European elections: Secular and religious interests should be compatible

Mitro Repo, a well-known Orthodox priest in Finland, is running for election to the EU Parliament as an independent on the list of the Finnish Social Democrats. Now the Church wants to rescind his right to pursue his profession at least for the duration of his candidacy and possible activities in the European Parliament. The daily Etelä-Suomen Sanomat comments: "Repo's case shows that the Orthodox Church still adheres to the old church traditions in its activities. While in the Lutheran Church vehement arguments about women as pastors and the blessing of homosexual couples are underway, at the Orthodox Church it's all about nice music and the best possible protection for icons. Controversies are simply non-existent for the Orthodox Church. They are neither needed nor discussed. Nor does the Church express its views on them. Unlike the Lutheran Church, the Orthodox Church does not keep up with the times."

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