Mexico: Christian doctors and therapists under pressure

On 9 August 2020, Aciprensa reported that a Christian doctor was verbally attacked by feminist groups on social media after he had shared the anonymous testimony of a woman who had an abortion at home and then had to go to a hospital because her life was in danger. On 24 July 2020, Reuters reported that the Congress of Mexico City had approved the reform of the Penal Code to criminalize any form of "˜conversion therapy". Such therapy was defined as "those practices consisting of psychological and psychiatric sessions, methods or treatments that aim to nullify, obstruct, impair or modify the expression or gender identity, as well as the sexual orientation of the person." Rossana Ramirez, persecution analyst at World Watch Research, comments: "Intolerant attitudes towards Christians continue to be expressed wherever biblical values are seen to be obstructing the agenda of groups such as radical feminists or LGBTI adherents. In the case of the doctor who openly confessed his Christian faith online, his professionalism as a health-worker was immediately questioned and he was accused of discrimination for publicly pointing out all the risks involved in having an abortion." Rossana Ramirez continues: "In such a context where there is little respect for Christian faith - particularly where it operates in the public sphere - the criminalization of therapy conversions represents a risk to Christians. The wording of the Penal Code reform is so broad that Christian leaders or Christian parents could be accused of committing a crime when they try to guide adults and children under their care on sexual issues, according to biblical principles."