Storm of reactions for the statements of the Metropolitan of Dodoni to SKAI about rape

His statements have caused consternation Metropolitan of Dodoni Chrysostomou on rapes and abortions, with politicians from all parties condemning them, but also ordinary citizens blasting him.

THE Holy Synod of the Church of Greece reacted immediately to the statements of Metropolitan Dodoni, which he characterized as “unacceptable” and that they “tarnish and grossly unfair the essential initiatives and the quiet work of the Church of Greece”.

Earlier, speaking to the TV station SKAI, the metropolitan spoke against abortion, even when there is rape, while he noted that there is no rape without consent.

“A woman doesn’t sit down to rush without wanting to,” he said characteristically. 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 “hanging on pegs”, literally, the metropolitan.

“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”.

“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 in practice 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 Georgiades.

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

For “creepy statements by Metropolitan Dodoni”, which “refer to times of obscurantism and “witch hunts”, which have passed for hundreds of years”, says the secretary of SYRIZA, Rania Svigou. “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 in order to be exercised”, says in her statement Nadia 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 the Metropolitan of Dodoni are unacceptable, and the Minister of Health, Thanos Pleuris, emphasizing that “saying that someone rapes a woman 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.”

“The position of Metropolitan Dodoni does not express either the values ​​of our society or the doctrine of our faith,” the government representative said in a post on Twitter. Giannis Oikonomou. “We support the victims of violence, let alone rape, unconditionally, without footnotes or asterisks,” he adds.

The position of Metropolitan Dodoni does not express either the values ​​of our society or the doctrine of our faith. We support the victims of violence, let alone rape, unconditionally, without footnotes or asterisks.

— Giannis Oikonomou (@joikonomou) September 2, 2022

“The statement of the Metropolitan of Dodoni regarding the rape is unthinkable and provocative”, says the Deputy Minister of the Interior in a post on Twitter. Stelios Petsas. “Unacceptable and reprehensible, not only for the female victims of abuse, but also for the entire Greek society,” adds the deputy minister in his post.

The statement of the Metropolitan of Dodoni regarding the rape is unthinkable and provocative. Unacceptable and condemnable, not only for the female victims of abuse, but also for the entire Greek society.

— Stelios Petsas (@SteliosPetsas) September 2, 2022

The announcement of the Holy Synod

“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”.

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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