Chris Pratt is setting the record straight on his beliefs. The Guardians of the Galaxy actor took to Instagram on Monday, February 11, to defend his church after Ellen Page claimed it is against the LGBTQ community.
“It has recently been suggested that i belong to a church which ‘hates people’ and is ‘infamously anti-LGBTQ,’” Pratt, 39, wrote in a lengthy Instagram Story post. “Nothing could be further from the truth. I go to a church that opens their doors to absolutely everyone.”
The Passengers star went on to share the support his fellow churchgoers gave him following his split from wife Anna Faris in August 2017 after eight years of marriage.
“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.”
Pratt added that though his “faith is important” to him, it doesn’t “define” him or his life. “I am not a spokesman for any church or any group of people,” he continued. “My values define who I am. We need less hate in this world, not more.”
The Jurassic World star concluded: “I am a man who believes that everyone is entitled to love who they want free from the judgement of their fellow man.”
Quoting Jesus’ command to love one another, Pratt wrote in a larger caption on a photo of a lamb, “This is what guides me in life. He is a God of Love, Acceptance and Forgiveness. Hate has no place in my or this world.”
Pratt’s comments come days after he spoke about his spirituality and church during a February 7 appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, which sparked the public backlash from Page, 31.
“Oh. K. Um. But his church is infamously anti lgbtq so maybe address that too?” the Flatliners actress tweeted the next day. Page later continued her thoughts in a second series of tweets.
“If you are a famous actor and you belong to an organization that hates a certain group of people, don’t be surprised if someone simply wonders why it’s not addressed. Being anti LGBTQ is wrong, there aren’t two sides. The damage it causes is severe. Full stop. Sending love to all,” the Juno alum wrote on February 9.
A second tweet at the time read: “If lgbtq+ people are expressing their pain, their trauma, their experiences … maybe just try and listen? Open your heart, stop being defensive and have compassion. It’s a beautiful and life changing feeling, empathy. Much love truly to all.”
Prior to the Lego Movie 2: The Second Part star’s Late Show appearance, Vox confirmed that Pratt attends Zoe Church — which describes itself as a “place where our doors are open to people of all backgrounds.”
However, in March 2018, Zoe Church’s pastor, Chad Veach, admitted to The New York Times that he “modeled his church after Hillsong.”
Hillsong global pastor Brian Houston previously described the place of worship as “a gay welcoming church but we are not a church that affirms a gay lifestyle.” Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin are Hillsong Church members.
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