The Charity Commission is assessing concerns over comments relating to rape made by a pastor in a video shared by a recently registered Christian charity.
Today, Metro reported on a 2022 video uploaded by the Mountain of Fire and Miracles (MFM) Daniel Centre Church, a Slough-based charity and branch of Nigeria-headquartered MFM Ministries Worldwide.
In the video, pastor Shade Olukoya, whose husband Daniel Olukoya founded MFM, is heard saying the homosexualisation of children “will be deadly”, among other controversial claims.
“The problem of rape right now in the world of our children is the fact that boys no longer rape girls. More boys now rape boys,” she said.
The commission’s register shows that MFM Daniel Centre Church registered as a charity on 1 April under the charitable purpose “the advancement of religion” and has three trustees.
A commission spokesperson told Civil Society: “Concerns have been raised with us about video content linked to MFM Daniel Centre Church and we’re assessing this to determine any role for the commission as charity regulator.”
‘Commission cannot continue to issue mere advice’
The National Secular Society (NSS) said it had reported MFM Daniel Centre Church to the regulator for the sermon.
Alejandro Sanchez, an NSS spokesperson, said in a statement: “The vicious homophobia promoted by MFM Daniel is completely incompatible with its legal obligation to act for the public benefit.
“Taxpayers’ money shouldn’t be subsidising this repugnant rhetoric.
“But MFM Daniel is just the latest in a litany of charities registered under ‘the advancement of religion’ espousing virulent homophobia.
“The Charity Commission cannot continue to issue mere ‘advice and guidance’ – the regulatory equivalent of a slap on the wrist.
“There’s still an assumption in the charity system that advancing religion is inherently beneficial.
“But by promoting homophobic or misogynistic views rooted in scripture, some charities are indeed ‘advancing religion’ – at least as they interpret it.”
Sanchez called for the “advancement of religion” to be removed as a charitable purpose, saying “the many religious charities which do offer a genuine public benefit can continue to do so under separate charitable purposes”.
Civil Society has contacted MFM Daniel Centre Church for comment.
