Uproar over Chrysostom’s statements on rape – Holy Synod: Inadmissible, tarnishing the work of the Church

The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece speaks of “unacceptable” statements, which “tarnish and grossly unfair the essential initiatives and the quiet work of the Church of Greece”, regarding the statements of Metropolitan of Dodoni Chrysostomou for abortions.

“Today’s statements on the TV show “Today” on SKAI by the complacent Metropolitan of Dodoni Mr. Chrysostomos about the mental and physical participation of the victims in the crime of rape are unacceptable, much more so for an Orthodox clergyman, and clearly insulting to the human person and especially women and rape victims,” ​​the Holy Synod says in its statement.

The Holy Synod – in a particularly strict tone – underlines that “any opinion of a cleric, regardless of the degree of Priesthood, that deviates from the above positions of the Holy Synod, in no way expresses the Church of Greece”.

Read the full announcement:

“Today’s statements on the TV show “Today” on SKAI by the complacent Metropolitan of Dodoni, Mr. Chrysostomos, about the mental and physical participation of the victims in the crime of rape are unacceptable, much more so for an Orthodox clergyman, and seriously insulting to the human person and especially women and rape victims.

It is emphasized that His Holiness attended the broadcast representing himself and not the positions of the Holy Synod. His statements on the specific issue of rape, among others, tarnish and grossly unfair the essential initiatives and the silent work of the Church of Greece both at the synodal level and through its Holy Metropolises and their charitable bodies, which stand daily and in practice on the side of abused women through actions to support them and hostels to host them, always in collaboration with social services and the police authorities.

Treating women as equal to men without exception and protecting them against all forms of abuse constitute the official position and attitude of the Church of Greece.

Any opinion of a cleric, regardless of the degree of Priesthood, that deviates from the above positions of the Holy Synod, in no way expresses the Church of Greece».

The political world condemns Chrysostomou’s statements about rape

Metropolitan Dodonis Chrysostomos expressed the outrageous opinion that to become pregnant a woman must “have participation” and that there is no rape.

“If she’s in a hurry… A woman doesn’t sit and rush without wanting to. Let’s not go crazy now. Well, let’s not go crazy”, “she doesn’t get pregnant with this matter, she has to be involved (…), both of them have to act in order to be arrested”, said the Metropolitan.

As was logical, the political world and members of the government condemned, without a second thought, the specific statements, while Twitter also “caught fire” with users blasting Metropolitan Chrysostomos.

“It is a shame for all of us and slanderous for the Orthodox Christian faith and our Church which always wipes out the victims of violence, the statement of the Metropolitan of Dodoni about the women who are victims of rape,” wrote the Minister of Tourism Vassilis Kikilias.

It is a shame for all of us and slanderous for the Orthodox Christian faith and our Church which always wipes out victims of violence, the statement of Metropolitan Dodoni about women who are victims of rape.

— Vassilis Kikilias (@Vkikilias) September 2, 2022

“The statement of the Metropolitan of Dodoni regarding the rape is unthinkable and reprehensible. It brutally offends society and is inconsistent with the attitude of the Church, which practically supports women victims of abuse and rape”, wrote the Minister of Education, Niki Kerameos.

The statement of the Metropolitan of Dodoni regarding the rape is unthinkable and reprehensible. It brutally offends society and is inconsistent with the attitude of the Church which actually supports women victims of abuse and rape.

— Niki Kerameus (@nkerameus) September 2, 2022

“Without many words, this statement is completely unacceptable, he must withdraw and apologize!”, points out the Minister of Development, Adonis Georgiadis.

Without further ado this statement is totally unacceptable he should retract and apologise! https://t.co/NDrPyKLfSY

— Adonis Georgiadi (@AdonisGeorgiadi) September 2, 2022

“To His Eminence Chrysostomos, Metropolitan of Dodoni: No, Your Eminence, why do you wrong yourself, but above all the Orthodox Church, with such statements?!”, wrote Dora Bakoyannis.

To His Eminence Chrysostomos, Metropolitan of Dodoni:
No, Your Honor, why do you wrong yourself, but above all the Orthodox Church, with such statements?!

— Dora Bakoyannis (@Dora_Bakoyannis) September 2, 2022

The secretary of SYRIZA, Rania Svigou, speaks of “creepy statements by the Metropolitan of Dodoni”, which “refer to times of obscurantism and “witch hunts”, which have passed for hundreds of years”. “We are not going to turn back. Rape is a crime, the self-determination of a woman’s body is a right.”

The chilling statements of Metropolitan Dodoni refer to times of obscurantism and “witch hunts”, which have passed for hundreds of years. We are not going to turn back. Rape is a crime, the self-determination of a woman’s body is a right.

— Rania Svigkou (@rania_sv) September 2, 2022

There were also reactions from PASOK, with the parliamentary representative of the party characteristically noting: “The statements of the Metropolitan of Dodoni on the occasion of the circular of the Holy Synod on abortions are a return to the most conservative views of the past, a return to the Middle Ages. We all have a duty – parties, institutions, the scientific community, women’s organizations – not to allow any retreat, no opening of the door for the questioning of women’s rights, which do not need any approval from anyone to be exercised,” says Nadia in her statement Giannakopoulou.

WE WILL ALLOW NO REFUNDS IN THE MIDDLE AGE ‼️

My statement regarding the unacceptable things Metropolitan Dodonis said on a morning show.#pasok #kinima_allagis #me_nadia https://t.co/tw5j1ftnY5

— Nadia Giannakopoulou (@ngiannakopoulou) September 2, 2022

The statements of Metropolitan Dodoni, and the Minister of Health, Thanos Pleuris, are unacceptable, stressing that “saying that a woman rapes because she wants to, is completely far from the Christian faith. It is unacceptable to justify an act of rape in an attempt to link it to the victim’s fault. These opinions unfortunately when heard lead us to such crimes. To say that someone rapes a woman because she wants to is completely far from the Christian faith. I have not heard a more unacceptable statement from a bishop.”

What Metropolitan Chrysostomos said

On the occasion of the sermon that will be given on Sunday in all churches against abortion, the Metropolitan said that the Holy Synod “listens to society”, that abortion is a crime and that “it is not possible to allow the “destruction” of a of an infant, of a child who, when conceived, has already begun to be life”.

For cases where a fetus has serious health problems, he emphasized that permission should be requested from the Church to perform an abortion and that it should indeed be scientifically proven and not “with a financial guarantee of the doctor’s decision”.

“If the child’s brain is going to be problematic, then he should ask for the help of the church and accept to have an abortion but with (…) a scientific and not a financial guarantee of the doctor’s decision”, he said characteristically

The metropolitan also noted that the Church is against contraception, leaving, however, a “window” for cases in which if she conceives a woman risks death and not “if we make love just for love’s sake”.

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