In a high-profile statement today regarding proposed revisions to the penal code that deal with religion and religious faith, the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, His Beatitude Ieronymos, underlined that
“…a reintroduction of provisions in the penal code regarding the offenses of malicious blasphemy and insult of religions, does not, obviously, aim to protect God, the Divine, the Orthodox Church or any other religion, as they have no need for human protection; it aims, however, to safeguard the religious sentiment of the faithful and (society’s) best interests, particularly in these troubles times for social peace and cohesion… these values cannot be trampled upon in the name of a ‘libertarian’ logic of freedom of speech…but one that includes insults, hate and fanaticism.”