The Orthodox Church in Moldova has lumped same-sex attracted people and transgender people in with pedophiles and people who have sex with animals in calling for a ban on ‘immoral propaganda’ and has banned government officials from receiving communion until a law protecting LGBTs is amended.

The Orthodox Church wants a ban on ‘propaganda’ of ‘homosexual, lesbian, transsexual, bisexual, pedophilic, zoophilic, incestuous, and perverse behavior,’ according to a 21 June statement.

The Moldovan Church, which is aligned with the Russian Orthodox Church has called for nation-wide protests against the anti-discrimination law.

A statement from the Moldovan Orthodox Church (MOC) denied reports that members of the Government had been excommunicated from the church.

‘We must emphasize that Synod members only warns the peak power of the country on canonical measures that could be taken further and in no way acted to excommunicate them from the Orthodox Church,’ the church said in a statement.

‘Government [members have been] excluded from participation in the sacraments, following the decision taken in the meeting of the Synod of the MOC.’