Georgia’s fifth President, Salome Zurabishvili, has criticized recent remarks by the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Shio III, questioning his statement that families in which a “grave sin,” such as abortion, is present are “doomed.”
In a social media post, Zurabishvili responded to Shio III’s comments, describing them as merciless and questioning whether they leave room for faith and salvation.
“Is such a family doomed? Such merciless words, such a harsh sentence … that leaves no hope, neither in God’s immense love, nor in human salvation through faith???!!!” Zurabishvili wrote.
The former president was responding to remarks made by Shio III during an address to the faithful gathered at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi, where the Patriarch spoke about family values and Georgia’s demographic challenges.
Shio III claimed that if a “grave sin” exists in a family, such as abortion, “a family cannot build any happiness on such a foundation” and “such a family is doomed.”
“At the same time, where a child is born once every two or three years, there is happiness,” the Patriarch said, arguing that larger families ultimately become easier to manage after the birth of a third child.
Shio III also warned about Georgia’s demographic situation, saying that unless society works to strengthen and preserve families, the country could face the risk of settlement by “other peoples who love children, do not avoid having children, and protect their religion.”
Related story: Shio III warns of demographic crisis, speaks against abortion
