Serbia: Gay parade outrages Orthodox Church
Belgrade, 8 Oct. (AKI) – The Serbian Orthodox Church on Friday strongly opposed a gay parade, planned in Belgrade on Sunday, saying it violated “public morality” and represented an attempt to undermine the “most sacred of Christian values”. The Church said in a statement it opposed “public expression and advertising of anyone’s sexual orientation, or any other personal inclination, especially if it insults the right of citizens to privacy and family life”. “In that context, the Serbian Orthodox Church decisively opposes the organisation of the so called ‘parade of pride’,” the church said. “Pride about what?” said the statement issued by the Holy Synod, the church's governing body. Several gay groups and non-governmental organisations ar involved in the parade in which some 500 participants are expected to take part. Last year a planned parade was called off in the last moment, because of threats from far-right and nationalist groups. Police minister Ivica Dacic has said some 5,000 policemen will protect the parade this year and urged Serb to refrain from violence. While government officials have given the parade muted approval, some opposition politicians and the general public have billed it as a “parade of shame”. The church said the only natural love was between man and woman, who God created to give birth to children and reproduce across the centuries. “Everything else is contrary to Christian values and morality,” it concluded. http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/CultureAndMedia/?id=3.1.1076419140
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