TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Orthodox Church has expressed serious concern about recent EU recommendations, warning they contradict verbal and written assurances made during earlier talks with Georgia’s religious leadership.
According to a statement released by the Patriarchate, the Church is alarmed by proposed demands that Georgia repeal legislation “on the protection of the sanctity of the family and the restriction of so-called LGBT propaganda toward minors.” The statement says these recommendations “completely contradict not only the teachings of God and the foundations of Christianity, but also the oral and written promises that have been repeatedly made in the past in relations with partner countries.”
The Patriarchate added that during meetings with EU representatives, it was “always clearly stated that the will of the Georgian people is to protect Christian and traditional family values.” It also noted that Patriarch Ilia II “has repeatedly stated that the European choice can be realized under the condition that there is no imposition of teachings against God, such as the propaganda of a non-traditional way of life.”
The Church emphasized that laws concerning “family values and the protection of youth from the propaganda of a non-traditional way of life” had the support of “the believing society” and were previously welcomed. The current recommendations, it concluded, “openly place in an incompatible position, on the one hand, the support for family traditions and the protection of adolescents from LGBT propaganda, and on the other hand, the perspective of the country’s aspiration towards Europe.”
