KIEV - July 29, 2009 - Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia attacked what he described as "liberal philosophy," on Wednesday.


The Patriarch accused liberalism of drawing "no distinction between sin and holiness, [and consequently no] distinction between truth and lies," and cited the legalization of same-sex marriages in some countries as an example to back up his point.


"That is, indeed, the way post-modern civilization sees the relationship between good and evil: there is no good and evil but there is pluralism of opinions. And if there is no distinction between good and evil, what does it mean? It is an apocalypse," the Patriarch said at a meeting with students and lecturers at the Kiev Theological Academy.


"There is no concept of sin at all in liberal philosophy, there is no distinction between good and evil," he said.


Legalization of same-sex marriages in some countries is one example, he argued. "Until recently no one could even have thought that same-sex marriages would receive legislative support and would be put on a par with natural marriages," he said.


"Liberal philosophy declared any form of conduct legitimate if it does not prevent other people from exercising their own freedom," the Patriarch said.


"In liberalism, every person is autonomous, both from God and from other people, he creates his own system of values and this ultimately leads him to losing his inner control," he said at the meeting, held at one of the churches of the Kiev Monastery on the Caves.


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Our spiritual struggle beings right now with whatever God has given us (and all the more if we ourselves have gotten into a difficult situation!)


About your trials: most of them are natural parts of life, and God allows several of them to pile up because you are capable of bearing them... You must learn to suffer and bear - but do not view this as something "endless and dreary," here you are wrong: God sends many consolations, and you will know them again. You must learn to find joy in the midst of increasing doses of sorrow; thus you can save your soul and help others.


- Father Seraphim (Rose) of Platina


Without sorrows there is no salvation. On the other hand, the Kingdom of God awaits those who have patiently endured. And all the glory of the world is nothing in comparison.


- St. Seraphim of Sarov