ATHENS – Just after the Holy Synod said it was opposed to religious acceptance of same-sex marriage and letting gays adopt children, the leader of the Greek Orthodox Church, Archbishop Ieronymos, has homosexuality a “deviation.”

That came during a visit to Argolida in southern Greece where it was reported that he said, “The Church has its beliefs… Those who are in the Church and believe have a way of life. Whatever is outside this thing is a diversion from life.”

When asked whether all people are children of God, he said, “All are children of God, but we cannot say that everything they do is all good,” although there weren’t further clarifications or specificity.

His comments came just as Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he will introduce a measure to legalize same-sax marriage during his second term that is due to end in 2027, pushed back because of opposition in his party.

Greece recognizes civil same-sex unions but not marriage and the leader of the SYRIZA opposition party, Stefanos Kasselakis, had to go to the United States to marry his partner, American nurse Tyler McBeth.