Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke to the cabinet of Greece about the bill on same-sex marriage and adoption.
In his speech, the Greek Prime Minister acknowledges the Church’s perspectives but emphasizes that the state’s decisions are distinct from theological beliefs.
He highlights past disagreements with the Church on issues like civil marriage and IDs, asserting that such changes were necessary and did not harm society or state-Church collaboration. The PM discusses the forthcoming bill on civil marriage equality, emphasizing its goal of protecting the rights of children with same-sex parents.
It is recalled that the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece reached a unanimous decision, voting against the legalization of marriage between same-sex couples and their adoption of children.
Read the speech of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis below:
“I appreciate the perspectives of the Church, which I fully respect. This government has, in fact, addressed long-standing practical matters concerning the clergy.
However, let me be clear on this matter: we are discussing the decisions of the Greek State, unrelated to theological beliefs. Historically, we’ve had divergent opinions with the Church on civil marriage, cremation, and the omission of religion from Greek IDs.
Experience has shown that these changes were necessary. They didn’t harm society or the collaboration between the State and the Church, and I am confident the same will apply now.
The Minister of State will present the regulation on civil marriage equality, a topic we have extensively discussed with our MPs. This step aims at achieving equality for all citizens, as I emphasized earlier.
Primarily, the goal is to safeguard the rights of children with same-sex parents, ensuring they enjoy the same rights as other children.
It’s worth noting that this is already implemented in 36 countries across five continents without apparent harm to social cohesion or government harmony. I’m pleased that the reform has been discussed calmly within Greek society, avoiding extreme views. Our party, after consultation, refrained from imposing party discipline, allowing a diverse range of perspectives.
In this dialogue, we heard various viewpoints, respecting traditions, evolution, and integrating tradition into progress. Importantly, voices that were often unheard, particularly those of same-sex parents, have finally found expression, providing them with peace of mind regarding their children’s future and safety; in the unlikely event that one of them passes away, the child or children won’t end up in an orphanage.
It’s crucial to note what the bill does not do: it doesn’t alter the current surrogacy framework nor does it extend to same-sex couples. It excludes designations like “Parent 1” and “Parent 2.” Greece will not become a testing ground for policies limited to a few countries.
In summary, the new regulation grants equal rights to some members of our society without depriving any rights from the majority. It demands the sensitivity of our Democracy, where there should be no “two-tier” or “second-class” citizens and certainly no “children of a lesser God.”
Source: ANA-MPA / Article translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
