Chris Pratt issued a lengthy statement in an Instagram Story on Monday in response to Ellen Page's accusation that the actor's place of worship is anti-LGBTQ.
"It has recently been suggested that i belong to a church which 'hates a certain group of people' and is 'infamously anti-LGBTQ,'" Pratt wrote. "Nothing could be further from the truth. I go to a church that opens their doors to absolutely everyone."
Pratt is reportedly attending the L.A.-based Zoe Church. Founded by pastor Chad Veach, who has admitted to modeling Zoe after Hillsong, the contemporary Christian church that has targeted millennial worshippers, which has also been swept up in allegations of sexual abuse and support of conversion therapy. In a 2015 post titled "Do I Love Gay People?" on Hillsong's site, co-founder Brian Houston admits to welcoming all people to his church, but draws a clear red line where his support towards the LGBTQ community ends. "Hillsong Church welcomes ALL people but does not affirm all lifestyles," Houston writes. "Put clearly, we do not affirm a gay lifestyle and because of this we do not knowingly have actively gay people in positions of leadership, either paid or unpaid."
The actor goes on to try drawing parallels between the church's feelings towards the sanctity of marriage—specifically the response to his divorce from actress Anna Faris—and the LGBTQ community.
"Despite what the Bible says about divorce my church community was there for me every step of the way, never judging, just gracefully accompanying me on my walk," Pratt wrote. "They helped me tremendously offering love and support. It is what I have seen them do for others on countless occasions regardless of sexual orientation, race or gender."
"My faith is important to me but no church defines me or my life, and I am not a spokesman for any group of people," Pratt states. "My values define who I am. We need less hate in this world, not more. I am a man who believes that everyone is entitled to love who they want free from the judgment of their fellow man."
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