NHS surgeon-turned-pastor at ‘gay cure’ church could face General Medical Council investigation

The head of a ‘gay cure church’ who was exposed as an NHS brain surgeon could face a professional investigation.

An undercover reporter found that the assistant pastor of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry in Liverpool is claiming to ‘cure’ homosexuality by starvation.

Liverpool Echo journalist Josh Parry revealed the church’s shocking claims after going undercover, posing as a gay man seeking a cure.

Now the head pastor at the church could face an investigation by medical watchdog the General Medical Council (GMC).

Dr Desmond Dele Sanusi, pastor of the Liverpool branch of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, which has 6000 pastors worldwide, is a practising brain surgeon.

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 – confirmed Dr Sanusi’s employment, but would not say in which of the eight hospitals they manage.

The Trust says they are “looking into” the Liverpool Echo’s claims with a multi-department investigation.

A spokesperson for the GMC – the body which governs medical professionals – confirmed that Dr Sanusi could face an investigation due to his involvement with the church.

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.”

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.”

Gay cure therapy is banned on the NHS, though it is not illegal in any area of the UK.

Gay cure therapy has been widely and conclusively debunked by experts.

It is not possible to change a person’s sexuality, by fasting or by any other means.

• Dec 01 2023

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