Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill has hit out at a perceived dangerous rise in Western countries of what he says is the homosexual movement.

He says what's happening in Western countries around marriage and the family is producing for the first time in history, legislation at odds with the moral nature of human beings.

In a Nov. 21 interview with the Russian government channel RT, Kirill spoke of difficult situations Christians face in the Middle East, the U.S. presidential election, and European multiculturalism.

He was asked by RT, originally Russia Today, his opinion on the current state of social institutions that the Church has traditionally upheld, such as marriage and family while historically Christian countries in the West are legalizing same-sex marriage.

He said the "moral nature, created by God, served as a foundation for the legislation which is designed.

"Laws defined moral values in legal terms, telling us what's good and what's bad. We know that stealing is bad and helping people is good, and laws define what stealing is and what the suitable punishment for it is.

"Now, for the first time in human history, the law allows something that doesn't correspond to our moral nature.

"The law contradicts it. It's not the same thing, of course, but we could compare this to an extent to the apartheid in Africa or Nazi laws – when the law went against inherent moral values, people rebelled."

The Russian Orthodox leader said those who made such laws knew theyr were not right.

"It was artificial; it was part of some ideology and not in sync with their moral nature. So the Church can never approve of this.

"We say that the Church can never redefine good and evil, sin and righteousness, but we don't condemn people who have different sexual preferences."

'IT'S THEIR BUSINESS'

Kirill said that was on their conscience "and it's their business", while they should not be discriminated against or punished, as used to happen in some States.

He said that the new trends should never be accepted as a social norm that differs from "our moral nature, meaning marriage between a man and wife who create a family and have children.

"That's why we believe this new trend poses a significant threat for the existence of the human race. The Church has to address this and say it's a bad thing, but we've seen that authorities in some countries have been trying to silence clergymen."

He cited the case of a Protestant pastor jailed for calling same-sex marriage a sin in his sermon.

"Again, this is very reminiscent of what was happening under Soviet totalitarianism."

He noted that in countries stating a commitment to freedom of speech, "you can get punished for expressing your opinion"

"That's a dangerous trend, and I hope it will peter out and the natural order of things will prevail. I don't even want to think about what might happen to us otherwise. Our prayers and our work are so that humanity lives on and follows the principles dictated by our moral nature," asserted Kirill.