Annotation

The article presents a study of the legislation of Sweden, Finland, Greece, Great Britain, decisions of national courts and the practice of the European Court of Human Rights, which enshrine the right of Christian religious ministers to freely express their opinions in accordance with the biblical teaching on family and marriage. This problem has become relevant over the past twenty years in European countries, which have criminalized disrespect (incitement to hatred) for persons with non-traditional sexual orientation. Based on the generalization of judicial practice, it is concluded that the courts distinguish between the proclamation of religious morality and incitement to hatred. Religious ministers may preach about the inadmissibility of non-traditional relationships, including in public, but their statements may not contain calls for violence against such persons. In conclusion, the importance of the 2020 constitutional amendments on the family in terms of guarantees of freedom of speech for religious ministers in Russia is emphasized.