Georgian Patriarchate criticizes EU demands on LGBT issues

Georgian Patriarchate. Photo: Press Service of the Georgian Church

The Public Relations Service of the Georgian Patriarchate released a statement expressing serious concern over the content of the latest recommendations issued by the European Union for Georgia.

The Church is particularly alarmed by the EU's demand to repeal legislation protecting the sanctity of the family and restricting LGBT propaganda targeting minors.

The statement notes that this approach “completely contradicts the principles and assurances” repeatedly given by EU representatives and diplomats during meetings with hierarchs of the Georgian Orthodox Church. According to the Patriarchate, European partners had “consistently clarified that Georgia’s integration into European structures would not involve the promotion of nontraditional lifestyles.”

The Patriarchate emphasizes that during meetings with His Holiness Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia – recordings of which still exist – European representatives assured that on the country’s path to EU integration “there would be no categorical demands or imposition of any obligations that would contradict Georgian traditions.”

The Church recalls that Patriarch Ilia II has repeatedly stated that “the European choice can only be realized under the condition that teachings contrary to God – such as the promotion of nontraditional lifestyles – are not imposed.”

The statement stresses that the laws on family values and protecting youth from nontraditional propaganda have been “fully supported by the faithful society,” and that the Church “expressed gratitude to the authorities” for their adoption. In the Patriarchate’s view, these laws are “fully adequate for strengthening a healthy public way of life.”

The Georgian Church concludes that the EU’s recent recommendations “openly place support for family traditions and the protection of adolescents from LGBT propaganda in direct contradiction” with the country’s European aspirations – something that “is causing deep disappointment among a large portion of Georgia’s population.”

As previously reported by the UOJ, the Georgian Church has publicly supported anti-LGBT legislation.

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