Athens, Greece – The Orthodox Church of Greece has escalated its opposition to the recent legalization of same-sex civil marriage, imposing a religious ban on two local lawmakers who supported the reform. The move underscores the ongoing tension between religious and progressive forces in Greek society following the landmark legislative change.
The bishopric of Corfu, located in northwestern Greece, condemned the two opposition lawmakers for their role in passing the law, describing their actions as “the deepest spiritual and moral error.” In a statement released Tuesday, the bishopric announced measures to exclude the lawmakers from active participation in Church activities, including communion and formal honors at religious events.
“We exhort them to repent for their impropriety,” the statement emphasized, reflecting the Church’s firm stance against same-sex marriage.
The bishopric also praised a local lawmaker from Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ New Democracy party who voted against the law, lauding their decision as aligned with traditional Christian values.
This announcement follows a similar move by Church officials in Piraeus, Athens’ port city, targeting lawmakers who supported the legalization of same-sex marriage. The left-wing PASOK party, represented by one of the lawmakers affected by the ban, condemned the decision as “unacceptable.”
The law, passed with cross-party support on February 15, marked a significant milestone for Greece as the first Orthodox Christian country to legalize same-sex marriage. While it granted full parental rights to married same-sex partners, it excluded gay couples from parenthood through surrogacy within Greece, a provision that drew criticism from some lawmakers.
Prime Minister Mitsotakis, who advocated for the reform, faced opposition from within his own party’s right-wing faction. However, the legislation ultimately received majority support and reflected the evolving attitudes of Greek society, as evidenced by the recent celebration of the first same-sex wedding under the new law in southern Athens.
Church officials continue to voice concerns about the erosion of traditional family values and the potential expansion of surrogacy rights to gay couples in the future. Their stance highlights the ongoing debate over social progress and religious conservatism in Greece.
