Greece has made history by becoming the first Christian Orthodox-majority country to approve same-sex marriage.
On Thursday, Greece’s parliament adopted a law enabling same-sex civil marriage, a significant triumph for LGBT rights advocates.
The bill was adopted by 176 legislators in the 300-member parliament and will become law once it is published in the official government gazette.
The decision, which allows same-sex couples to marry and adopt children, comes after decades of lobbying by the LGBT community for marriage equality in this socially conservative country.
“This is a historic moment,” Stella Belia, the head of the same-sex parent group Rainbow Families, told Reuters. “This is a day of joy.”
Although members of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ center-right New Democracy party abstained or voted against the law, it received enough backing from the leftist opposition in a rare display of cross-party cooperation despite a stormy discussion.
“It’s a very important step for human rights, a very important step for equality, and a very important step for Greek society,” said 40-year-old Nikos Nikolaidis, a historian who joined a rally in favour of the bill ahead of the vote.
Same-sex marriage is already legal in 15 of the European Union’s 27 member states. It is authorized in 35 countries throughout the world.
In other news, Yul Edochie, a well-known Nigerian actor and pastor known for his outspoken opinions, has shared his pastoral teachings with his Instagram followers. He underlined that simply being born again does not ensure admission into heaven.
The renowned preacher emphasizes the need to build a heart full of love and fairness to represent the spirit of being a born-again Christian.
Edochie expresses his worries on his Instagram page, highlighting the gap between stated beliefs and genuine intent.
He encouraged believers to prioritize acts based on compassion, generosity, and justice toward others over simple affirmations of faith.
He stated:
“Being born again is not an express ticket to Heaven. Many born-again Christians have the wicked hearts you can ever find on earth. My God says; embrace love. Free your heart of wickedness & hate. Love everyone, whether they’re Christians or not. Be fair & just in your dealings. Bear no grudges.
“Spread love & kindness. Treat everyone equally. Let your presence bring light into people’s lives. Be a good person. Yul Edochie.”
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