NHS doctor who heads up church that advocates ‘gay cure’ therapy may be investigated
The head of a ‘gay cure church’ who was exposed as a brain surgeon working for the NHS may face investigation.
An undercover investigation revealed that the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry church is claiming to be able to ‘cure’ homosexuality by starvation.
The assistant pastor of the Liverpool church offers to ‘cure’ people of their homosexuality by telling them to starve for three days.
Liverpool Echo journalist Josh Parry revealed the church’s claims after going undercover, posing as a gay man seeking a cure.
Earlier this week, the Liverpool Echo has revealed that the head pastor at the church is working for the NHS in Northern Ireland.
Dr Desmond Dele Sanusi, pastor of the Liverpool branch of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, is a registered doctor with the General Medical Council.
The GMC may investigate Dr Sanusi for being the pastor of the church.
A spokesperson for the body, told the Liverpool Echo that Dr Sanusi could face an investigation into his involvement with the church.
An investigation would be held privately until a verdict is found, and the GMC has not confirmed whether he is already being investigated.
If the surgeon is investigated and found in breach of GMC guidelines, he could face disciplinary action or a tribunal.
The Echo understands that he is working as a neurosurgeon for the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.
The NHS Trust – funded by UK taxpayers – oversees eight hospitals, and the Trust would not confirm which Dr Sanusi works in.
They also said that they are “looking into” the Liverpool Echo’s claims with a multi-department investigation.
Dr Sanusi strongly denies the church discriminates against gay people, and only his assistant pastor has been found advocating the gay cure therapy.
He told the Echo: “If you come to the church to come and pray to come and know God better you are welcome. We don’t discriminate against people.
“[The programme] been running for over 20 years and nobody has dropped dead.”
Gay cure therapy is banned on the NHS, though it is not illegal in any area of the UK.
The church’s assistant pastor was filmed by an undercover reporter saying that being gay is “biologically wrong”.
In a bizarre rant, recorded by the undercover journalist, the pastor calling himself Brother Michael said that people only pretend to be gay due to celebrities.
While labelling homosexuality a “deceit of Satan”, he told the reporter: “How many professors, how many airlines, except those in Hollywood, except the boxer, except the sportsmen, except the singers, are coming out to say they are feeling gay.
“Their reward is the celebrity. That is what you are following in. So many people now want to do it for publicity.
“I thank God that you have come to where you think you will get help and I know you are going to get the help.
“With the help of God, with prayer, with praying, with the help of God you will have children. You will marry and have your children.”
The journalist also recorded the pastor yelling at a group session: “Die in the name of Jesus and Christ. You are a liar. Die in the fire.”
Gay cure therapy has been widely and conclusively debunked by experts from many major medical bodies.
