The Charity Commission has contacted a newly registered Christian charity after concerns were raised with it about a “homophobic” social media post, Civil Society has learned.
The chair of Manchester-based Christian charity C&S Akobi Olorun Restoration Ministry UK, which was registered in March, made a Facebook post in 2023 in which she criticised same sex marriages and said they “must not be accepted anywhere in the world”.
Sobogun’s post added: “Why are you people so anxious to experience [sic] God anger in all ways? If you are gay and you would like to marry gay partner doesn’t mean you should push others into hell fire with you. You just acted like a demon.”
Following the charity’s registration, lobby group the National Secular Society contacted the commission over concerns that the post was promoting homophobia.
Lobby group calls for charitable purpose review
The commission provided the charity with “advice and guidance” relating to social media use but has not opened a regulatory compliance case.
A spokesperson for the regulator said: “Following an assessment of concerns raised with us about comments made by C&S Akobi Olorun Restoration Ministry UK, the commission wrote to the trustees to provide regulatory advice and guidance relating to social media use.”
They also noted that the charity was not on the commission’s register at the time when the relevant social media post was made.
A National Secular Society spokesperson said: “This is just the latest example of a religious charity spreading vicious homophobia. Any suggestion it is acting in the public benefit is utterly farcical.
“Religious charities are being allowed to promote homophobia with impunity. The charitable purpose ‘the advancement of religion’ must be urgently reviewed.”
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