Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus is in favor of sex education in schools, considering that it is better for children to be informed on the matter and to know how to protect themselves than to be ignorant and unaware of what it entails when a one is exploited by ill-intentioned people.
According to philenews.com, Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus held a meeting with both the Minister of Education and the competent inspector who will monitor this matter. He concluded that sexual education will be helpful in informing students properly on the matter.
The Archbishop is convinced, as reported by philenews.com, that the ministry will do everything in its power to inform the children but also to protect them. He said that we should not be taking into account extreme views, whether they come from various circles in Greece or are adopted within Cyprus, because such views result in leaving children in ignorance which makes them vulnerable.
He also stressed that both the Minister of Educationand the competent inspector assured that they would closely monitor the issue. The issue will be raised at the next meeting of the Holy Synod, which is expected to take a clear stance on the issue.
It is recalled that Metropolitan Tychikos of Paphos opposed sexual education in schools, while the Trooditissa Monastery also took a negative stance on the issue. However, given that members of the Holy Synod do not want the Church to bear the burden of any incident that may occur against a child, due to ignorance, it is estimated that the Archbishop would win over the majority of the Holy Synod to this matter.
However, according to philenews.com, the Holy Metropolis of Paphos issued a circular on September 3, 2023, opposing “sexual education to become a compulsory course at all levels of education in the Republic of Cyprus”.
In the circular read at the Holy Churches of the Holy Metropolis of Paphos, it is stated that “the course aims at bringing down the spiritual resistance of our children, at undermining moral values, and at removing them away from ours traditions and conscience.”
