Yet Another Religious Leader Blames Coronavirus On The LGBT+ Community. This Time An LGBT+ Organisation Is Suing Him

Patriarch Filaret, founder and primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, has blamed coronavirus on marriage equality.

Filaret said while on TV that coronavirus was “God’s punishment for the sins of men, the sinfulness of humanity.” He then specified “First of all, I mean same-sex marriage.”

Human rights advocates are calling out the prominent religious leader for his statements, saying they were “dangerous” because blaming an epidemic like the coronavirus on a disempowered minority that is already disproportionately affected by hatred and violence could get people hurt, as ‘LGBTQ Nation’ reports.

“Such statements,” said Maria Guryeva of Amnesty International Ukraine, “are very harmful because they could lead to increased attacks, aggression, discrimination, and acceptance of violence against certain groups.”

Now, LGBT+ organisation Insight is taking legal action against Filaret, accusing him of disseminating false information on TV.

“Our aim is to show people that there is no longer place for such statements from church leaders in Ukraine,” Insight’s leader Olena Shevchenko said in an interview.

The group is asking for an apology and for the TV channel to run a correction.

“We just want them to be more responsible the next time,” Shevchenko said.

In a statement, the Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate defended Filaret’s statements. “As the head of the church and as a man, the Patriarch has the freedom to express his views, which are based on morality,” the statement said.

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