Moldova Bans Religious Procession Due to Gay Parade

The Moldovan authorities have banned a procession in honor of the feast of the Holy Trinity from the village of Chishmichioi to the city of Comrat.More than 3,000 faithful from the Cahul and Comrat dioceses were expected to participate in the prayerful march for peace and well-being in the Gagauz region. This was reported by the Telegram channel “Orthodox Moldova and the World.”

According to reports, the organizers received an order from law enforcement authorities prohibiting the procession until the gay pride parade, scheduled to take place on the same days, is concluded.

The official reason for the ban was a “conflict in timing with another event.” However, Church representatives have condemned the decision as discriminatory and oppressive toward Orthodox believers. Clergy members described the move as a persecution of religious traditions and a violation of the right to freedom of religion.

It is also worth noting that the Romanian Orthodox Church’s stance on LGBT parades in Romania recently drew sharp criticism from several Western diplomatic missions. In an official statement, the Romanian Patriarchate expressed concern over the organization of homosexual, lesbian, and transgender parades in a number of Romanian cities.