by Nina Achmatova

The leader of the Russian Orthodox Church warns of the danger of reducing those who choose what’s good to repressed minority and approves the law passed by Russia against "homosexual propaganda".

Moscow (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Kirill, has spoken out against countries that have approved same-sex marriage - which he has termed as "dangerous signs of the Apocalypse" - and warns about the risk of dictatorship of free will.

On the occasion of the liturgy held on 21 July in Kazan Cathedral on Red Square in Moscow, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church denounced the presence of colossal forces which aim to "convince us all that the only real value is free will, and that no-one has the right to violate this value, even when a person chooses evil or a socially dangerous behavior". "Everything goes as long as it does not violate the rules of the civil law," he added, recognizing how these norms "easily fool."

"In recent times, in a number of countries the choice of sin has been approved and justified by the law, and those who in good conscience, fight these laws imposed by a minority, are repressed", denounced the Patriarch. This, he said, is "a dangerous sign of the apocalypse and we must do everything to ensure that in the area of ​​Holy Rus this sin is never justified by the law, because that would mean that the nation has embarked on the path of' self-destruction".

Kirill reaffirmed his approval of the law "against gay propaganda", recently signed by President Vladimir Putin. The new law, criticized by human rights defenders, punishes any act of "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations in front of minors", with fines and terms of imprisonment.



However, the Patriarch has admitted that laws alone are not enough. "We know that any law, even the most perfect, can not eradicate crime, corruption, evil, lies. These can be eradicated only by the person who freely chooses good," he concluded.



In Russia, homosexuality was considered a crime until 1993, and as a mental illness until 1999. Homophobia is widespread and recently there has been an increase in cases of murder and homophobic violence throughout the country.