Russian Orthodox Church “accepts” homosexuality

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church said on Wednesday that the church accepts any person’s choice, including homosexuality, but remains strongly opposed to abortions and euthanasia.

Patriarch Kirill made the statement at the meeting with Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior. “We accept any choice of a human, including the one in the sphere of sexual orientation – this is a private issue,” the Patriarch said.

He added, however, that the acceptance of the fact does not change the church’s attitude to homosexuality – it will still be considered a sin. “The religious tradition of practically all people testifies to the fact that homosexuality is a sin,” Patriarch Kirill said. “The sin that is being committed must not be punished. That is why we regularly speak against any discrimination of the people with non-traditional sexual orientation,” the RIA Novosti news agency quoted the church’s head as saying.

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