Greek clergy protested the legalization of adoption of children by same-sex couples

The Association of Orthodox Clergy of Greece (ISKE) issued an official statement condemning the decision of the Council of State to recognize the legality of same-sex unions and the possibility of adopting children by them. Representatives of the Hellenic Orthodox Church emphasized that such legislative changes undermine the traditional foundations of society and ignore centuries-old religious traditions of the country.

According to Orthodoxia news agency, the statement of the clergy was published on March 23, 2026. The document notes that the highest court of Greece, deciding in favor of same-sex «marriages», disregarded the feelings of a significant part of citizens. According to the clergy, the introduction of Western models of family relations not only provokes social division, but also does not contribute to solving pressing national problems, such as the demographic crisis and declining birth rate.

The ISKE paid special attention to the ethical aspects of the issue. The clerics expressed their conviction that the traditional understanding of the family, based on the union of a man and a woman, is the only true biological and social basis for raising children. The statement emphasized that the expansion of rights for same-sex couples calls into question the natural order and raises thorny questions about the rights of the children themselves, as well as the permissibility of surrogacy. The clergy insist that fundamental societal values cannot be changed solely by legislation without taking into account the cultural context of the country.