Alexi II, Russian Orthodox Patriarch against Moscow Gay Pride
16/03/2006
Submitted by
Nikolay Alekseev, Human Rights LGBT Project GayRussia.ru
Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Supported Illegal Intention of Moscow Mayor to ban first Russia gay pride march
Gays express their outrage at religious interference in the affairs of secular state and appeal to the world to come to Moscow in May
Patriarch Alexi II of Moscow and All Russia has backed Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov's decision to ban a gay parade in the city.
The patriarch thanked the mayor in an open letter for his "decision to prevent public propaganda for immorality."
The Church "has invariably supported the institution of the family and condemns untraditional relations, seeing them as a vicious deviation from God-given human nature," Alexy II writes.
Such an event would be unacceptable, given the current demographic crisis in Russia, the patriarch writes.
"I am convinced that gays' desire to organize a parade in Moscow will not help strengthen the family as the foundation of a strong state," he said.
Nikolai Alekseev, organiser of Moscow gay pride festival and head of GayRussia.Ru said in his statement that "the letter of Patriarch is sad and dangerous. And here we are talking already not about unknown immorality, the notion of which differs for everyone, but about the support of illegal actions. Indeed Alexi II blessed Moscow Mayor of the secular city and state to breach the Constitution and legislation. In the same way the Church, headed by him, blesses people for military actions and murders. Today's Russia is bogged down in immorality on TV and in everyday life but there is nothing easier than to choose and attack one of the mostly unprotected and suppressed social groups - gays and lesbians. This is nothing else but a shame for the Church which is supposed to preach tolerance and care for those being suppressed".
Nikolai Alekseev added that "no positions of clericals in the secular state will stop us on the way to achieve equality for homosexual people in Russia. Even though grovelling in front of recently persecuted Church is put higher than respect for law in the contemporary Russia".
Nikolai Alekseev underlined that "gay pride march and conference of the International Day against homophobia will take place in Moscow as planned on 26-27 May this year and any illegal actions of Moscow authorities to ban the equality march will be sued up to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg". He appealed to all progressive people of the world to come to Moscow at the end of May and take part in Russian historic gay liberation movement.
GayRussia.Ru
Full text of Patriarch’s letter to Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov as published by Interfax News Agency:
Your Excellency, deeply respected Yuri Mikhailovich!
Knowing your principle position on an initiative of a group of persons of untraditional sexual orientation to hold their march in Moscow next spring, I would like to express my support to you and thank you for your decision to prevent public propaganda for immorality. As Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and ruling bishop of Moscow, I was gratified to learn that you and the government of Moscow have approached this problem with civil responsibility not only for the present of our country, but also for its future.
In connection with the petition to realize this project, I cannot but say some words about the attitude of the Church to such phenomena. Sex difference is regarded as a particular gift of God in the Holy Scripture, Church teaching and its centuries-old experience. Man and woman have been created for integral union in the spirit of Christian love as equal bearers of the image of God with equal human dignity. Marriage embodies the original plan of God about creation and is a means of continuation and multiplication of human race: ‘And God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it’ (Gen 1:28). Man and woman are two different images of life in one humanity. Moreover, they need communion and mutual making up. That is why the Church has invariably supported the institution of the family and condemns untraditional relations, seeing them as a vicious deviation from God-given human nature.
The Church treats people with such inclinations with pastoral responsibility urging them to reform and resolutely opposes any attempts to present this sinful tendency as a ‘norm’ and example to follow. The Church does not accept any propaganda for immorality.
There is another side of this vicious asocial phenomenon. Russia is living through a demographic crisis. The Church together with the authorities, businessmen and public at large does what it can to help solve the problem. We are called to bring up young generation in the spirit of traditional spiritual and moral values through our common efforts. I am convinced that gays’ desire to organize a parade in Moscow will not help strengthen the family as the foundation of a strong state.
Dear Yuri Mikhailovich, please accept our gratitude for your decision to protect Moscow and Muscovites against attempts to organize a public parade of propaganda for sin. I am convinced that the overwhelming majority of our citizens are grateful to you and the Moscow government for your care for public morality.
www.gayrussia.ru
Gays express their outrage at religious interference in the affairs of secular state and appeal to the world to come to Moscow in May
Patriarch Alexi II of Moscow and All Russia has backed Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov's decision to ban a gay parade in the city.
The patriarch thanked the mayor in an open letter for his "decision to prevent public propaganda for immorality."
The Church "has invariably supported the institution of the family and condemns untraditional relations, seeing them as a vicious deviation from God-given human nature," Alexy II writes.
Such an event would be unacceptable, given the current demographic crisis in Russia, the patriarch writes.
"I am convinced that gays' desire to organize a parade in Moscow will not help strengthen the family as the foundation of a strong state," he said.
Nikolai Alekseev, organiser of Moscow gay pride festival and head of GayRussia.Ru said in his statement that "the letter of Patriarch is sad and dangerous. And here we are talking already not about unknown immorality, the notion of which differs for everyone, but about the support of illegal actions. Indeed Alexi II blessed Moscow Mayor of the secular city and state to breach the Constitution and legislation. In the same way the Church, headed by him, blesses people for military actions and murders. Today's Russia is bogged down in immorality on TV and in everyday life but there is nothing easier than to choose and attack one of the mostly unprotected and suppressed social groups - gays and lesbians. This is nothing else but a shame for the Church which is supposed to preach tolerance and care for those being suppressed".
Nikolai Alekseev added that "no positions of clericals in the secular state will stop us on the way to achieve equality for homosexual people in Russia. Even though grovelling in front of recently persecuted Church is put higher than respect for law in the contemporary Russia".
Nikolai Alekseev underlined that "gay pride march and conference of the International Day against homophobia will take place in Moscow as planned on 26-27 May this year and any illegal actions of Moscow authorities to ban the equality march will be sued up to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg". He appealed to all progressive people of the world to come to Moscow at the end of May and take part in Russian historic gay liberation movement.
GayRussia.Ru
Full text of Patriarch’s letter to Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov as published by Interfax News Agency:
Your Excellency, deeply respected Yuri Mikhailovich!
Knowing your principle position on an initiative of a group of persons of untraditional sexual orientation to hold their march in Moscow next spring, I would like to express my support to you and thank you for your decision to prevent public propaganda for immorality. As Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and ruling bishop of Moscow, I was gratified to learn that you and the government of Moscow have approached this problem with civil responsibility not only for the present of our country, but also for its future.
In connection with the petition to realize this project, I cannot but say some words about the attitude of the Church to such phenomena. Sex difference is regarded as a particular gift of God in the Holy Scripture, Church teaching and its centuries-old experience. Man and woman have been created for integral union in the spirit of Christian love as equal bearers of the image of God with equal human dignity. Marriage embodies the original plan of God about creation and is a means of continuation and multiplication of human race: ‘And God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it’ (Gen 1:28). Man and woman are two different images of life in one humanity. Moreover, they need communion and mutual making up. That is why the Church has invariably supported the institution of the family and condemns untraditional relations, seeing them as a vicious deviation from God-given human nature.
The Church treats people with such inclinations with pastoral responsibility urging them to reform and resolutely opposes any attempts to present this sinful tendency as a ‘norm’ and example to follow. The Church does not accept any propaganda for immorality.
There is another side of this vicious asocial phenomenon. Russia is living through a demographic crisis. The Church together with the authorities, businessmen and public at large does what it can to help solve the problem. We are called to bring up young generation in the spirit of traditional spiritual and moral values through our common efforts. I am convinced that gays’ desire to organize a parade in Moscow will not help strengthen the family as the foundation of a strong state.
Dear Yuri Mikhailovich, please accept our gratitude for your decision to protect Moscow and Muscovites against attempts to organize a public parade of propaganda for sin. I am convinced that the overwhelming majority of our citizens are grateful to you and the Moscow government for your care for public morality.
www.gayrussia.ru
