Bishop in Moldova fined for criticizing LGBT
Archbishop Marchel criticizing the gay parade in Bălți. Photo: TV Balti
Archbishop Marchel, hierarch of the Moldovan Orthodox Church and Archbishop of Bălți and Fălești, has been ordered to pay a fine for criticizing homosexuals, according to the LGBT publication GENDERDOC-M.
The outlet claims that the archbishop publicly opposed the organization of a gay parade in the city of Bălți. He also dared to call gay people “sinners” and “lost.”
Representatives of the LGBT community told the court that the cleric’s statements “had a significant impact on their personal safety and amounted to a clear incitement to hatred and violence based on sexual orientation.” They demanded compensation for moral damages.
The court ordered the hierarch to pay each plaintiff 10,000 Moldovan lei as compensation for the suffering caused.
The decision may be appealed to the Chișinău Court of Appeals within 30 days of its issuance.
As previously reported by the UOJ, a Moldovan politician has stated that the President of Moldova may ban the Orthodox Church after the elections.
Read also
Radicals gun down dozens of Christians in Nigeria on Palm Sunday
In Nigeria’s Plateau State, coordinated attacks left believers dead after they became targets of what observers describe as deliberate terror during a religious holiday.
Exclusive: Phanar Archons raise funds to fight “Putin’s threat” in America
An internal letter from the Order of the Archons brands one American Orthodox organization a “pro-Moscow group” and accuses the Serbian Church, the OCA, and ROCOR of being under Moscow’s control.
Sumy Eparchy holds charity concert for children with cancer
As part of the campaign “Bright Deeds for the Bright Day!”, a creative evening was held to raise funds for the treatment of children with cancer in the Sumy region.
KDAiS publishes book on history of Ukrainian Orthodox Church
The Kyiv Theological Academy has released an updated survey of the more than 1,000-year path of the Ukrainian Church.
Former chief administrator suspended from ministry in UOC-KP
If Matsurak does not repent, he will be defrocked by the Kyiv Patriarchate.
Khust Eparchy asks for help for priest facing eviction from his home
The rector of the parish, along with his minor children, is being threatened with the loss of his home through court proceedings.