Georgian Orthodox Church expresses “great disappointment” over EU recommendation to annul laws protecting minors from LGBT propaganda

The Georgian Orthodox Church on Monday voiced “great disappointment” regarding recent recommendations from European partners, stating that provisions directly or indirectly implying the annulment of laws protecting minors from LGBT propaganda were causing serious concern.

In a statement released by its Public Relations Service, the Patriarchate emphasised that such recommendations were not only contradicting “God's teachings and the foundations of Christianity” but were also going against “verbal and written promises repeatedly made in the past during relations with partner countries”.

The statement highlights that the content of the European Union's latest recommendations for Georgia has caused “serious concern” within Georgian society and the Orthodox Church.

Specifically, it refers to sections “which demand the abolition of legislation aimed at protecting the sanctity of the family and restricting so-called LGBT propaganda directed at minors”.

"This approach fully contradicts the principles and statements that have been disseminated for years by representatives of EU countries and high-ranking diplomats during numerous meetings with high-ranking hierarchs of the Georgian Orthodox Church”, the statement reads.

It further asserts that during these interactions, it was always made clear that Georgia’s integration into European structures “is not linked to promoting the propaganda of non-traditional lifestyles”.

The Patriarchate recalled meetings with Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II, where it was “always clearly stated that the will of the Georgian people is to protect Christian and traditional family values”.

It was also affirmed that “there would be no categorical demand or imposition of any obligation contrary to our traditions” on Georgia's path to Euro-Atlantic integration.

“His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II has repeatedly stated that the European choice could only be made on the condition that anti-God teachings, such as the propaganda of non-traditional lifestyles, would not be imposed. On this backdrop, the inclusion of provisions in the current European recommendations that directly or indirectly imply the repeal of laws on the protection of minors from LGBT propaganda is a great embarrassment and completely contradicts 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 statement noted.

The Church noted that laws concerning family values and the protection of youth from “non-traditional lifestyle propaganda” were fully embraced by the religious community, with the Church expressing gratitude to the authorities at the time. Currently, the Patriarchate believes these laws are “fully adequate” for strengthening a healthy societal lifestyle.

“Unfortunately, the latest EU recommendations now openly present a contradictory position between, on the one hand, supporting family traditions and protecting adolescents from LGBT propaganda, and on the other hand, the country's aspiration towards Europe, which causes frustration among a large part of the Georgian population”, the statement concluded.