(NEWSWEEK) — A major religious leader in Russia has come out in support of the invasion of Ukraine and laid the blame on the support of gay rights.
Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, during a Sunday sermon called Russia’s “military operation” in Ukraine a conflict over “which side of God humanity will be on” between Russia and Western countries that embrace more progressive values. In particular, he called attention to Ukraine’s support of gay rights and the presence of gay pride parades, the Moscow Times reported.
“Pride parades are designed to demonstrate that sin is one variation of human behavior,” Kirill said during the sermon. “That’s why in order to join the club of those countries, you have to have a gay pride parade.”