LAST UPDATE: 17:34
Τhe opposition of the Church of Crete was fierce regarding the vote, which was held yesterday in the Parliament, on constitutional amendment of Articles 3 and 21.
The Church of Crete reiterates its unanimous decision on the dangers of the proposed amendment.
In particular, the Holy Synod falls back into their default position on these matters, publicly expressed, and stresses the need for the constitutional consolidation of the sacred institution of the family, which is the cornerstone of Greek society.
Furthermore, the Church of Crete emphasizes that the adoption of the concept of “religious neutrality” in the Article 3 will create direct legal consequences for Greek society.
The Church of Crete refers to the general institutional ostracization of the Church and Orthodoxy from public life, and the abolition of the Orthodox nature of the religious lesson.
It also cautions against the ban of religious symbols and religious holidays and the institutional change of Orthodox ecclesiastical regimes in Greece and the institutional entity of our Ecumenical Patriarchate with obvious adverse consequences “for our Nation and for all Greek people”.
The Holy Synod points out to the state’s officials, “but to every person that the institutional deconstruction is dangerous and will be disastrous”, in the event that those amendments will be voted on in the Parliament that will emerge after the next general election.
Furthermore, the Holy Synod supports the inalienable right of free expression of views and concerns by anyone, as well as the right to free expression of any different view, with regard to the abusive and disparaging publications on social media against the members of the Church of Crete. That is democracy and the right to freedom of speech.
It is a duty of all of us that the public debate should be conducted in a calm and reasoned manner, respecting the diversity and the view that everyone expresses, avoiding the use of defamatory statements, for those who have a different view, the Church stresses.