“In our country, issues of rights are not decided in referendums”said government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis, disagreeing with Archbishop Jerome’s proposal “ask the people’s opinion.”
“The opinion of the Greek people is expressed in parliamentary elections, where parties come up with programs that are either approved or rejected, and our [программа] was approved by the majority – emphasized Pavlos Marinakis. – No one can tell the church whether or what to say. She has the right to express her views. But everything is clear to us. With all due respect to the church, the country has an executive branch. She introduces a bill, and it is up to the members of parliament whether they approve it. And we have every reason to be optimistic that it will be accepted.”.
Hieronymos: “Perhaps we need a referendum”
Answering earlier a question about marriage and childbearing for same-sex couples, Archbishop Hieronymos raised the question of a referendum. Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Jerome spoke on the issue of marriage for same-sex couples during the opening ceremony of the 2nd primary school in Nea Markis.
“There was a meeting with the Prime Minister, but it concerned a different issue, about real estate. On Tuesday, when we meet, you will hear the official position of the church,” – he noted. “The Archbishop and the Prime Minister cannot take a position on such issues, at the end of the day it is the people who will do it if they want to,” he said in his speech. The Synod will meet in two or three days, and there the opinion of the Church will be officially heard. In such matters, neither the Archbishop nor the Prime Minister himself can take any position, they only express their will and course of action.” – he added.
“If the people want it, they will do it”
The Archbishop then noted: “If our people want, they will do it; if not, they will not. The flock must be informed of what we are asking, and who makes us ask for this. That’s what people need to understand and see what these kids are going to be like.”
“How will I live in a family where there are two dads, two mothers? How will they wake up in the morning in the house, and what will they see around them? And we do not reject the society that is being created anew. We see trends in this direction. Does such a society have the right for everyone to change it and make it the way they want? And don’t others have the right to say that we don’t like it? “, the archbishop added.
“The Church will not take up arms, but it has an obligation to inform the world, and each of us must think not about what is right, left or center, but about what kind of family we want,” concluded Archbishop Hieronymos.
“There was a meeting with the Prime Minister, but it concerned a different issue, about real estate. On Tuesday, when we meet, you will hear the official position of the church,” – he noted. “The Archbishop and the Prime Minister cannot take a position on such issues, at the end of the day it is the people who will do it if they want to,” he said in his speech. The Synod will meet in two or three days, and there the opinion of the Church will be officially heard. In such matters, neither the Archbishop nor the Prime Minister himself can take any position, they only express their will and course of action.” – he added.
“If the people want it, they will do it”
The Archbishop then noted: “If our people want, they will do it; if not, they will not. The flock must be informed of what we are asking, and who makes us ask for this. That’s what people need to understand and see what these kids are going to be like.”
“How will I live in a family where there are two dads, two mothers? How will they wake up in the morning in the house, and what will they see around them? And we do not reject the society that is being created anew. We see trends in this direction. Does such a society have the right for everyone to change it and make it the way they want? And don’t others have the right to say that we don’t like it? “, the archbishop added.
“The Church will not take up arms, but it has an obligation to inform the world, and each of us must think not about what is right, left or center, but about what kind of family we want,” concluded Archbishop Hieronymos.
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