South African pastor, Angus Buchan, who has been criticised for misogyny and homophobia, has been invited to speak at an event in Kilkenny.

Buchan, who has been invited by the evangelical Hope Church, has come under strong criticism from LGBT rights advocates.

The pastor, who is Scottish origin and originally a farmer in Zambia, has previously claimed that his prayers have cured homosexuality. In a press conference in 2008 he stated: “I cannot ever agree that homosexuality is right, I cannot bless it.

“I love them though, but they need help. We have prayed for them and God has changed their hearts.”

In another interview he said: “I don‘t shy away from controversy …… Homosexuality is against the word of God. I‘m not doing this for money. I‘m doing this because God told me to”.

Buchan also runs “Mighty Men” conferences where he teaches men to “remedy” their masculinity and command their family.

In one Mighty Men’s Conference speech to a mixed-sex audience, Buchan urged wives in the audience to submit to their husbands and be more “feminine” and not to criticises their partners. In addition, he demanded that husbands physically discipline their children without their wives “interfering”.

Petition

Buchan is due to speak on August 24 at The Hub in Kilkenny. In the UK, where he is also due to speak at various events, LGBT activists have called for him to be barred from entering the country,

“Countries which respect LGBTI rights and women’s dignity should deny Buchan a platform for the hate that so often incites abuse and violence,” said Melanie Nathan, Executive Director of The African Human Rights Coalition.

A petition has been set up to “Stop preacher Angus Buchan from preaching Homophobia and Misogyny in Kilkenny and throughout Ireland.” The petition can be signed here.