Christian group banned from claiming it heals the sick in street prayer sessions outside Bath Abbey

* Group claims 'scores of people' have been 'physically healed' by its work
* Atheist says their claims could give scores of terminally ill people false hope

By Emily Allen

Christian group has been banned from claiming it can heal people after complaints to the advertising watchdog.

Healing on the Streets - Bath (HOTS) stages regular sessions outside the city’s abbey and says 'scores of people' have been 'physically healed' as a result of its work.

But atheist Hayley Stevens, from Wiltshire, took offence to the group’s adverts and claimed it could give terminally-ill people false hope.

She complained to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to say the claims by HOTS could 'not be substantiated' and were 'irresponsible'.

The ASA upheld her complaint, stating that testimonials found on the group’s website were 'insufficient as evidence for claims of healing'.

But Christians have reacted furiously to the decision, saying the ASA is trying to ban the 'basic Christian belief that God can heal illness'.

The watchdog has now told HOTS not to make claims which stated or implied that, by receiving prayer from their volunteers, people could be healed of medical conditions.

It was also ruled that the group should not refer to medical conditions in their adverts 'for which medical supervision should be sought'.

HOTS has reacted angrily to the decision and confirmed it will appeal against the findings.

In a statement, the group said: 'It seems very odd to us that the ASA wants to prevent us from stating on our website the basic Christian belief that God can heal illness.

'The ASA has even demanded that we sign a document agreeing not to say this, which is unacceptable to us - as it no doubt would be for anyone ordered not to make certain statements about their conventional religious or philosophical beliefs.'

It also criticised Ms Stevens, describing her as being from a group 'generally opposed to Christianity'.

They added: 'The response to what we do has been overwhelmingly positive, and we find it difficult to understand the ASA’s attempt to restrict communication about this.

'Our website simply states our beliefs and describes some of our experiences.

'We tried to reach a compromise, recognising some of the ASA’s concerns, but there are certain things that we cannot agree to - including a ban on expressing our beliefs.'

Ms Stevens also challenged whether the group’s website and leaflets could 'discourage essential treatment for conditions for which medical supervision should be sought'.

She said: 'I guess I am the only person who can state why the complaint was made and it was not made by a ‘group generally opposed to Christianity’ as HOTS Bath have alleged, not even an individual generally opposed to Christianity either.

'I couldn’t care less if somebody believes it is God, Allah or the Flying Spaghetti Monster that will heal the sick, but I do care when claims are being made that might be providing those who are extremely ill with hope where hope does not exist.

'I made the complaint because claims were being made about a range of illnesses and medical conditions being healed through prayer on the streets on Bath.

'Some of these illnesses were severe - MS, depression, crippling disease, paralysis, asthma, and cancer just to name a few.'