Cyprus Attorney General Costas Clerides ordered a police probe into highly controversial comments by Morphou Bishop Neophytos about homosexuals, after the LGBTI Accept movement reported him for hate speech.
Cyprus’ Attorney General on Thursday ordered a criminal investigation into statements of the bishop who claimed that “Homosexuality is usually a problem transferred to a fetus, when a pregnant woman has anal sex and enjoys it”.
Bishop Neophytos made his derogatory comments during a ‘spiritual dialogue’ at a public school in Akaki, where he also said that “gays give out a bad smell”.
His comments have been widely condemned, while the Church seems to be distancing itself from the bishop’s comments.
Archbishop Chrysostomos II has distanced himself from his bishop’s comments, saying that they reflected his own personal views and not those of the official Cyprus Orthodox Church.
The Bishop of Kyrenia, also called Chrysostomos, has directly urged his Morphou counterpart to stop fretting over people’s sex lives. “We believe a cleric should not meddle in couples’ bedrooms.”
In a lengthy response to the Kyrenia Bishop, the principal deputy of Morphou Bishop, Archimandrite Fotios, referred to scriptures in support of the Morphou Bishop.
He accused the Kyrenia Bishop of “altering the tradition of the Orthodox Church and the word of God as its is expressed in the Holy Bible”.
The Morphou Bishop has also insulting the memory of the children who fell victims to convicted serial killer Nicos Metaxas.
Neophytos said that it was hypocritical to be saddened by the death of two children killed by Metaxas when Cyprus carries out so many abortions.
This move follows the Cyprus government saying it was "greatly troubled and dismayed" by the comments on homosexuality, which it said were needlessly stirring up social unrest.
Government spokesman Prodromos Prodromou said Tuesday the bishop's remarks "insult the dignity and equality" of Cypriots, calling for the remarks to be retracted.
Costas Gavrielides, an adviser to the Cyprus president on acceptance and diversity, requested the attorney general look into the matter of homophobic speech.
He said that in four years since adoption of the law on hate speech, police have not investigated a complaint nor launched legal proceedings for homophobic or transphobic hate speech.
The Cypriot bishop caused a furore after excerpts of his June comments went viral.
Cyprus decriminalised homosexuality in 1998 and has rolled back previous conservative attitudes to same sex relationships.
It outlawed discriminating against gay people in 2004 and brought in civil unions in 2015.
