{"id":2579984,"date":"2026-03-15T08:51:58","date_gmt":"2026-03-15T12:51:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ex-lgbt-christian-declared-not-guilty-after-discussing-his-testimony\/"},"modified":"2026-03-15T08:54:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-15T12:54:27","slug":"ex-lgbt-christian-declared-not-guilty-after-discussing-his-testimony","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ex-lgbt-christian-declared-not-guilty-after-discussing-his-testimony\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-LGBT Christian Declared Not Guilty After Discussing His Testimony"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fex-lgbt-christian-declared-not-guilty-after-discussing-his-testimony%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2579984&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A Maltese Christian convert, Matthew Grech, who discussed his Christian testimony of leaving a homosexual lifestyle in a 2022 interview, was found not guilty of charges that he had advertised conversion therapy. He faced five months in prison under Malta\u2019s 2016 affirmation of Sexual Orientation, Gender, and Gender Expression Act, which bans practices associated wiht conversion therapy. His defense argued that his remarks were a personal religious testimony rather than advocacy of conversion therapy, and that his freedom of expression was at stake. Grech thanked God that justice prevailed, insisting he had committed no crime and had merely shared his lived experience and spiritual journey.<\/p>\n<p>The case highlights Malta\u2019s religious heritage and its influence on public discourse about sexuality and faith. The law, which some viewed as a model for other countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, was cited in the broader debate over how personal testimony and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kamala-harris-mocks-audience-members-for-proclaiming-jesus-is-lord-says-youre-at-the-wrong-rally\/\" title=\"Kamala Harris Mocks Audience Members for Proclaiming &#039;Jesus Is Lord,&#039; Says &#039;You&#039;re at the Wrong Rally&#039;\">religious beliefs intersect<\/a> with anti-conversion therapy measures. The article also draws a biblical parallel, recalling the Maltese apostle Paul\u2019s shipwreck in acts and using Paul\u2019s change as a likeness to Grech\u2019s own lived witness.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>A Christian convert from the European island of Malta who repented of his homosexual lifestyle has been found not guilty of charges claiming that he advertised &ldquo;conversion therapy&rdquo; practices.<\/p>\n<p>In 2022, Matthew Grech participated in an interview during which he discussed his Christian testimony, which involved leaving behind his homosexual lifestyle, per a March 4 <a href=\"https:\/\/premierchristian.news\/us\/news\/article\/court-clears-maltese-christian-in-landmark-conversion-practices-case\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">report<\/a> from Premier Christian News.<\/p>\n<p>But as a result, he faced five months in prison under a law passed in Malta against so-called &ldquo;conversion therapy.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The statute, known as the &ldquo;Affirmation of Sexual Orientation, Gender, and Gender Expression Act,&rdquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >banned practices turning people<\/a> away from homosexual and transgender lifestyles.<\/p>\n<p>It was passed in 2016 and soon became a model for other countries, such as the United Kingdom and Australia, as they weighed similar laws.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"anyclipvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadAnyclip() { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst container=document.getElementById(\"anyclipvideo\"); 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\t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>Grech was therefore accused by prosecutors in Malta, an island nation in the Mediterranean south of Sicily, of &ldquo;advertising conversion therapy.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">BREAKING: Victory for Matthew Grech as ex-gay Christian found not guilty in &lsquo;conversion practices&rsquo; trial<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;For three years, my life has been turned upside down, not for harming anyone, not for inciting hatred, not for breaking the law, but for sharing my personal testimony&hellip;&rdquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/BlvR0ElPU0\">pic.twitter.com\/BlvR0ElPU0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Christian Concern (@CConcern) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CConcern\/status\/2029169917044326841?\">March 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>But his attorneys at the Christian Legal Centre argued that his comments during the interview were merely a personal religious testimony, not advocacy of &ldquo;conversion therapy&rdquo; as defined by the law.<\/p>\n<p>They also noted that Grech&rsquo;s freedom of expression was under threat by the prosecution.<\/p>\n<p>Grech thanked God that &ldquo;justice has prevailed&rdquo; outside court after he was declared not guilty, marking the end of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pro-life-church-members-celebrate-legal-victory-after-allegations-of-threats-and-violence-outside-abortion-clinic\/\" title=\"Pro-Life Church Members Celebrate Legal Victory After Allegations Of Threats And Violence Outside Abortion Clinic\">years-long legal battle<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;From the very beginning, I have been clear that I committed no crime,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I was never guilty of anything except speaking openly about my own life, about my spiritual journey to becoming a Christian, and the profound difference and freedom that my faith has made in every aspect of who I am.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Grech added, &ldquo;For three long years, my life has been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/stunning-footage-delta-plane-ends-up-completely-upside-down-after-crash-landing\/\" title=\"Stunning Footage: Delta Plane Ends Up Completely Upside Down After Crash Landing\">turned completely upside<\/a> down, not for harming anyone, not for inciting hatred, not for breaking the law, but for sharing my personal testimony of hope and renewal on a podcast.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>He noted that &ldquo;speaking about one&rsquo;s lived experience, including the transforming power of Christ, is not a crime.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Beyond its rich Christian heritage &mdash; continued today through citizens like Grech &mdash; Malta appears in the book of Acts as the place where the apostle Paul was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gotquestions.org\/Malta-in-the-Bible.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shipwrecked<\/a> on his way to Rome.<\/p>\n<p>Also like Grech, Paul was a living testimony of God&rsquo;s grace in salvation, as he was a notorious persecutor of the early Christians before the risen Jesus confronted him on the road to Damascus.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost,&rdquo; Paul later <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=1%20Timothy%201&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">testified<\/a> in his first letter to Timothy.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ]; 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( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Maltese Christian convert, Matthew Grech, who says he renounced a homosexual lifestyle, was found not guilty of charges that he advertised \u201cconversion therapy\u201d in a 2022 interview about his Christian testimony. Malta\u2019s 2016 Affirmation of Sexual Orientation, Gender, and Gender Expression Act bans practices aimed at steering people away from homosexual or transgender identities, and the law has influenced similar proposals in other countries. Grech\u2019s lawyers argued that his remarks were a personal religious testimony, not an advocacy of conversion therapy, and that prosecuting him threatened his freedom of expression. After the verdict, Grech thanked God and said he had committed no crime, insisting that discussing one\u2019s lived experience and the transformative power of faith should not be criminal. The piece also situates Malta\u2019s Christian heritage alongside biblical references to Paul\u2019s conversion and shipwreck in Acts<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2579985,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Michael-Featured-Image-785.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4592,75829,8676,4853,17555],"class_list":["post-2579984","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-christian","tag-ex-lgbt","tag-testimony","tag-trial","tag-verdict"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Michael-Featured-Image-785.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2579984","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2579984"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2579984\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2579988,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2579984\/revisions\/2579988"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2579985"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2579984"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2579984"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2579984"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}