A former Maltese LGBT activist who reportedly faces a possible prison sentence after sharing his testimony of leaving his homosexual lifestyle to follow Christ has won a years-long legal battle.
Matthew Grech, who began speaking out about leaving his gay lifestyle and becoming a Christian in 2018, was acquitted by the Malta Magistrates’ Court on March 4 after being accused of advertising proselytism. He spoke to CBN News about the importance of the victory.
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“It feels really good and I feel like it’s the result of the faithful prayers of saints around the world,” Grech said. “I have mixed feelings. I’m grateful, but I felt like the process itself was a punishment. And my question is, is there now freedom of speech on this issue in Malta? Because really, if there was freedom of speech, I wouldn’t have had to go through a three-year process and go to criminal court for the first time in my life.”
Ultimately, he said he wanted “the ban on so-called religious conversion practices in Malta to be lifted and the European Commission to block their entry into all European countries.” Grech said people should be able to have free and honest conversations about complex issues like this.
After facing more than three years of legal challenges, Grech explained what he faced in the process of fighting for his right to freedom and free speech.
“I appeared in court 17 times and faced several adjournments along the way,” he said. “It was going to be a summary of the proceedings. … Everything was going to be resolved in one day.”
But that day sparked more than 36 months of legal proceedings and battles, with Gretsch facing up to five months in prison and a €5,000 fine.
“What’s the deal with the trial taking three years?” Grech said. “A simple conversation about sexuality and gender.”
As previously reported, the legal troubles began after Gretsch shared his story of leaving the LGBTQ lifestyle and finding Jesus to local media in Malta. He said two PMnews Malta presenters wanted to know more about the country’s crackdown on so-called conversion therapy and his views on the issue.
In 2016, Malta became the first European Union country to ban attempts to “change, suppress or eliminate the sexual orientation, gender identity or expression of individuals” and impose fines and even imprisonment.
“I was invited to share my story on the show and answer questions about the so-called conversion practices,” Grech previously told CBN News. “And I also mentioned organizations that support non-LGBT men and women and organizations that promote Biblical sexuality.”
He found himself under fire because the organizations he mentioned help support men and women with “unwanted homosexual desires” and “unwanted gender confusion.”
After three people reported Gretsch to the police, he found himself in legal limbo. Mr Grech remains deeply concerned about the right to free speech in Malta and what he sees as an alarming erosion of fundamental freedoms.
“Frankly, people have the right to voluntarily seek the help that suits them, and that’s the right thing to do for them, because people want to live according to their values,” he said. “Or maybe they are looking to resolve past trauma from marital discord or abuse.”
Grech believes his case is very important because it could set a precedent around the world.
“While it was important to win this case, it is even more important to build momentum so that the ban on conversion practices is lifted, not only in Malta but also in Europe,” he said. “So I think we need to build on the momentum we have at the moment. It’s great to see a win, but we want more.”
Grech has previously revealed more about his backstory, explaining how he lived an “active gay lifestyle in London” before becoming a religious believer. At the time, he also had a great interest in New Age and wanted to become a Reiki Master.
“(I was) really confused,” Grech said. “Until a nice Christian woman warned me about my New Age beliefs… and she invited me to church with her.”
He recalls being hesitant at first, but her kindness led him to give it a try. After attending my first prayer meeting, I was deeply moved by all the Christians who gathered to pray.
“And they invited me to the main gathering,” he recalled. “And the pastor in the community was saying something about knowledge of people, and he pointed at me and said, ‘I think God wants to tell you that he really loves you,'” he said.
Grech described the moment as if a sword had pierced his heart. He decided to move towards faith and get a Bible. And after reading Paul’s words about homosexuality, he said, the truth began to sink into his heart.
“I needed to repent and give my life to Jesus, and I did. It was the most amazing and blessed decision of my life. I am so grateful.”
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