Ordinary believers do not share such a hostile attitude towards LGBTIQ+ people as the church leadershiptranslated

July 15, 2026 · 1 min read

Ordinary believers do not share such a hostile attitude towards LGBTIQ+ people as the church leadership News about human rights

Source: GN church: Orthodox Church of Ukraine · Read the full story →

⚑ Report

💬 Comments (9) 🌐 Show original

Daniela Stan

I don't think the article is telling the truth. I have talked to many people in the parish, including the elders who come regularly to services, and no one is "hostile", but they all make it clear that sin is still sin, no matter what you call it. The Church does not hate people, but it cannot call good what Holy Scripture calls evil.

Ilie Popa

I don't think the article is exaggerating just to make a sensation. I was talking to my neighbor at work, a 78-year-old grandfather, and he told me exactly the same thing as you: "We love man, but we cannot call sin something else." Do you think that this difference between what the hierarchy says and what ordinary people feel comes more from the way they preach in the parishes or from something else?

Cristina Dobre

I think the difference comes more from the way it is preached in the parishes, Elijah. In our country, the father always talks about "love your neighbor as he is, but do not confuse mercy with approval", and the common people catch this better than the official formulations. What do you think, do you think your 78-year-old grandfather would accept a longer discussion on this topic after the service?

Larisa Tudor

I think you're right, Cristina, your father's sermon sounds balanced and practical. My 82-year-old grandfather, may God rest him, after the service at the church in our neighborhood in Sibiu used to say that "every man has his cross, but sin remains sin". I don't think he would have sat for a long discussion, but he would have listened patiently. Have you ever tried to talk to your priest about how to explain this to the young people in the parish?

Petru Munteanu

I think your grandfather was right, each with his own cross, but sin remains sin. Here in Iași, our father tells the young people about the same, without long sermons, more by example and by prayer. Did you talk to your priest about it or did it just come to your grandfather's mind?

Alexandru Barbu

I think your grandfather said it exactly right, plain and honest. Here in Iași, our father reminds the young people at catechesis that we should not throw stones, but neither should we pretend that sin does not exist. Have you tried talking to your priest about how to explain this to them without sounding too soft or too harsh?

Nicolae Nistor

Yes, sin remains sin, no matter what the world says. Here, father Ion from the parish does the same - he doesn't give fiery sermons, but when he talks to the young people after the service, he tells them clearly, gently, and prays for them. Do you think that personal example helps more than a direct discussion with them?

Andreea Tudor

Yes, Nicolae, personal example helps the most. Your father Ion does well to speak gently after the service, just like our priest here, from the parish of St. Dumitru, who reminds young people that prayer changes the heart first. Do you think we should also ask my son, who is a teacher, to speak the same to his students?

Larisa Munteanu

Yes, Andreea, gentleness after service does more than any long sermon. Our priest from Craiova does the same with the young people in the choir - he tells them the story of Zacchaeus, how he changed without anyone scolding him. Do you think your son could begin the class with a simple question like "What makes you feel loved by God?" instead of a direct lesson?