Tbilisi, June 30, 2021
Photo: pravoslavie.ru
The Georgian Orthodox Church issued a statement yesterday, strongly opposing the holding of LGBT events in Tbilisi planned for July 1 to 5.
The so-called “March of Dignity” actually degrades those involved, and authorities should take a stand in the interest of state stability, the Church emphasizes.
The statement begins warning against the normalization of sin: “The organizers of the planned Pride propagate a non-traditional way of life under the guise of protecting human rights; It contains signs of provocation and conflicts with socially recognized moral norms and aims to legalize grave sin.”
Hatred and violence against anyone is an unacceptable sin, “but it also unacceptable to admire sin and try to influence others,” the Patriarchate writes.
“We respect human rights and freedoms, which, of course, implies freedom of choice. Forcing others to make this choice is violence and violates the rights, freedoms, and choices of the vast majority of our society, regardless of ethnicity, religion or other affiliation. The Orthodox Church is always lenient to sinners, but not to sin, because hatred and violence against someone is completely unacceptable, but it is also unacceptable to admire sin and try to influence others,” the statement reads.
The “March of Dignity” only confuses universal values, which negatively affects children and violates their interests. It also doesn’t protect the interests of representatives of the LGBT community, but rather leads to “the artificial emergence of aggressions” against them.
The Church appeals to the 30 deputies of the “LGBTQ+ working group” of the European Parliament and the heads of embassies in Georgia to stop supporting and encouraging Tbilisi Pride.
Moreover, the Church calls on the government to “act in the interests of state stability and civil peace and avoid destabilizing the country and public life—with the inevitable alarm.”
The Georgian Orthodox Church regularly takes a stand, calling upon the state to prevent such harmful events.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Vkontakte, Telegram, WhatsApp, MeWe, and Gab!
