Orthodox parents in St. Petersburg demand that the Commissioner for Children’s Rights be “reasoned”

Orthodox parent organizations of St. Petersburg appealed to Metropolitan Barsanuphius with a request to "reason" - perhaps by excommunication from church - the regional Commissioner for Children's Rights Svetlana Agapitova. "Comprehension" in their opinion, is required because of the patronage of sexuality education, juvenile justice, and blasphemy.

On December 22, 2014, it became known that several Orthodox parent organizations of St. Petersburg appealed to the Metropolitan St. Petersburg and Ladoga Barsanuphius with a request to temporarily excommunicate from Church of the Regional Commissioner for Children's Rights Svetlana Agapitova.

The authors of the appeal are dissatisfied with the fact that S. Agapitova encourages “such dangerous programs and technologies, such as "sex education" for minors, distribution of contraceptives to adolescents under 16 years of age and juvenile justice western style" . In addition, the Orthodox are outraged by the publication on the website authorized by the article "Protect children from systematic drinking in ... the church", where, according to the authors of the document, “a mockery of the greatest treasure for believers on earth is the communion of saints Christ's mysteries. For any man with a conscience, things like this unacceptable, for Orthodox Christians this is blatant blasphemy, aggravated official official status .

The article was published after the Commissioner asked a resident of St. Petersburg, concerned about the use of Cahors by children during communion. He asked "to protect minors from the pernicious influence of religious organizations" . After that, S. Agapitova addressed the representatives Russian Orthodox Church, presented their point of view on its website, as well as invited everyone to speak.

Director of the public organization "Right of the Child" Boris Altshuler, commenting on the situation to Novye Izvestia, suggested that claims against S. Agapitova are connected with the fact that elections of the commissioner are being held in St. on the rights of the child, and Orthodox parents “help fulfill the order” to those who does not want S. Agapitova to be re-elected to this post: “She has become objectionable when, together with me, she spoke out in defense of sick children who could not to leave for the USA after the adoption of the "law of Dima Yakovlev". This caused a huge displeasure of Pavel Astakhov, who wrote a letter demanding her retired. But the governor of St. Petersburg did not do this, because he knew what kind of person Agapitova is and what a huge work she is doing .

Orthodox parents they ask to take measures against the commissioner, up to temporary excommunication from the church or "repentance for committed public sinful and anti-family affairs" . This, in their opinion, should "contribute to the admonition of the official . "

Among the signatories appeal organizations - public movement for the salvation and revival of the family "Separate Division", "Parental Standing", "Parents Committee", "People's Cathedral", as well as representatives of the party "Autocratic Russia", "Russian National Cultural Center - People's House", Public Fund "Slavyanskaya Spirituality", military patriotic camp "Russian Land" and the Commonwealth veteran organizations of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region "For our friends."

January 21, 2015 Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg re-elected Svetlana Agapitova for a second term as Commissioner for children's rights in the region.

Sources

• Ivanova A. Sin and laughter // Novye Izvestia. 2014. December 22.
• Svetlana Agapitova was re-elected Children's Ombudsman of St. Petersburg, who was criticized by the Orthodox // Interfax-religion. 2015. January 21.