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| East meets... |
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| ...West. |
Thousands of protestors, including many Orthodox priests, in the former Russian state of Georgia, rallied against a gay pride parade. In extraordinary scenes that saw chaos spread through the capital of Tbilisi, those occupying the street held posters reading: “We don't need Sodom and Gomorrah!” and “Democracy does not equal immorality!” “We are against the propaganda of homosexuality,” a 21-year-old student said. “If we need to allow parades like this in order to become a member of the European Union or other Western organizations and blocs, then I'm against joining these organizations.” And, this story tops a series of events in the former Soviet-bloc as the city of Moscow turned down a request from organizers who wish to hold a gay pride parade; and Vladimir Putin, after the legalization of gay marriage in France, is reconsidering Russian adoptions to that country. While normally, I prefer very gentle and quiet approaches to the gay populous by Christians, sometimes a loud form of shock therapy can also be beneficial. For, these priests are clearly displaying what the Orthodox Church represents; there is no ambiguity. They are offering an alternative. They can be a resolute island of sanity and assurance, for those who wish to leave that lifestyle, amongst a sea of relativism and moral ambiguity. The mixed-messages from some clerics in the West, has only confused. Therefore, I think we can learn from our Eastern brothers: there is a time when we must be willing to stand-up for what we are supposed to believe in.
