The Romanian Orthodox Church wants to block same-sex marriage
Orthodox church in Romania
The Romanian Orthodox Church has said it hopes to block initiatives to legalise same-sex marriage.
The Church said it supports moves to alter the country’s constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.
Romania currently does not recognise marriages between same-sex couples.
More than 85 percent of Romanians are members of the church, which is incredibly influential in the country.
Its decision to come out strongly against same-sex marriage comes as it is expected that Romania will move to match other EU nations in legalising the right.
Gay rights groups have accused the church of meddling in political matters.
The Romanian constitution, which was revised in 2003, does not specify genders in its definition of marriage.
It says marriage is the union of “partners”.
Romania decriminalised homosexuality in 2001.
