanted same sex attractions.
To: The Organization for Security and Co‐operation in Europe
From: The Rev. Mario Bergner, Redeemed Lives, Inc.
RE: Addressing Unwanted Same‐Sex Attraction for
Public Debate
Date: September 29th, 2009

Fundamental Freedoms I:
Freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief.
Follow up of the 2009 Supplementary Human Dimension
Meeting on Freedom of Religion.

Central Recommendation: That participating States of the OSCE draft legislation to safeguard the freedom of men and women with unwanted same‐sex attractions to seek out reparative therapy or pastoral care.

There are at least three spheres of justice: economics, politics and human self‐emancipation. One definition of justice applicable to each of these spheres is giving to each man or woman his or her due. And what is due to each man and woman in the sphere of justice for human self‐emancipation? Freedom. The freedom to become our truest self.

When addressing same‐sex attraction in pluralistic societies, we encounter divergent definitions of freedom with respect to human self‐emancipation. For some, freedom to safely self identify as gay or lesbian is emancipation. For others, like myself, freedom from unwanted same‐sex attraction is emancipation.

My emancipation from same‐sex attractions came primarily through my Christian faith. But this freedom that led to my emancipation is in danger. I would draw your attention to the recent investigation of a Church of England priest for hate speech against gays and lesbians because he simply mentioned to a university student that men and women with unwanted same‐sex attractions should have the freedom to seek change through reparative therapy or pastoral care.

Pluralism is a safeguard of both civil and religious liberties. Liberty, either civil or religious, is lost when a singular ideology is imposed as the only way to freedom. Twentieth century Marxist socialism is a prime example of declaring the freedom of humanity from the constraints of religion and capitalism, while imposing a bondage to the communist state on the individual. Marxism, as expressed in the Soviet Union, sacrificed individualism to the needs of the state. But not only was individualism sacrificed, individuals were sacrificed. Marxism resulted in an even more systematically oppressive system than the economic injustices it was attempting to combat. Likewise, the Pagan religions of antiquity sacrificed humans to appease angry gods. In an attempt to free the whole, not one, but many lives were lost on the altars of pagan temples. Again, the very process of seeking freedom unjustly took it away from some.

Both civil and religious liberties rely on a definition of freedom for all, not some and not some special interest group. In this sense the community, be it the state or the church, is the context within which genuine freedom is acquired for the individual. Christianity in all its expressions has a central belief that the reason Jesus Christ came was to set us free. St Paul writing to a community that tried to impose legalism on all wrote in Galatians 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free. The concept of freedom in Christianity and in civil government is the setting of us free. Freedom for all. Not setting most free. And not setting me free at the expense of another's freedom.

Within this framework of justice and freedom I pose this question to you. Should governments protect only the freedoms of men and woman who self identify as gay and lesbian but not the freedom of people with unwanted same‐sex attraction? Again, my intervention this morning is to appeal to participating States of the OSCE to draft legislation that safeguards the freedom of men and women with unwanted same‐sex attractions to seek out reparative therapy or pastoral care.

After I finished my Intervention, several people came to me and handed me their card. One diplomat from an OSCE nation said he had never heard anything like it before. A policy advisor from a western nation said that two thirds of the seated delegates leaned forward in their seats and listened intently. The other third crossed their arms in disbelief. Sadly, when I asked if I could quote them by name in this edition of the RL Newsletter, they said no. Why? Because the higher-ups in their nations did not want to support anything as controversial as the concept of changing unwanted same-sex attractions.

In that moment I became aware of the quiet and powerful spirit of intimidation at work around the world that wars against speaking the truth about changing same-sex attractions. Moreover, this intimidating spirit denies the power of the Gospel to change lives and is infiltrating the Church. That afternoon I gave my side event on Addressing Unwanted Same-Sex Attraction for Public Debate. About fifteen people representing a variety of governments and political ideologies listened attentively then asked some challenging questions. Perhaps the hardest question, which revealed as much to me as to my listeners was, "How is your freedom of religion being impinged upon at this very moment?"

It was in answering that question that I realized how much covert pressure there is in both the Church and society to keep silent about the message of changing unwanted same-sex attractions. For Evangelicals involved in the Emergent Church (EC) movement, there is a pressure to accept the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community into the local church without expecting God to change their lives. By 'accepting' the EC does not necessarily mean condoning homosexual practices, but rather being silent about the moral imperatives of the Bible regarding same-sex erotic activity.

Nowhere is this more evident than in Andrew Marin's recent book, Love Is An Orientation. Marin is not a pastor, but a kind hearted Christian who is trying to sort through the complex issue of homosexuality. The title of the book reveals his bias. He believes homosexuality is an orientation.

Moreover, he fails to address difficulties pastors encounter when Christians who are living immoral lifestyles ask to be in positions of leadership. Many pastors are uncritically reading Marin's book and saying such things as, "Let's try incorporating active homosexuals into the leadership of the church and allow the Holy Spirit to sort out their sexuality issues."

Brian McLaren is widely quoted as saying about homosexuality, "Perhaps we need a five-year moratorium on making pronouncements."

In those five years thousands of gay men will become infected with HIV/AIDs. How can we be silent when the lives of people are at stake? How can we be silent when the fundamental freedoms of men and women who desire to change their same-sex attractions are now in danger? This is hardly the time for a five year silence. Now is the time to speak the truth in love.

Silence is sometimes fueled by fear. Christian leaders and moral politicians fear saying that science, psychology and pastoral care have shown that homosexual attractions can be changed. This became apparent during my side event. After seeing all the documentation to support claims about changing same-sex attractions, I was told privately such evidence could not be presented publically for fear of backlash from the LGBT community. At the same time, gratitude for what I shared was overwhelming. Several times I was told, "You Mario have a freedom to speak that we do not have." This was chilling.

A week later I gave an intervention on intolerance and discrimination against changing unwanted same-sex attractions. In that Intervention I specifically addressed the opposing viewpoints of self-emancipation for those who do not want their same-sex attractions and seek out change in contrast to those who want their same-sex attractions and self-identify as gay and lesbian. Support for the rights of the LGBT has resulted in overbroad hate speech laws that are beginning to limit the right to speak out freely about changing unwanted same-sex attractions. Therefore, I requested for acts of recognition from the OSCE regarding intolerance and discrimination surrounding the issue of changing unwanted same-sex attractions. I requested:

1. First, please recognize the thousands of men and women who, like myself, have been helped by pastoral care, reparative therapy and books showing the way of freedom from unwanted same-sex attractions.
2. Second, please recognize that clergy have been accused of inciting hate speech against gays and lesbians for recommending books on changing unwanted same-sex attraction.
3. Third, please recognize that some bookstores fear the accusation of promoting hate speech against gays and lesbians for stocking books about changing unwanted same-sex attractions.
4. Fourth, please recognize that publishers that have produce works on changing unwanted same-sex attractions have been discriminated against, causing such books to go out of print.

If you go to www.osce.org and type in Redeemed Lives into their advance search on their home page, you can access our interventions.

During our two weeks in Warsaw, our small group of global Christian leaders presented a variety of interventions. Barbara Vittucci, one of our delegates from Vienna, attended a side-event sponsored by a LGBT organization. During this event, one LGBT leader said that all but one of the states of the OSCE were prepared to accept their interventions. That one state is the Holy See. Because the Vatican is a City-State, it is seated at the OSCE as a nation. The Catholic Church, which was the seed bed for the trade unions organization of Solidarity, continues to be a powerful advocate for genuine freedom for all. No doubt the fall of communism was due in part to a Polish Pope. A street in Warsaw has been renamed John Paul II boulevard.

When Nancy and I lived in Switzerland ten years ago, we witnessed the good the Catholic Church accomplishes in Europe. When the LGBT community announced their first Gay Pride parade in Basel, Switzerland, the Roman Catholic Cardinal objected to the parade coming by the Cathedral Church in Basel. Consequently, the parade was rerouted. It is not an overstatement to say that the Roman Catholic Church is helping to redirect and resist the global movement to embrace the agenda of LGBT political activists. It was a joy to partner with these brothers and sisters in Christ from the Roman Church.

Christian leaders from Europe and beyond have told me that what I presented during those two weeks in Warsaw was unprecedented. Additionally, only by persistently giving such Interventions at every annual meeting of the OSCE will we see a change in the global trend to silence the truth that same-sex attractions can be changed.

The Lord has given RL an opportunity to return next year to the OSCE, and the year after that. RL has moved into a sphere of influence I never imagined. We are humbled and blessed to be used of the Lord to witness to Him around the globe. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes." Romans 1:16 +

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