Archbishop Ieronymos cautious on gay couple rights
Archbishop Ieronymos, the head of the Church of Greece, on Thursday failed to back a government bill giving greater rights to gay couples, although he did not directly criticize the draft law either.
A Justice Ministry bill put to public consultation on Wednesday foresees same-sex couples entering cohabitation agreements having the same rights as married couples but Ieronymos indicated that the Church would only recognize marriage between members of the opposite sex.
“The union of two people through marriage is a supremely sacred act for the Church,” he told journalists.
“Anything outside of this sacred act is foreign to ecclesiastical life.”
The new bill does not permit marriage between same-sex couples.
It is not known yet when the draft law will be brought to Parliament.
