Across the Western world, censorship is quietly expanding under the banner of social progress. In Spain, that reality is now taking legal form. On July 2, 2025, Spain’s Socialist Parliamentary Group pushed forward legislation that criminalizes conversion therapy—a move that, while praised by progressives, reveals a broader cultural shift that many Christians fail to recognize or understand. At its core, this law is about censorship—and Christians need to wake up.
The Misunderstood Definition of “Conversion Therapy”
Before diving into the political and spiritual implications, it’s important to clarify what “conversion therapy” actually means in the legal sense. Contrary to what many assume, conversion therapy under Spanish law is not about forcibly stopping someone from undergoing gender transition. Instead, it’s defined as:
“The promotion or practice of aversion, conversion, or counterconditioning methods, programs, or therapies, whether psychological, physical, or drug-based, that aim to modify the sexual orientation, sexual identity, or gender expression of people, regardless of the consent they or their legal representatives may have given.”
This means even with consent—whether by an adult or a minor—any attempt to guide someone away from homosexuality or transgender identity can now be treated as a criminal offense.
Spain’s Legislative Push: The Criminalization of Dissent
On June 13, 2025, Spain’s Socialist Parliamentary Group submitted a bill to criminalize conversion therapy by amending Law 10/1995. On June 24, the bill passed through the lower house of Spain’s Congress with overwhelming support: 311 in favor, 33 against, and 1 abstention.
Now pending Senate approval, this law would assign criminal penalties—six months to two years of imprisonment—for anyone found guilty of violating it. The sentence may increase depending on several factors, such as whether the victim was a minor, if violence or coercion was involved, or whether the offense was part of a broader organizational effort. Furthermore, medical professionals and educators can have their licenses revoked, and parents could lose custody of their children for up to five years.
The Broader Issue: Censorship as a Tool of Secularism
Spain’s law is part of a growing global pattern where dissent from progressive orthodoxy is being criminalized. What’s often disguised as “protection” is, in reality, the state elevating certain ideologies while silencing others. Christianity, especially in its Biblical and Protestant forms, is increasingly being marginalized—not by debate, but by law.
This is where many Christians, especially in the West, remain naive. Unlike many Muslim communities who uphold and defend their values regardless of state pressure, Western Christians have, in many cases, outsourced their beliefs to secular governments, hoping they will protect or promote Christian values. They won’t.
The Protestant Legacy and the Free Market of Faith
This moment highlights why the Protestant Reformation was so essential: it decentralized religious authority and created a spiritual free market where individuals could engage with God directly, without needing approval from religious elites. In contrast, the Catholic hierarchy—historically aligned with political power—has struggled to confront internal corruption and scandal, particularly related to sexuality.
These failures have undermined Christian credibility in Europe, creating space for secular ideologies to advance unchecked.
When Economics Mirrors Morality
This legal censorship in Spain isn’t limited to religious speech—it mirrors economic censorship as well. Consider Spain’s long-standing rent control laws. While positioned as consumer protection, these policies disincentivize property ownership, restrict free enterprise, and ultimately reduce housing availability. Landlords, burdened by legal liabilities and reduced profits, often turn to short-term tourist platforms like Airbnb, further alienating local renters.
Censorship—whether of ideas or economic behavior—often leads to stagnation. Spain, once a hub of innovation and exploration, is now rarely associated with technological or economic advancement. Why? A society that suppresses dissent and promotes entitlement will not innovate—it will decay.
What Christians Must Understand
This is not just about LGBTQ+ issues or Spain. It’s about a spiritual war for truth. The creeping criminalization of Christian doctrine under the guise of “hate speech” or “mental health protection” is becoming normalized. Today it’s conversion therapy—tomorrow it may be quoting Romans 1 or preaching traditional marriage from the pulpit.
Christians must stop relying on secular governments to define what is “moral” or “acceptable.” We must revisit the teachings of Christ and understand the Kingdom of God as separate from man’s laws. Jesus didn’t come to validate the state—He came to offer a radically different kingdom, where truth is not voted on, and righteousness is not censored.
Final Thoughts: Wake Up, Church
In the midst of this legal crackdown, some Spanish Christians have declared that “Spain is a Christian country.” But without understanding Scripture, standing for truth, or resisting censorship, that declaration is hollow.
If Christians in the West continue to vote for censorship—whether in economics, education, or religion—they will soon find themselves unable to speak, work, or even parent freely. This is not alarmism—it is already happening.
A Call to Return
Now more than ever, Christians must return to Biblical truth. Not watered-down religion. Not political Christianity. But the true gospel of Jesus Christ, who warned us of persecution, but promised us peace in Him.
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” – John 15:18
Consider making Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior today—and stand firm against the rising tide of silence.