In his message, Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Mani voiced sorrow for the adoption of the new Penal Code by the Parliament, which repeals articles on religious peace.
Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus was also deeply concerned in his recent article on the abolition of these articles while there was a strong reaction from the Athonite Community on the same issue as well as the Church of Crete.
Metropolitan Chrysostomos speaks of “a legal, moral and cultural mistake by approving the abolition of Articles 198, 199 and 201 of the Penal Code in Part 7, “Offenses Against Religious Peace”.
Malicious blasphemy, religious insult, and verbal outrage of a dead person are practically decriminalized.
It is not reasonable and just to deprive the legitimate good of religious peace, because those great laws exist precisely to prevent future evil.
In particular, the abolition of Article 201 related to the verbal outrage of a dead person is a serious mistake because it contravenes the traditional principles of honor and respect for our dead.
There are reasonable grounds for concern. In these difficult times of globalization and multiculturalism, instead of consolidating the society, we reached the point of passing laws that undermine these foundations?
However, it is worthwhile to think of the following words of wisdom: “It’s better to be wise than strong” (Proverbs 24:5) and “godliness has value for all things” (1 Tim. 4:8).
It is reminded that the Justice Ministry’s draft laws on the new Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code were approved in principle, in article and in their entirety in parliament on Thursday.
The draft laws were voted for by SYRIZA and Potami, which participated in debate and in the voting procedure.
Main opposition New Democracy has stated it will not participate in the parliamentary procedures, as announced by party leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis, while Movement for Change (KINAL), the Communist Party (KKE) and Golden Dawn withdrew from the debate and from voting, denouncing the whole procedure.