The Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church – Bulgarian Patriarchate extends its gratitude to the legislators for reaching a consensus on fundamental values for Bulgarian society, particularly regarding the upbringing, education, and safeguarding of Bulgarian children.
Furthermore, on Wednesday, August 7, the Bulgarian parliament approved significant amendments to the education law, broadening its scope to prohibit what it labels as LGBTQ+ “propaganda” in educational institutions. Despite criticism from human rights organizations, the bill passed with a substantial majority of 159-22 votes.
The new law prohibits the promotion of ‘non-traditional sexual orientation’ or ‘gender identity other than biological.’ It specifically outlaws the dissemination of ideas related to non-traditional sexual orientation and/or gender identity in the education system.
The Church commends the legal prohibition in preschools and schools against promoting non-traditional sexual orientation and/or gender identity different from biological sex.
The Holy Synod reaffirms its stance on “gender,” “marriage,” and “family,” emphasizing the importance of spiritual and moral education based on Christian teachings. It asserts that marriage and family, defined as a union between a man and a woman, are core values upheld by Christianity.
The Church believes that issues related to gender, family, and children’s education are crucial for Bulgaria’s identity and the future of its people. Studies show that these views resonate with the majority of Bulgarian citizens.
As a protector of the Bulgarian people, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church shares concerns about modern challenges in child education. It hopes that the unity among political forces in restricting ideologies contrary to Christian values in education will lead to further positive initiatives for children’s upbringing and education – the future of Bulgaria.
Source: Patriarchate of Bulgaria