by EMMA POWYS MAURICE

A Greek Orthodox bishop who was convicted for inciting hate and abusing his position after urging people to spit on gays is now appealing the latter charge.

In 2015, Bishop Amvrosios of Kalavryta posted a vile homophobic rant online as Greece was debating a civil partnership bill that eventually passed on December 22 that year.

The conservative bishop, who has a record of supporting anti-LGBT+ positions as well as the far-right party Golden Dawn, claimed he wasn’t actually referring to LGBT+ people but to politicians who supported the civil partnership bills.

The Economist reported that during that hearing he said: “Spitting on them is the least of it, if I had a gun and I was permitted by the law, I would use it and we would finish things off.” Read more via Pink News