Greek bishop blames gay rights bill on "Zionist monster"

[Jingthing]

This Greek bishop sounds like a right charmer.

It's interesting that GREECE, that so many romanticize as the cradle of democracy, is so overwhelmingly both anti-gay and antisemitic in this modern era

Oh well!

A leading Greek bishop has blamed the “Zionist monster” for new legislation that would give same-sex couples in Greece expanded civil rights.

Bishop Seraphim of Piraeus said the cohabitation bill is a result of the “constant war against the true faith” being waged “by the international Zionist monster,” which he said controls the Greek government.

I always wondered if Greeks were often annoyed to be associated with anal sex. Maybe it would help if it wasn't referred to as Greek sex anymore and was called Iranian sex instead?

http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Leading-Greek-bishop-blames-Zionist-monster-for-countrys-new-same-sex-legislation-438069

Edited December 22, 2015 by Jingthing

[isanbirder]

This bishop sounds rather a silly man dominated by his idees fixes about the Jews. I doubt whether all that many people listen to him, and those that do would probably be as bigoted without him.

The point in the link which I find distasteful is that the EU is insisting that all member countries pass same-sex marriage legislation. If they do so under compulsion (and poor old Greece does a lot of things under compulsion these days), it is likely to heighten discrimination, and make life worse, not better, for our fellow-gays in that country.

[onthemoon]

It's not "the Greeks" that are annoyed, it is one Greek bishop. There are a lot more religious extremists in the US that speak out against gay marriage, and you don't say "the Americans" are against it. I can imagine that you could find one rabbi in Israel to be against gay marriage too.

And yes, EU countries (not only Greece) are required to follow the treaty they signed when they became members. I don't know specifically whether the EU now requires all countries to pass gay marriage equality laws (I haven't heard that yet) though. There is nothing bad about following agreements.

[Jingthing]

This bishop sounds rather a silly man dominated by his idees fixes about the Jews. I doubt whether all that many people listen to him, and those that do would probably be as bigoted without him.

The point in the link which I find distasteful is that the EU is insisting that all member countries pass same-sex marriage legislation. If they do so under compulsion (and poor old Greece does a lot of things under compulsion these days), it is likely to heighten discrimination, and make life worse, not better, for our fellow-gays in that country.

Yeah, you're probably right. The Greeks don't need a silly bishop to tell them to hate Jews or to oppose civil rights for gay people. They're already there.

Not clear from the article if this bill will pass, EU pressure or not. It sounds like it won't pass.

From one visit to Greece, I did pick up the widespread homophobia (which kind of surprised me) but I hadn't realized that modern Greece was so anti-semitic. I know about their past being that way but had assumed they had probably evolved. I guess not.

http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Leading-Greek-bishop-blames-Zionist-monster-for-countrys-new-same-sex-legislation-438069

Anti-Semitic stereotypes are widespread in Greek public and political discourse. A recent Anti-Defamation League survey showed that Greece has Europe’s highest rate of anti-Semitic attitudes, with 69 percent of Greeks espousing anti-Semitic views.

...

While the bill is highly unpopular in Greece, the Parliament could face European Court of Justice sanctions for discrimination if it does not pass the measure to meet European Union standards.

Edited December 23, 2015 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

Interesting.

It did pass.

I suppose they felt compelled.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/880963-greek-parliament-legalizes-same-sex-civil-partnerships/?p=10227368

[onthemoon]

Interesting.

It did pass.

I suppose they felt compelled.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/880963-greek-parliament-legalizes-same-sex-civil-partnerships/?p=10227368

And I suppose you were simply wrong with your assumption that Greeks are anti-gay. My own experience was the exact opposite from yours.

And Mykonos is one of the gay paradises in Europe.