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17 May 2007, 17:00Metropolitan of St. Petersburg urges to prevent gay-parade
St. Petersburg, May 17, Interfax - Metropolitan Vladimir of St. Petersburg and Ladoga has appealed to St. Petersburg Governor Valentina Matvienko to prevent the holding a gay-parade in 'the Northern Capital'.
'The Russian Orthodox Church keeps stating that Holy Scriptures and the Holy Tradition unequivocally condemn homosexual relations as contradicting the primordial design of the Lord for the human being', the metropolitan says in his appeal published on the official website of the diocese of St. Petersburg.
At the same time, the appeal stresses that according to the Moscow Patriarchate's social concept, the Church 'treats those with homosexual inclinations with pastoral responsibility, but at the same time resolutely opposes the attempts to present this sinful tendency as a 'norm' and even something to be proud of and to be emulated. This is why the Church condemns any propaganda of homosexuality'.
'It is my conviction that most of the people in the cultural capital of the Russian Federation disapprove of the idea of holding a gay-parade', Metropolitan Vladimir points out.
In addition, the metropolitan says, the holding of a gay-parade on May 26, the Trinity Day of the Dead, when the Russian Church celebrates the memory of the dead and begins to celebrate one of the greatest feasts, the Day of the Holy Trinity, can insult the religious feelings of Orthodox believers and make a negative impact on the building of a stable society in Russia.
'On behalf of the faithful in the St. Petersburg diocese, I ask you, Esteemed Valentina Ivanovna, to prevent the holding of this march, considering the acute need for consolidation of Russian citizens, strengthening the family and safeguarding children and youth against the propaganda of sin', the metropolitan's appeal reads.
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