Ivanov, the deputy, advocates for prohibiting cohabitation as a form of civil marriage
In an interview with NEWS.ru, Mikhail Ivanov, the head of the "Russia Orthodox" movement and a deputy of the Bryansk Regional Duma, expressed his views on the term "civil union" and its use in Russian law.
According to Ivanov, the use of the term "civil union" to describe cohabitation outside traditional marriage is a harmful euphemism that undermines the sanctity of traditional family values. He believes that true family life is based on a lifelong, monogamous marriage between one man and one woman, grounded in Orthodox Christian teaching.
From this perspective, the idea of "civil unions" or cohabitation without marriage is contrary to the Orthodox conception of family as a sacred institution fully rooted in Christian sacramental marriage. The "Russia Orthodox" movement views modern shifts away from these values as deviations from the biblical and ecclesial tradition, regardless of the wider social or historical context.
Ivanov emphasized that marriage should be entered chaste and that multiple previous relationships before marriage are seen as a mortal sin, damaging the soul and harming the possibility of a healthy marriage. He also stated that if the union of a man and a woman is not legally recognized, it distorts the nature of family relations.
Ivanov's comments come as part of an ongoing discussion about the recognition and legitimization of various types of relationships in contemporary society. He believes that contemporary journalists should stop misusing the term "civil union", creating a dangerous illusion that these relationships are equivalent to a genuine marriage.
In summary, the term "civil union" is viewed negatively by Ivanov and the "Russia Orthodox" movement as it implies accepting cohabitation without the spiritual and sacramental basis of marriage. The traditional family values they defend are those of a lifelong, monogamous union between one man and one woman, which they believe are divinely ordained and unchangeable. Modern secular trends toward cohabitation or varied family structures are considered moral deviations by the movement.
According to Russian law, marriage can only be registered through civil registry offices. Ivanov's stance on the matter reiterates his preference for traditional family structures and his concern for the misrepresentation of family relationships in modern media.
The "Russia Orthodox" movement, under the leadership of Mikhail Ivanov, advocates for a change in the general news and policy-and-legislation discourse, as they believe the use of the term "civil union" in politics distorts the nature of family relations and misrepresents family values. Furthermore, Ivanov calls on contemporary journalists to refrain from misusing the term "civil union," as it creates a dangerous illusion that these relationships are equivalent to a genuine marriage, contradicting the traditional family values they strive to uphold.
