Prosecutor to investigate Bishop of Chios over “hate speech”

Greece’s General Secretary for Human Rights made an unprecedented move: Kostis Papaioannou He collected the recent “hate” statements made by Bishop of Chios Markos and forwarded them to the prosecutor in charge of Racism Crimes. The prosecutor should investigate whether the Bishop has committed any offenses. The General Secretary allegedly sent also the message that “priests’ clothes do not ensure immunity.”

In his preaching on August 15th, Bishop Markos lashed out against migrants  and refugees, against the Mosque to be built in Athens, against civilian marriage and against homosexuals.

“There are no refugees, they are all illegal migrants,” the Bishop told the parish of an island that hosts 3,115 refugees and migrants.

With regards to the Mosque to be built in Athens, the Bishop attacked the government saying “they have taken down their pants and they worship, they have delivered the country.” He called the people to resist the construction of the mosque.

He lashed out against civilian marriage that has been in effect since more than 25 years and said “it is not possible that those who collect the garbage [the mayors] wed couples.”

The Bishop’s statements triggered an outcry and sources from the Metropolis of Chios tried to calm down the angry spirits saying that the Bishop was the first to open the doors of the church for those who were arriving on the island [last year].  “Bishop Markos just wanted to draw attention to the population alternation on the island,” the sources told local media.

It is the first time an official institution (GS for Human Rights) sends a “hate” speech of a high-ranking clergyman to the prosecutor, although there have been other hard-core Bishops lashing out at the same issues in the past.

Source: keeptalkinggreece.com