The Church’s controversial position paper on gay conversion therapy was “offensive and hurtful”, according to a victim whose story prompted the government to move to outlaw the practice.

“This document is damaging in so many ways and the Church should distance itself from it immediately. Besides clearly not understanding how dangerous this ‘treatment’ can be, the document has also jeopardised relations between the Church and the gay community,” the victim, who asked to remain anonymous, said.

The 29-year-old, a self-proclaimed practising Catholic, was contacted for his reaction to the document that was issued by the Curia last month on proposed legislation to criminalise gay conversion therapy, a practice which seeks to suppress same-sex attraction and has been labelled “dangerous” by the American Psychological Association.

It was his account of his experiences in conversion therapy, published by this newspaper last year that prompted the government to draft a document to outlaw the practice.

The Church’s position paper, drafted by human rights expert Giovanni Bonello and Faculty of Laws dean Kevin Aquilina, among others, argued the proposed legislation posed “serious ethical and legal issues”.

It also came under fire for what many felt were “worrying comparisons between paedophilia and homosexuality”, a comparison that has been denied by the Church.

“I am a Catholic and have reconciled my sexuality with my faith but this document crossed the line. I can’t understand how the Church hasn’t dismissed it and distanced itself from its claims,” the victim said.

In a detailed account of his experience, he had accused warranted psychologist Mariella Blackman, wife of controversial evangelist Gordon Manché, of trying to treat him for his homosexuality.

Ms Blackman had denied allegations she had conducted such therapy after her husband organised a faith conversion event entitled ‘Gay no more’ in 2011 or that he was in any way involved.

The victim, however, had told this newspaper that not only had she spoken of a cure for his sexuality but that one particular session had seen her husband perform a ritual similar to an exorcism on him during counselling.

“Anyone who knows what this therapy is like would agree that it should be illegal. It is not the type of behaviour that a professional therapist should be performing,” he said.

Archbishop Charles Scicluna told the Times of Malta last month gay conversion therapy was a “no go”. He said conversion therapy did not respect human dignity and he was against it on a matter of principle.

“Any conversion therapy which forces someone to go against their decisions or their life choices is just a no go – a no go – and I want this to be absolutely clear,” he said.

For the victim of the therapy, however, this was not enough. “I just don’t know what they were thinking when they published this document. Even a simple Google search can show that this should be illegal. The document acquaints the Maltese Church with outlandish US evangelicals, obsessed with curing gays,” he said.