Greek court: Children adoption by same-sex couples "does not violate Church canons"

Th State Council in Athens. Photo: www.tanea.gr

On Friday, the Plenary of the State Council of Greece issued a ruling according to which married same-sex couples have a constitutional right to adopt children, reports the UOJ in the USA. The judges emphasized that this norm fully complies with the country's basic law and the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights.

In its decision, the Supreme Court actually attempted to provide a theological assessment of the legislative innovations. The Plenary members stated that placing children for upbringing in gay couples "does not violate the canons and traditions of the Orthodox Christian Church." The court also decided that such actions do not harm the "paramount best interests of the child" and do not infringe upon the constitutional protection of childhood.

This ruling sparked a new wave of discussions in Greek society. Opponents of the law are convinced that the judges' decision ignores centuries-old social and religious norms that have always defined the concept of family in Greece. Critics point out that such changes in family law pose a serious challenge to the cultural and spiritual traditions that the Greek nation has been guided by for centuries.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that Orthodox parishes in Greece face a lack of funds for basic needs.

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