Religious leader who blamed gay marital relationship for coronavirus now has Covid

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    Emily Sørensen
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    The honorable patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Filaret, believes that some of the provisions of the tomos do not fit the Ukrainian church. He stated this after the meeting of the Synod. Kiev, Ukraine, Friday, May 24, 2019 (Photo by Danil Shamkin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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    Filaret has around 15 million fans (Picture: Getty Images)

    A church leader who blamed the introduction of coronavirus on same-sex marital relationship has actually now contracted the illness.

    Patriarch Filaret, 91, remains in health center in a steady condition after he was detected with Covid 19 throughout regular screening.

    The Ukrainian site 112.worldwide has actually reported that he has actually likewise established pneumonia.

    Confirming his medical diagnosis on Friday, a declaration published on Facebook stated: ‘We inform that during planned testing, His Holiness Patriarch Filaret of Kyiv and All Rus-Ukraine tested positive for Covid 19. Now His Holiness Bishop is undergoing treatment at a hospital.’

    As the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kyiv, Filaret is among the nation’s most popular spiritual figures and has 15 million fans. 

    He was greatly criticised by LGBT groups for his remarks about coronavirus back in March. 

    In a TELEVISION interview he stated that the break out was ‘God’s penalty for the sins of guys, the sinfulness of humankind. First of all, I indicate same-sex marital relationship.’

    At the time, Maria Guryeva, a spokesperson for Amnesty International Ukraine, stated: ‘Such statements … are very harmful because they could lead to increased attacks, aggression, discrimination and acceptance of violence against certain groups.’

    Patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Filaret talks to media at the Patriarch's House after the Synod in Kyiv, Ukraine, May 24, 2019. After the honorary Patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Filaret had expressed his desire to restore the structure of the liquidated Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate, Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine Epiphanius of Kyiv and All Ukraine had to call for church Synod - Council of Orthodox Church of Ukraine. (Photo by Sergii Kharchenko/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

    The Patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Filaret (Picture: Getty Images)

    Kiev-based group Insight stated it was taking legal action versus him due to the fact that his remarks ran the risk of sustaining hatred and discrimination. 

    A spokesperson for the group informed the Reuters press firm they desired an apology for distributing incorrect details from both the Patriarch and the TELEVISION channel that aired the interview.

    Several other spiritual figures all over the world have actually blamed the infection on LGBT individuals given that it initially emerged in China late in 2015. 

    Prominent figures in the United States and a rabbi in Israel have actually declared coronavirus is ‘divine intervention’ in reaction to LGBT rights. 

    The World Health Organisation has actually condemned this spread of false information, cautioning it fuels stigmatisation and discrimination.

    Representatives of Filaret have actually formerly protected his remarks, stating they were ‘consistent with Ukrainian laws’ which he’s ‘entitled to express his views.’

    Homophobia is extensive in Ukraine and same-sex marital relationships are not lawfully acknowledged.

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