Lately, those of us who believe in the rule of law and due process are suffering from an embarrassment of riches. Not in examples of decorum or probity mind you. Instead, we have a surfeit of imprudent actions that imperil civilization as we know it. Sadly, this loss of civility and common sense reigns among people who should know better. The situation is so dire that some of our secular and religious institutions are dangerously close to losing their legitimacy.
And that’s the best-case scenario.
We are seeing this play out in the Kavanaugh hearings presently. First, the Democrats on the Judiciary Committee acted like a bunch of yahoos. Sen Spartacus Booker of New Jersey made himself a laughingstock, effectively burying his future chances for higher office while Kamala Harris of California did her best Nurse Ratched imitation. (If nothing else, they form the core of the Drama Queen Coalition within the Senate; at least now we know.)
As for the leftist provocateurs in the peanut gallery, they did their best to beclown themselves and boy did they succeed. Some of them were actually filmed receiving cash for their antics. In the end, all they did was remind the American people why they voted Republican in the first place. Regardless, Judge Kavanaugh was well on his way to winning confirmation to the Supreme Court.
But then a wild allegation from thirty-six years ago came from out of nowhere. It seems that Sen Dianne Feinstein had an anonymous letter from some flaky professor in Palo Alto who “wished to remain anonymous”. The letter described a clumsy attempted rape by a drunken adolescent Brett Kavanaugh at some beer-and-drug-fueled party. Unfortunately, the accuser did not inform anybody at the time nor can she remember other pertinent details. One of the supposed witnesses the alleged rape (whom she named) has flat-out denied her entire recollection of the event in question.
This is shaping up to be Anita Hill 2.0. And that’s not a good thing –not for her.
On the religious front, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople is behaving in a high-handed way that would make medieval Popes blush. The issue at hand is his circumventing the very process which he rammed through the Cretan Robber Council for granting autocephaly (which in and of itself was far from settled). Even worse, his rationale for granting autocephaly to a schismatic sect in Ukraine, headed by a man of questionable character, is threadbare. His press office embarrasses itself even further when it rewrites history in a clumsy Orwellian fashion regarding the Church of Russia. This is doubly sad because the historical record is there for all to see.
It’s rather ironic: several years ago Metropolitan Jonah, the primate of the OCA, was hounded out of office because he was accused of acting “unilaterally”. It was a rather opaque accusation because when his tormentors were asked specifically how he acted “unilaterally” no good answer was offered. And this is where it gets even more ironic: many of his critics in Syosset were themselves globalist suck-ups to the present Ecumenical Patriarch, who is now acting in a truly hyper-unilateral and reckless manner.
What’s worrisome about the EP’s actions is not merely the papalist spirit behind them, or the obvious EU/State Dept puppet-masters pulling his strings (which are both bad enough) but the very real-world consequences that will ensue. Specifically, the threat of military conflict in Ukraine which could easily escalate into a world war.
Now, this, of course, is what the globalists want; they don’t care about war, even a war which can’t be won. Why? Because war is good for the Military-Industrial-Complex. All it takes is two implacable foes with lots of bad blood between them and voila!, the stock prices of General Electric, Boeing and Martin Marietta rise, thereby buoying the rest of American economy. This cynical reality is a sad truth but that is the way of the world. That a Christian archpastor is willing to go along with this is scandalous.
Oh well, this too shall pass and when the dust finally settles Orthodox Christians will again be reminded why we don’t have a Pope.*
In both cases, the ends-justifying-the-means tactics being employed will do nobody any good. Patriarch Bartholomew’s legacy will probably rival the sorry record of Meletius IV Metaxakis or Cyril VI Loukaris. And all for what? Because of a misguided sense of entitlement?
As for the Senate, the Democrats have opened up a can of worms that are maggot-infested, as well. Violence here, too, will eventually break out for the simple reason that the United States has no national religion. All we have is a parchment titled The Constitution, which is our fundamental law. In other words, the only thing we have to prevent us from tearing each other apart like wild animals is the rule of law. That’s it. And now, we are losing even that.
Do the Democrats understand what furies they have unleashed upon our body politic? Likewise, does Patriarch Bartholomew understand that he is destroying the conciliarity that is one of the hallmarks of the Orthodox Faith? In either case, that doesn’t seem to be the case. More’s the pity.
Below is a short video clip from one of the greatest movies of all time: A Man for All Seasons. The protagonist (Sir Thomas More) gives his hot-headed son-in-law the most succinct and dramatic answer for the necessity for the rule of law.
*Some twenty years ago, His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver paid a visit to our parish. He opened up by saying some remarks about how in 1960 bishops from all over the Orthodox world assembled on the island of Rhodes to begin the process of convening a church-wide Council. One reason for the initial meeting was because there had not been a significant pan-Orthodox council for centuries. The last Ecumenical Council had in fact been held some twelve hundred years earlier.
Under such conditions, it was not unreasonable to think that both praxis and doctrine had diverged significantly between the various Churches. The Catholics, of course, have a centralized figure in the Pope. There is no such figure in Orthodoxy. What was remarkable to the men who assembled there was that despite the lapses in time, the geographic (and political) separation, the divergence in language and culture, there were no differences between the various autocephalous Orthodox Churches in matters of doctrine or praxis. In other words, we didn’t need a Pope, because we had Christ as our head and the Holy Spirit to guide us. We didn’t even need a God-pleasing Emperor.
I end this with a serious question: do the powers-that-be want to get rid of Christ, as well as the rest of our Orthodox sensibilities? It’s anybody’s guess. Every time we move an inch in the opposite direction, it’s an inch away from Him.
The same man, the very reverend John Jillions, who was key in the removal of Met. Jonah, has recently reported that “the Russians have hacked into his email account”. Might there be plans in the works for for the need for the EP to “step in and normalize the status of the OCA”? Putting the OCA in the “Gay friendly” arms of the EP, and out of the control of the intolerant Russians?
For what it’s worth, Jillions, Tosi and other Jonah-antagonists were always ready to bend the knee to the EP.
Ironic, isn’t it?
Always ready, George? I’d rather not read the contorted rhetoric you’d employ trying to ‘prove’ such assertion.
The reason Metr. Jonah, whom I k ow personally, love and respect as a pastor and carnivores colleague, is that he acted unilaterally in response to Moscow blandishments somehow would benefit the OCA by reabsornkng it into the MP, among other faux pas that had him typically acting and deciding without consultation with brother bishops of the Synod.
If you knew half of what I know you wouldn’t write like such a blowhard. Fr. Leonid Kishkovski states that the MP has been working since the 1990s to annul the Tomos. Metr. Jonah was the only Primate of the OCA who looked like he might comply.
Father Chair (if that is, indeed, your true name instead of a French pseudonym), when your write here, “If you knew half of what I know you wouldn’t write like such a blowhard,” I suspect you are precisely the epithet that you have hurled George’s way.
I challenge you to cite your “sources” for such bold claims about Metropolitan Jonah, whom I also know, love, and respect, and who, I am at once humbled and honored to declare, succeeded me as Rector of St. Herman of Alaska Russian Orthodox Church in Stafford, Virginia. Your line–faux pas that had him acting and deciding without consultation with brother bishops of the Synod”–is a sure giveaway.
I seriously doubt that you wish to go down the route of exposing how the OCA administration and Synod of Bishops behaved toward their primate both before and after he was compelled to resign in what amounted to a coup d’etat.
Then why didn’t they straight up accuse him of that? At least Then they would have had a legitimate (if arguable) reason instead of the horrible scandal they inflicted upon the faithful.
Anyway, I stand by what I write (and under my own name, btw). And especially in this regard: these same antagonists who were ever-vigilant about Moscow’s supposed desires re our autocephaly are more than ready to give it up in a heartbeat for the OCA’s absorption into Cpole.
I ask this honestly: how do you square this circle?
Fr. Jillions did not report it. The security team at Google was following a known Russian hacking site as it bounced to affiliates in Europe and attempted to hijack the accounts of a number of Orthodox priests in France and the US. I read about all this on a security site blog that just randomly used Fr. Jillion’s notification from Google informing him that there were attempts to compromise his account. What exactly this has to do with Met. Jonah, the “status” of the OCA, or the “Gay friendly” arms of the EP is the product of someone seriously devoted to their shallowness.
An addendum to the “If you knew half of what I know…” conclusion of Pere LaChaise, it would seem important to emphasize to Mr. Michalopulos (who has a notoriously short memory) that a significant aspect of this “unilateral” decision to sell-back the OCA to the ROC was that Met. Jonah be the primary carnivore among carnivores colleagues (including the senior – by age & ordination – Met. Hilarion of ROCOR). This fact, and Pat. Kyriil’s apparent distaste for groveling, was made known (as only a religio-politician would) through the Dean of the Patriarchal Cathedral in NYC in an interview to a Russian religious news service, accompanied by an interview of Fr. Leonid Kishkovski. Pat. Kyriil had taken a test drive and that, as they, was that…
Public institutions of all sorts have already lost all credibility. That includes the institutional Orthodox Church. Fortnately for us, the Church herself is not nor has she ever been and institution and the rule of law largely irrelevant because Jesus fulfills all the law.
We sinners tell on the law largely as a means of self-justification. In ideological politics one is justified by one’s correct feelings and being offended by the correct things–so law is an incumbrance.
ANti-feminists don’t bother with pollsters. Most women work because they have to (Carter’s inflation) than want to. They are not feminists. When this Kakanaugh thing blows back in the election, the Venutians will complain the Martians meddled with the election.
If the Holy Spirit departed from the Orthodox Church would anyone notice? The church structure groans on, so far from a Galilean who rode a donkey into Jerusalem. He only owned the clothes on his back. We have pageantry and men dressed in Byzantine court clothing. The “unsaved masses “ are not swooning at this glorious presence.
Perhaps our only hope is to go back to the catacombs.
So we’ll said, Jim! Talk about “pomp and circumstance,” a “dog and pony” show and better yet, a three ring circus!
Our Lord and Savior must be saying … ” this is certainly “NOT” what I envisioned the “Church” on earth to be like!”
“Perhaps our only hope is to go back to the catacombs.”
George,
I’m already there. When one contemplates the sheer amount of Progressive fiction foisted upon us in the last 50+ years, it is difficult to escape the conclusion that we have not already entered a post-apocalyptic dystopia wherein power has meaning but authority has none.
Power is the ability to do a thing. Authority is the lawful right to do a thing. When the law fails completely in a failed state like the United States, there is only power left – and the police are simply one of the most powerful street gangs. Billy Jack said it best:
“When policemen break the law, then there isn’t any law, just the fight for survival.”
Brilliantly put, Misha.
Bork was the first egregious attempt at oligarchic atrocity, Anita Hill was the second. The conservatives learned both lessons but could not expect this.
Unfortunately each of these Trojan horses come at a high price in that once used, they can never be used again.
So what is next in line? Outright violence. Murder even.
There. I’ve said it.
Remember, the end result of Thomas More’s judicial murder was Henry VIII’s reign of terror, which eventually took the life of Thomas Cromwell, More’s chief prosecutor.
“In the Soviet Union, trials were never to be treated as a matter of the guilt or innocence of the accused, but of furthering the class struggle.”
Substitute the United States in 2018 for the Soviet Union in the quote above, and you’ve captured the essence of what’s going on the Kavanaugh Senate circus. The media (and, according to some polls, most Americans) couldn’t give a rat’s behind what the truth is in the Kavanaugh matter. They are merely interested in “furthering the class struggle” and, of course, in protecting their idol and god, legalized abortion on demand.
We are far more Soviet-esque these days than we like to think. We are quite demonic as a culture. Frightening.
And the corollary, of course, is the equally foolish notion that it is even possible to legislate morality. Would you somehow suggest that this is not “furthering the class struggle?” And would you deny that those on the far right, who orchestrate the opposing pole of this magnet, are intent upon protecting their own idol and god of civil religion, and don’t give a rat’s behind as to Faith and Truth as we understand it? And judging by your and similar commentary in these threads, the observation of Fr. Georges Florovsky falls on deaf ears:
Like so many Orthodox who have aligned their thinking with the christian right, as if to suggest it is more “enlightened” as to the moral and ethical “cutting edge” of christianity and culture, you grievously err in drawing cultural comparisons and analogies with a “we” of which Orthodox Christians are not a part; or as St. Paul so emphatically warns us:
If the slightest portion of the time so many spend on politikal websites and watching youtube videos intended to stimulate hatred and fear were instead devoted to the study of the Holy Scriptures and the writings of the Holy Fathers, faith, a sense of security, and “the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7) would flourish among us. To claim “we” are far more Soviet-esque, and “we” are quite demonic as a culture, is not only incorrect in regard to the Spotless Bride of the Lord, it is offensive and a profound insult.
Mr Stankovich,
I appreciate the passion you bring to your continuous message on the distinction between this world the Eschaton, between Christ and Culture, between the light and the dark. You have been shouting this message on this blog and others for years now. Hardly anyone gets it but you know very well why this is so.
On the other hand, I sense a bit of the disease in you – your explicit and overt anxiety and concern for the fundamental confusion between “the Christian right” and Orthodox Christianity which is so much a part of our cultural time and space. Yet, as Florvorsky himself observed this inner desire and drive for a “…adequate relationship between the Church and the larger Commonwealth…” is simply a part of who and what we are as human beings. It is in some sense necessary, because as St Paul says we are indeed in the world, if not of it. Yes yes, it is not ultimate but it is a duty – the Church is not a community that is “ontologically” apart from whatever culture is in, because it is until the Eschaton a community in history.
So why do you continually scold George and the regulars around here on this point? It is exactly as you say, “foolish” to try to legislate morality and Faith and right living on this matter as any other, for the exact reasons St. Paul says (the Law does not save – it is not enough). Your continual finger waging is but another form of the Law – the same thing you rightly condemn. Why do you do the very thing you would condemn?!? Are you a (conscious) hypocrite?
Of course, you and I both know the answers to these questions.
My point is that you are never going to be able to scold the “Christian right” (whether within or without Orthodoxy) from their error(s) anymore than you are going to any other emphasis out of their errors (e.g. the Christian left within and without Orthodoxy). Have you ever tried a carrot?
I often wonder about the truth of the proverb that “You cannot legislate morality.” Truly the law cannot make anyone righteous before God. If that is what is meant, I agree.
But surely it is obvious that all civil laws reflect someone’s morality, whether Christian or not. Experience also teaches us that the imposition of civil law does, in fact, change the hearts (and not only the actions) of most people (the culture) over time. Even civil law is pedagogical. Examples of this are myriad, but I will limit mention to only several
.
Abortion/Abortion legislation: Prior to Roe v Wade with its resultant overturning of laws that restricted or prohibited abortion, most Americans understood it for what it was and generally considered it evil, even though many thought it should be an option in some extreme cases.
Racial discrimination/Civil Rights legislation: Although it can hardly be said that the law itself has abolished racial bias entirely, there is no doubt whatsoever that the seriously modified the culture and even peoples’ own hearts. Except for a very few extreme groups, it is no longer acceptable to speak of race in the manner in which it was freely expressed in previous generations with social impunity.
Public funding for the poor and weak/Public Welfare, Social Security legislation: There was a time not all that long ago when the notion that it is the government’s responsibility to care them was almost unthinkable. They were considered matters for families and charities. Today, even the most conservative of people assume this to be the responsibility of government.
The point, of course, is that civil law does, in fact, “teach” and very often does impact hearts and the culture – for good or for ill depending upon who’s morality is reflected in the law.
While I certainly agree that “the Christian Right” leaves a great deal to be desired and that our faith has next to nothing to do with government, is it therefore wrong or immoral to support the maintenance or enactment of civil laws that are not hostile to God’s commandments and therefore not hostile to humanity itself (i.e., my neighbor)? One doesn’t have to be a supporter of “the Christian Right” to find one’s self in agreement with them in some instances. Is it somehow a violation of Orthodoxy to desire to live in a world (though I always recognize that it remains this world) where I, my children, and my grandchildren…and their children…are not constantly assaulted by the notion that what is good is evil and what is evil is good?
We are salt and light. We have a prophetic voice, and under our form of government we been granted a ballot as well as a voice. The fact that, on occasion, that voice happens to agree with “the Christian Right” or “Catholic Social Teaching” or any other otherwise misguided ideology is incidental and should in in no way be taken as agreement with the whole of their ideologies.
Brian,
You are the most calming voice on this blog, without fail. While most times I add fuel to most others fire here, you bring peace. I believe Mr. Stankovich’s is in his own way is bemoaning that all that is needed is Peace in Christ, and the mercy of His Mother. I get that, but we are far from perfect in a even less perfect world. This world is on fire with sin, to simply witness this fire, and not at least try to lend a hose and dampen, direct, and contain it would be irresponsible as the salt and light. We are flawed and our attempts may not be perfect, but if they come with the peace, teachings, and examples of Christ, and the mercy of his Mother. Then what are we, Light, contain by darkness?
Christ has overcome the world. While we stand shoulder to shoulder with our brother’s in Christ, we should be encouraged, because Christ has overcome the world before us. But as we stand together against this world that affects, and attacks us constantly, we must take heed lest we fall. We never know how we will react, until truly tempted by the evil one, his demons, and their possessed in this world. Let us always watch and pray, in and thru Christ, for one another, that we be not left to ourselves.
Either we love one another and support one another as Orthodox brothers, and sisters, or we are nothing, not brothers nor Orthodox Christians. We will not have the Holy Spirit in us, without loving our brother, we will not love Christ.
This message is not intended for anyone here in particular, but for all of us, especially our national, and foreign spiritual leaders, now at the birth of schism.
So far as our national government body? All I can say as this point in time is how can any one say that our leftist politicians, and the deep state are any better than Trump. They are all bottom of the barrel individuals, just in different ways.
Dino,
You are too kind, but it’s nice to be seen for the person I aspire to become. God bless you and your family, my brother.
And your’s as well, Peacemaker!
“Is it somehow a violation of Orthodoxy to desire to live in a world (though I always recognize that it remains this world) where I, my children, and my grandchildren…and their children…are not constantly assaulted by the notion that what is good is evil and what is evil is good?”
In a word, yes. Desire is a passion, a suffering, and we as Christians are called to suffer. This world IS a world where we and our children “are..constantly assaulted by the notion that what is good is evil and what is evil is good?” – this is what it means to be a fallen world, to live in the world outside of the Garden.
The desire to Immanentize the Eschaton by making and building up one form or another of Christendom (i.e. the culture where the good of Christian morality {as opposed to some other morality} is taught inherently) is a very mixed bag, and certainly relative. We of course choose relative goods all the time (again, an aspect of living in a fallen world) but we should remember that the core of Christianity is that all this is relative and not the teleos of our Christian lives.
To get to the Eschaton where morality truly exists (the place where Justice and Mercy are a unity) one first has to suffer and die, and be born again just like Christ.
It is as St. Paul says in Romans (the whole reason the letter exists), you can’t legislate morality. The Law (rather in ancient or modern form) does not save, it is not enough.
Sure, go to the ballot box and vote your conscious…just don’t think you are doing anything other than choosing a relative good, a lesser of two evils…
Well said, Christopher.
Personally, I have no hope in human government. All that can rightly be asked of it is the restraint of evil, and even that cannot help but be an imperfect mixed bag. Nor am I at all “politically active” as most would define the term. But I am politically informed. It seems to me to be a Christian duty of living in a Republic – no different in personal responsibility than that of a Christian monarch, albeit with a far smaller sphere of direct influence.
But having said this, I have no doubt whatsoever that we do infinitely greater good by our prayers than any vote or political activity of any kind could ever do. And this because only Christ is “worthy [capable] of dominion and power…” Those of us who are attuned to political matters would do well to remember to pray first and always…
For the peace from above…
For the good estate of the holy Churches of God…
For the president of the United States [regardless of who he happens to be]…
For this city and for every city and land and for the faithful who dwell therein…
For the abundance of the fruits of the earth and for peaceful times…
…
I can’t honestly say there is much I disagree with in this post-mortem to my original comment. Having worked in adult correctional facilities, at a level of criminality and pathology where it is no exaggeration to say represented the worst our humanity has to offer, I have a “boots-on-the-ground” futility of observing the fact that you cannot legislate morality. It has been truly fascinating for me to listen to the thoughts of gang members and others who say they brought a weapon to a robbery to hasten the “process,” only to have it “go bad,” and they ended up killing someone. “I didn’t mean to hurt anybody, I’m not that kind of person.” Anyone who has been in the group long enough was already looking my way: “No, bro’, you are that kind of person. Welcome.” Nevertheless, this was not my point.
I had the opportunity once to speak to Fr. Georges Florovsky because I pretty much begged him to discuss his essay, “Antinomies of Christian History: Empire and Desert,” from his Collected Works, Volume Four: Christianity and Culture. with me. At its core, this essay speaks to the issue of the Church in the world, but not of the world. Fr. Florovsky begins with the fact that “Christians were indeed ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people set apart’ (I Peter 2:9),” yet by the greatest paradox, “even as Christians were confined in the world, ‘kept’ there as in a prison; but they also ‘kept the world together,’ just as the soul holds the body together.” I will not bore you with details, but he said the reason the Church never committed to the empire was that the Church was, by nature, not of this world and, in fact, served as a continuous “irritant” and resistance (Fr. Florovsy terms it a permanent “Resistance Movement”) to the empire, and becoming a “permanent ‘conscientious objector.'” This leads me to say that it is my impression, based on what I read here, that this continuous, repetitive drumbeat of politikal jingo; the limited need for truth, or a “truth” dependent upon a calculated system of variables; and the intermixing of Orthodox theology with purely politikal ideas (Florovsky discusses the critical consequences that are the result of the attempted allegiance between the Ancient Greek society and monotheism). But far worse, it is also my impression that far too often, anonymous public fury, as I have analogized previously on this site in referencing the single, yearly March for Life, is somehow narcotizing; convincing that something has been done to address, as Florovsky quotes the anonymous author of the 2 cen. “Letter to Diognetus,” the responsibility of serving the world (“precisely the task allotted to Christians by God, “which it is unlawful to decline” (Ad Diognetum, 5, 6 ), when factually, nothing has been done. In this same sense, casting your ballot may be an important “civic responsibility,” it too falls within the same illusion of having done something significant “for the life of the world and its salvation”; or as Fr. Alexander Schmemman would say, “And please, be back at the parish hall from feeding the poor promptly at 4:00 pm for wine and cheese before the All-Night Vigil.”
I was always amused in listening to Prof. SS Verhovskoy challenge students with the very fundamental calling to be “Elijah’s,” in the hairshirt, bone in hand, always an “irritant” and serving as the “conscience” of the empire. Age and circumstance seems to have heightened his challenge, and emphasized Fr. Florovsky’s point that the Church, by its nature, will not be in “alliance” with with the empire:
Finally, I am reminded of the words of Hamlet:
Am I a hypocrite? Every day that I walk this earth. Am I a worse hypocrite for pointing out “remedies” with which I personally struggle to accomplish or which constitute my greatest failings? If we believe the victory of the Christian life in this world is measured, not in accumulated “successes,” but instead in the fervor of the struggle, then the answer is “no,” and we are obligated to speak. And lastly, we were “born again” in Baptism to be “rulers,” priests, and gods in this world. Why does it seem so difficult to imagine that the narrow path to which we are called cannot be a path of extreme joy?
Beautifully stated, Michael.
Your question reminds me of the words of our Lord,
“If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority
.”
It would seem that no argument has the power to convince. One must walk that narrow path in order to know the joy and become a living witness to the joy. Those who attempt it are few and weak in the eyes of the political and ecclesial-political worlds, but they are the light of the world.
Thank God for common sense. I dislike the church dragged in to culture wars as should be relating all to the Gospels and to the life of the Church lived, but I take the point about law being pedagogical and how habituation can be good and bad
Exactly and I am tired of Americans making their culture wars an Orthodox matter. We should align our thinking with church teaching in which there are only sinful human beings, us all. And we all know the church teachings on sex and related matters that relate to us all. The issues should begin and end in the church
Nikos, if one stands for real marriage, celibacy before marriage, cares about unborn children, a male priesthood then one is involved in the culture wars. They ate not just about Americans.
All culture starts with a theology. Our American culture was founded on Deist natural law and has slid into the depths of Nihilism that God is dead and the strong shall rule by destruction. .
We have no choice but to fight. How we fight though is another matter.
Agree. But here in Bulgaria there are humble priests who celebrate the liturgy humbly and inclusively liturgical. And Bishop Anthony (Bloom) of blessed memory in Uk , who got rid of court bishop worship that affects Russian church and communicate Christ, the Church in adirect way. And one does not need to agree with every word he uttered. FOR me it was his worshipping presence. .
People become full of indifference not from science but from seeing a hypocritical church obscessed with money and whose MONK BISHOPS LIVE IN LUXURY. It was seeing the corruption in Rome that so disgusted Luther.
And Sadly, clever man he may be, etc etc. But Kyrill of Moscow, with his life long female companion and luxury life style, is a Cardinal Richlieu Figure. This is destroying the Church. All we need is a Catholic type scandal. GOD SAVE US.
NIKOS! Please refer us to your authority for claiming Patriarch Kiril has a “life long” (SIC) female companion! You oddly go on to compare him to Cardinal Richelieu! Now the Ukrainian hierophant calling himself Patriarch Filaret Denysenko does have a well known wife and has had one all his hierarchical life and children by her is guilty of your charge, although apparently appreciated by the Ecumenical Patriarch. [Perhaps “Ecumenical” in his case refers to morality!] I am by no means a fan of the current Moscow Patriarch, but your moral charge is something quite new to me. Tell us more, including your source(s). What do you mean by priests celebrating the Liturgy “INCLUSIVELY liturgical” whatever?
Thank u for reply.
Re liturgy. I should be more exact in my wording. I mean there are humble decent priests who celebrate the liturgy with feeling and depth and by use of congregational involvement, in singing and reading and use of secret prayers only when that makes liturgical sense, and a short relevant sermon and social interaction after, make of the liturgy a true work of all the people.
Kyrill. Y es I know about Filaret and it is truly a disgrace of the EU to be blind to it all, willfully. Dead and dying patriarchates are our curse. . As far as I can see the EU is simply as Rome in 1870 seeking to make up in spiritual power what lacks materially. I am sure it’s preferred model for Ukraine would be an autonomous church it can milk.
Back to Kyrill. I have Russian professional friends not given to scandal who tell me Kyrill has lived with and has a female ‘ friend for years, a business woman.
And what is certain fact is that he lives in the wealthiest part of Moscow and owns other properties. HE IS A MONK, A MONK. And there was the scandal with the court case over the books and dust. When asked should he forgive, he said,NO. I speak Russians,and Bulgarian and Greek of course. None of this may be illegal?? Selling tobacco?? But what does it say to young russians about the church?.
I think of Pavel the late Patrarch of Serbia and the current humble Patrarch of Bulgaria and thank God for them.
But I am most aware that as with Russia in 1917, with a Varnava and a Pitirim, there were also a Veniamin and a Tikhon.
How hypocritical are these folks who want to allow ex-convicts to vote but harass a judge for underage actions? Normally, all under-age actions are sealed. Meanwhile his mom was the judge on the plaintiff’s parents’ foreclosure.
U yanks are a strange people. Someone who goes to prison for a crime serves his or her time and during that time lose civil rights. OK.
Prison should be not just punishment but a rehabilitation too. In civilised societies and Christian ones.
When someone has served their time and is released they have back all their civil rights. And there for can vote. They have served their time.
Hello George:
This was sad reading: You give us predictions of a world war, of violence occurring here, and the only glimmer of hope you can offer is that my beleaguered GM stock might go up in value.
Yes, these are dangerous and strange times.
The cartoon that you included was valuable.
Oops! I meant GE stock. But if the mushroom clouds get us all, it won’t matter.
Nonesence. Nuclear was is inevitable and winable. Besides nuclear winter cures global warming. In July, 1977 Richard Pipes wrote in Commentary “Why the Soviet Union thinks it Could Win a Nuclear War”“’There is profound erroneousness and harm in the disorienting claims of bourgeois ideologies that there will be no victor in a thermonuclear world war,” thunders an authoritative Soviet publication (Karabanov, Moscow, 1972). . . According to the most recent Soviet census (1970), the USSR had only nine cities with a population of one million or more; the aggregate population of these cities was 20.5 million, or 8.5 per cent of the country’s total.” On January 8, 1979, Deputy National Security Advisor Huntington told the Senate: 35-65% of the USA but 80-90% of the Soviets would survive a massive nuclear exchange (p.31). In 1980, Gray & Payne wrote in Foreign Policy that the USA would only lose 20 million in a nuclear war (p. 27) “Despite a succession of U.S. targeting reviews, Soviet leaders, looking to the mid-1980s, may well anticipate the ability to wage World War III successfully.” (p. 21) In 1987, Kaku and Axelrod wrote “To Win a Nuclear War” In June 30, 2015, Reagan, Rumsfeld and Obama advisor Keith Payne wrote in National Review “The evidence since 2012 is that Putin’s nuclear moves are becoming even more dangerous, including a reported doctrinal innovation that ironically envisions Russia’s first use of nuclear weapons as a form of nuclear “de-escalation” — that is, if Russia uses nuclear weapons in a local conflict, opponents will cease resistance, thus de-escalating the crisis.”
I am trying to decide which character from the Dr Strangelove movie is best exemplified by the George Kender COmney posting: is it General Buck Turgidson, General Jack D Ripper, or Dr Strangelove himself?
One of the truly great cinematic productions of all time!
GKC has a point.
In all the scenarios for warfare in Western and central Europe that the Soviet military spun for political consideration and to facilitate war games, every one of them assumed that one or both sides would go nuclear at some point. They saw it as inevitable.
MAD was only a deterrent to Western progressives. Real conservatives here have always been “better dead than Red” and the whole thing simply did not affect the Soviet military or upper political eschelons. They avoided war because they did not see the golden opportunity to wage it, not because they thought it was unwinnable.
Thank you, John! Btw” I didn’t necessarily “predict” those things. The implication of such lawlessness and abandonment of time-honored protocols and sensibilities leads to one of two outcomes: 1) the collapse of the institution or 2) the explosion of violence as the only recourse for redress of grievances.
Consider: judge kavanaugh’s family has received death threats. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what the outcome will be with another appointee sometime in the future.
As far as nations are concerned, the stationing of foreign troops in a nation which is hostile to its neighbor almost always results in hostilities.
For what it’s worth, Dr. Ford and her family have also received death threats. All of this points to a much more serious issue in our society that we just aren’t willing, or perhaps unable, to admit to. This is what you get when the powers that be in a 2 party system offer up what is conceivably the worst pair of nominees for the office of president ever offered to the American public.
Better to say that it is said that both families have received such threats. We have no proof of either except our trust in their honesty and the honesty and Bonae fides of all the players in this fiasco. But the examples of exaggeration and spin—I.e., dishonesty and deceit—calling that trust into question are legion.
Lord, save us.
rlb +
Hear hear!
Thank God u said it Clinton and Trump are both symptoms of your now wrotten plurocratic, kleptocracy.
George:
To quote President Reagan: “Well, there you go again”.
George, your selective memory and your selective morality are showing again. You decry lawlessness? Really, do you expect anyone to buy that clap-trap?
Your heroes in the Kremlin have spent the past quarter of a century flaunting their lawlessness. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russia signed treaties agreeing to the established borders of the post- Soviet states. In 1994, Russia agreed to be a “guarantor” of the established borders of an independent Ukraine in return for the Ukrainian government’s agreement to relinquish the nuclear armaments on its territory.
Despite those agreements, Russia has invaded and occupied territories in Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova in defiant, lawless violation of international law and its own covenanted promises. In its invasions Georgia and Ukraine, the Russian military deliberately targeted civilian populations in campaigns of ethnic cleansing and displacement. In Georgia, some 47,000 civilians have been killed in the three illegal invasions. Over 300,000 civilians have been driven into exile from their ancestral lands. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has already resulted in the displacement of 1.5 million civilians and the deaths of some 15,000. We should also mention the reckless missile attack on Malaysia Airline flight 17, in which all 283 passengers and 15 crew on board were killed.
The Russian intelligence services assassinated Aleksandr Litvinov in London using radioactive Polonium, which was traced back to a specific Russian research reactor by its radioactive signature. The attempted assassination of Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, with Novichok are undeniably the work of Russian spies acting upon direct orders from Vladimir Putin. In this case, the Russians’ sloppy spy-craft resulted in the death of Dawn Sturgess, a British citizen and the near death of her companion,Charlie Rowley. These are not just acts of murder or attempted murder, they are clear violations of the Geneva convention and the international ban on the use of chemical weapons.
The Russians don’t even expect anyone to believe their pro-forma denials. Their actions are a deliberate statement of defiant impunity against the rule of law.
In its reconquest of Chechnya in 1999, the Russian military deliberately targeted civilian populations,when on orders from Vladimir Putin the Russian air force literally bombed the city of Grozny to rubble. Some 50,000 Russian citizens including 10,000 ethnic Russians were buried in the rubble of their own homes. as a result of that bombing campaign In Syria, the Russian military has used the same tactics. Prior to the Russian bombing of rebel held positions in east Aleppo, that territory contained some 136,000 civilians plus a couple thousand rebels. After the Russians carpet bombed that area to rubble only 53,000 survivors were evacuated. In other words another 83,000 Syrian civilians were buried in the rubble of their own homes. The Russians covered for Bashar Al Assad, “their man” in Damascus when he used Sarin gas to murder 1800 civilians (most of them women and children) in the gas attacks on East Ghouta or the chlorine barrel bombings there and elsewhere. The UN monitors have documented over 80 chemical weapon attacks on civilian populations despite the Russians’ promise to stop Assad from slaughtering his own civilian populations.
The Moscow Patriarchate has repeatedly violated the Sacred Canons and Our Savior’s saving commandments. The Moscow Patriarchate has uncanonically seized by violence two entire dioceses of the Georgian Orthodox Patriarchate. Canon XXX. (XXXI.)
If any bishop obtain possession of a church by the aid of the temporal powers, let him be deposed and excommunicated, and all who communicate with him. Canon XIV. Canon XXX. (XXXI.) The Moscow Patriarchate received into its ranks without a canonical release the renegade Archimandrite Vissarion Apliaa. Canon X. (XI.) Canon XI. (XII.) Canon XV. Canon XVI. Canon XXXI. (XXXII.) Canon XXXII. (XXXIII.) Canon XXXIII. (XXXIV.) The Moscow Patriarchate established on the territory of the Georgian Orthodox church a schismatic “Abkhaz Eparchy”. The Moscow Patriarchate funded, and ordained clergy for this schismatic body. Canon XXXV. (XXXVI.) During the 2008 invasion of Georgia the Moscow Patriarchate sent two of its bishops into the territory of the Georgian Orthodox Patriarchate to literally bless the weapons used to massacre civilians; used to destroy 15 entire villages, and used even to bomb desecrate and burn the Sacred altar of God in Nikozi, with Our Lord’s sacred Body and Blood incinerated within the sacred vessels and that burned out altar Canon XIV.
Now, George we have reviewed these documented acts of lawlessness how many times? And every time you shrug your shoulders and reply with some smug comment like: “You shouldn’t rile the bear”.
You, George, have repeatedly condoned, excused and cheered on despicable, lawless acts of violence committed against innocent civilians, against the canonical Orthodox church and against there very Body of Our Lord Jesus Christ …… and now you want to cry “foul” ?
Get real, file mou.
Really, George, sometimes you are an absolute wonder of nature.
I remember many years ago being taught about the concept of “indelible ignorance” – the idea that our merciful God will overlook some people’s offenses, because they are just too stupid to make sense of right and wrong. I am reminded of that concept every time I read your blog.
I believe it’s called “invincible” ignorance.
AMEN!!
George:
You claim that the Ecumenical Patriarchate is acting in a “lawless” manner. That case is debatable. Even some Russian theologians disagree with your interpretation of the situation. See Below. Even if the Ecumenical Patriarch is in error, his error is a procedural error, not an act of violence nor a teaching of heresy
The Russian government and the Moscow Patriarchate, on the other hand, have flagrantly and persistently violated the canons and commandments with abandon. Their actions have been both violent and schismatic. Indeed, they revel in their evil deeds. Their judgement will be strict and without fail as the Holy Apostle James says “Judgement is without mercy to those who have shown no mercy” James 2:13
Diodor Larionov, a specialist in canon law says, “Orthodoxy has recognized only those churches as self-standing which have had that autocephalous status confirmed by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople. The Russian Church has a history of ignoring that history, he continues; but every time it has done so, it has been ignored by all the rest of the Orthodox world.”
In 1970, the ROC MP offered autocephaly to the American Orthodox Church, but “not one” of the other Orthodox churches recognized this action. Moscow’s effort to offer autocephaly to Orthodoxy in Japan also failed, and the Japanese Orthodox Church has remained autonomous within the Moscow Patriarchate.
The ROC MP gave autocephaly to the Czechoslovak Orthodox Church in 1948, but “not one” of the other Orthodox Churches recognized that action. The Czech church became autocephalous only in 1998 when Constantinople acted. Then, all other churches followed.
Mr. Larionov reports that “the overwhelming part of all autocephalies (besides the four ancient patriarchates and exceptions like the Georgian and Cypriot churches) – specially, the Russian, Serbian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Greek, Albanian, Polish and Czech – were granted by the Patriarchate of Constantinople” and then recognized by all.
“The Cypriot and Georgian Churches’ autocephalies have a separate significance, since they were granted in the era of the Ecumenical Councils. Along with the Jerusalem Patriarchate, they were carved out from the Antiochian Patriarchate to which they had belonged.” Antioch could not make that decision unilaterally, and so the assembly did.
The Orthodox world consists of four ancient Patriarchates, “confirmed by the Ecumenical Councils, and three autocephalies which were confirmed in the same way”… Then we have eight autocephalies which were offered by the Patriarchate of Constantinople which the entire Orthodox world recognizes.”
In other words, Patriarch Bartholomew has at least as much authority over Ukraine as Moscow, if not more. Patriarch Kirill can “break communion” with the EP, hoping that the other patriarchate will follow suite. That was tried in 1996 in the dust up over who “owns” the Church in Estonia. In the end the MP had to accept the compromise since they did not have the Estonian government in their pocket. Same scenario in Ukraine.
And there is still the fact of the MP’s own long history of lawlessness.
Well, we’re making progress. You now admit that the issue at hand is “debatable”. Certainly it is. Still, this is more than “procedural”. We are talking about papalism here –pure and simple. This is much more than a procedural manner. One reason is because the whole “consolidation and coordination” clause that the Cretan Robber Council came up with is far from a settled matter.
In other words, look for more trouble down the road. Every other Orthodox primate sees it. So far 12 of the fourteen patriarchates have openly condemned Cpole’s actions because they definitely see the handwriting on the wall (even if you can’t). It’s interesting as well that the remaining two Churches which have not condemned the EP’s actions in a synodal manner (i.e. Greece and Cyprus) are growing increasingly restive. Every day more and more bishops from these Churches likewise understand the implications of Bart’s papalist actions. And I might as well bring up the OCA here (i.e. the “15th” autocephalous Church: they recently suspended a priest who allowed a “bishop” from this schismatic sect to commune in the altar at one of our churches in Virginia.)
So that makes 14 out of 14 or 15 out of 15. Take your pick.
The Orthodox Faith is not a democracy. But it is not a tyranny either. Our governing principle is one of sobornost (or conciliarity). Anything else is contrary to our collective phronema. That’s why I believe that Bartholomew’s legacy will be a sorry one, i.e. in the vein of Metaxakis or Loukaris, two other charismatic and resourceful men who were (I suppose) well-intentioned reformers. The Church vomited out their entire legacies because what they did was so contrary to this phronema.
I say this not out of any sense of glee or pleasure but of profound sorrow.
P.S. While you are technically correct that all the other Orthodox Churches came on board with the Czechoslovak autocephaly which was earlier granted by the MP to that land once the EP did so, you still ignore the elephant in the room: and that is the autocephaly of the Georgian Church, which was granted unilaterally by the See of Antioch with no resultant dust-up or wild Constantinopolitan claims which we can discern from the historical record.
George:
To quote President Reagan: “Well, there you go again”.
George, your selective memory and your selective morality are showing again. You decry lawlessness? Really, do you expect anyone to buy that clap-trap?
Your heroes in the Kremlin have spent the past quarter of a century flaunting their lawlessness. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russia signed treaties agreeing to the established borders of the post- Soviet states. In 1994, Russia agreed to be a “guarantor” of the established borders of an independent Ukraine in return for the Ukrainian government’s agreement to relinquish the nuclear armaments on its territory.
Despite those agreements, Russia has invaded and occupied territory in Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova in defiant, lawless violation of international law and its own covenanted promises. In its invasions Georgia and Ukraine, the Russian military deliberately targeted civilian populations in campaigns of ethnic cleansing and displacement. In Georgia, some 47,000 civilians have been killed in the three illegal invasions. Over 300,000 civilians have been driven into exile from their ancestral lands. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has already resulted in the displacement of 1.5 million civilians and the deaths of some 15,000. We should also mention the reckless missile attack on Malaysia Airline flight 17, in which all 283 passengers and 15 crew on board were killed.
The Russian intelligence services assassinated Aleksandr Litvinov in London using radioactive Polonium, which was traced back to a specific Russian research reactor by its radioactive signature. The attempted assassination of Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, with Novichok are undeniably the work of Russian spies acting upon direct orders from Vladimir Putin. In this case, the Russians’ sloppy spy-craft resulted in the death of a Dawn Sturgess, a British citizen and the near death of her companion,Charlie Rowley. These are not just acts of murder or attempted murder, they are clear violations of the Geneva convention and the international ban on the use of chemical weapons.
The Russians don’t even expect anyone to believe their pro-forma denials. Their actions are a deliberate statement of defiant impunity against the rule of law.
In its reconquest of Chechnya in 1999, the Russian military deliberately targeted civilian populations,when on orders from Vladimir Putin the Russian air force literally bombed the city of Grozny to rubble. Some 50,000 Russian citizens including 10,000 ethnic Russians were buried in the rubble of their own homes. as a result of that bombing campaign In Syria, the Russian military has used the same tactics. Prior to the Russian bombing of rebel positions in east Aleppo, that territory contained some 136,000 persons. After the Russians carpet bombed that area to rubble only 53,000 survivors were evacuated. In other words another 83,000 Syrian civilians were buried in the rubble of their own homes. The Russians have covered for Al Assad, “their man” in Damascus when he used Sarin gas to murder 1800 civilians in the gas attacks on East Ghouta or the chlorine barrel bombings there and elsewhere. The UN monitors have documented over 80 chemical weapon attacks on civilian populations despite the Russians’ promise to stop Assad from slaughtering his own civilian populations.
The Moscow Patriarchate has repeatedly violated the Sacred Canons and Our Savior’s saving commandments. The Moscow Patriarchate has uncanonically seized by violence two entire dioceses of the Georgian Orthodox Patriarchate. Canon XXX. (XXXI.)
If any bishop obtain possession of a church by the aid of the temporal powers, let him be deposed and excommunicated, and all who communicate with him. Canon XIV. Canon XXX. (XXXI.) The Moscow Patriarchate received into its ranks without a canonical release the renegade Archimandrite Vissarion Apliaa. Canon X. (XI.) Canon XI. (XII.) Canon XV. Canon XVI. Canon XXXI. (XXXII.) Canon XXXII. (XXXIII.) anon XXXIII. (XXXIV.) The Moscow Patriarchate established on the territory of the Georgian Orthodox church a schismatic “Abkhaz Eparchy”. The Moscow Patriarchate funded, and ordained clergy for this schismatic body. Canon XXXV. (XXXVI.) During the 2008 invasion of Georgia the Moscow Patriarchate sent two of its bishops into the territory of the Georgian Orthodox Patriarchate to literally bless the weapons used to massacre civilians; used to destroy 15 entire villages, and used even to bomb desecrate and burn the Sacred altar of God in Nikozi, with Our Lord’s sacred Body and Blood incinerated within the sacred vessels and that burned out altar Canon XIV.
Now, George we have reviewed these documented acts of lawlessness how many times? And every time you shrug your shoulders and reply with some smug comment like: “You shouldn’t rile the bear”.
You, George, have repeatedly condoned, excused and cheered on despicable, lawless of violence committed against innocent civilians, against the canonical Orthodox church and against there very Body of Our Lord Jesus Christ ……
and now you want to cry “foul” ?
Get real, file mou.
Really, George, sometimes you are an absolute wonder of nature.
I remember many years ago being taught about the concept of “indelible ignorance” – the idea that our merciful God will overlook some people’s offenses, because they are just too stupid to make sense of right and wrong. I am reminded of that concept every time I read your blog.
Francis, what about our lawlessness? Do you like what we did in Iraq? In Libya? In Sudan? What we are now doing (through our Saudi allies) in Yemen? Do you like how we constantly give Israel a pass in the Gaza while they drop white phosphorus on civilian populations?
Do you like how the Obama administration ran guns to Mexican cartels during Operation Fast and Furious? How the Dept of Justice was told to stand down while Hizbollah ran drugs through the US? How we overthrew the Yanukovich presidency in Ukraine?
No Francis, it is your memory which is quite selective.
Francis,
The interesting thing is that it was Western aggression that led to all of the alleged infractions you cite. McCain gave Saakashvili the green light to retake previously autonomous provinces allied with Russia (ever ask yourself where North Ossetia is, the counterpart to South Ossetia?) South Ossetia and Abkhazia had had autonomy since shortly after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. They fought for it, it was not just given to them.
The Georgians started that fight and the Russians finished it decisively. More power to them. Sakaashvili’s leadership locked up, Sakaashvili himself wanted and fleeing (last identified in Poland).
In Ukraine, similar dynamic. The West staged a coup d’etat hosted by American politicians handing out lemonade and cookies to the Maidan demonstrators. After the neo-Nazis of Svoboda and Pervy Sektor drove him out, they never legally impeached Yanukovich either. In truth, Ukraine is led by an illegal regime at present. At least Georgia had the decency and common sense to get rid of the criminal thugs that cost them so much blood and pain.
As a result, Ukraine has lost the Crimea and parts of the east.
You would think the West would learn. Every single time they attack Putin directly or indirectly he gains territory.
But no, they have to be taught yet another lesson. This time it is Ukraine Part II. The Georgians want no part of Russia and even their patriarch wants peace and supports the MP church in the Ukraine.
So the West drafts Bartholomew to do its dirty work. Fine, so be it. Now lets examine what’s on the line given power on the ground:
All of this will take place quite close to the Russian border across which Russian forces can retreat at any time and enjoy impunity enforced by tactical or strategic nuclear weapons.
At the present time, Donetsk and Lugansk have not been incorporated into the Russian Federation. That could change in a very short time after an appropriate referendum (as in Crimea). Thereafter, when the RF Duma accepts Novorossia as a new oblast/province, the actual Russian military could occupy the eastern third of the Ukraine, setting up a defensive capability against the Kiev government and practicing war games for the assault on Kiev.
That would be the natural reaction to Kiev seizing UOC/MP churches and holy sites – a clear statement that they are facing national extinction. That tends to get people’s attention.
There is not a military in the area that could keep the Russian army out of Kiev for more than a couple of weeks. Putin said he could get there in 2 weeks back in 2014. The West threatened a NATO rapid response force of 5,000 troops back then. Never materialized. Ukraine only started making contributions. No deployment.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_Response_Force
No one in the West wants to spill their blood to protect the Ukraine. And that is their Achilles heel since Putin is quite ready to spill Russian and Ukrainian blood to defend Russia’s near abroad.
PS: Church canons are only as good as the enforcement mechanism ready to implement them. Other than that, they are just interesting historical literature.
And historical Ukraine is actually geographically minus Novorosiya area in East. In Tsarist times this was in Russia.
There is some extremely good humor in your post my friend.
You fail to recognize the strategic importance of simple geography and have bought the Putin spiel as to the reasons when they are pure and self evident based on physical locations of lands seized, etc.
It would be like the US not having a seaport on the East Coast and suggesting another country interfered with the elections of [East Coast] and when the US took over [East Coast], it was the other countries meddling that drove the US to take [East Coast].
In other words, militarily nonsensical.
Or, conversely, a small nation, let’s call them Texas, wants to break away from Mexico, and join the US. Upon hearing this Mexico goes in and takes over Texas. Here, you would blame the US for it all? Hilariously twisted propagandized logic.
And I didn’t even say there is a problem with the concept of NATO. My personal view is there IS a problem with the NATO concept, but it can’t change under the current Russian leader.
This is what lawlessness looks like. I imagine, this is also what the birth of Stalinism, and fascism looked like. Enemies of the state will be destroyed by any means necessary. Will “justice” for one woman destroy a nation? Now regardless if “it” happened as Dr. Ford recalls, or did not makes no difference. There really is no way either party can prove their case, especially after 36 years, while drinking, and whatever else.
Personally I smell a political imagination inflation brewing. Now during the Stalinist period a comment in that vain alone would risk my arrest, switch of to questioning the brilliance and purity of Stalin’s government, to today’s noble and pure ladies, only on the left of course. Women on the right who accuse of abuse are generally white trash liars, to be demonized, and besmirched. Notice how even the Republicans are careful with their words. The word of a women is now worth more than man, until proven innocent, and even then the damage is already done.
The larger point is now we are opening the gates to which any women can destroy a man’s career, marriage, and life by simply telling a lie that she claims happened 20-50 years ago. This is no different than the baseless accusations during Stalin, and Hitler, that put millions in prisons, work camps, and concentration camps. It will be fine tuned, and applied to destroying patriarchy and our nation, if we do prosecute the false accusers, and they are not punished, if proven untrue. In the mean time, make sure your sons are never along with a girl.
Sorry so many errors please allow these corrections:
…makes no difference, except to Ford or Kavanaugh.
Switch
Ofto…The word of a leftist woman…
…and even
by thenIf we do NOT prosecute…..
…never alone with a girl.
Sorry, I try my best, but my best sucks.
Pardon me for questioning your logic, but in making the statement, “we are opening the gates to which any women can destroy a man’s career, marriage, and life by simply telling a lie that she claims happened 20-50 years ago,” are you not closing the gate on women who were victimized, abused, whose careers were destroyed, and ultimately their lives destroyed? Wait… You’ve already answered, “Now regardless if “it” happened as Dr. Ford recalls, or did not makes no difference. There really is no way either party can prove their case, especially after 36 years, while drinking, and whatever else.” So, in effect, a woman, irrespective of the voracity of her report is suspect, and in fact, it is men – the providers, the protectors, and sustainers of the nuclear family – who are vulnerable to be “framed” and stand to be destroyed by any woman fabricating transgressions extending back years. In my opinion, as a clinician who has spent years providing treatment to countless numbers of physically, sexually, emotionally, and spiritually traumatized woman in locked and unlocked in-patient and out-patient treatment settings; in adult correctional facilities and with parole and court mandated individual; across racial and socioeconomic groups; and in group and individual therapy, this notion comes directly from the school of beta-male ego-compromised faggotry. This has absolutely no relationship to patriarchy in the mind of our God, and ignores the fact that our God created a helpmate for Adam – not as an “afterthought” or a correction to the original plan – but because he needed her. This as about as shameful a post as I have read on this site. Any man with a healthy ego, the fear of God, and a love of the Theotokos has no such fears.
Check your medications Brother, you are way out of line and yes I pardon/forgive you, and will get back to you, just right now I have a 2.5 year old little daughter demanding my full attention and a wife who needs me in the kitchen. Leave our Mother and Father out of this please!
Michael Stankovich,
It was a great Sunday evening. Just got off the phone with my 18 year son, in his first year, about a thousand miles away, at one of the top five medical engineering universities, in our nation. Ironic, this right after I posted yet another post in your defense to yet another poster(Mikail), complaining what a jerk you are. Anyway, back to my boy. While I am a truly flawed individual, I did my best to make sure he had the best education opportunities, the best exposure to our Lord, and all the love a father could give.
The Lord granted me a near perfect son. Top in his class, Valedictorian in Junior High School, Salutatorian in High School, all done in private schools. I am not rich, but blessed enough to know the financial sacrifice, is worth the reward, when raising a child. Again well rounded in every way, and also a Tonsured Acolyte(Alter-Boy) since he was four years old. A Blessing I could never repay.
Now if my son was alone with a girl and things went way farther than they should, but it was consensual, not sex, but one of the two, or both decided to not go any further, and the night was over. Not a great situation, but no crime.
Now Imagine my son after working hard all his life. A top scholar, Christian, changing lives in society for the better, and patriarch of his own family. Now maybe he gets to a national public position, where he, in all his well educated, and strong Christian faith may change the nation, or even world for the better.
Yet because of maybe jealously, hate of God, and, a fervent believer of a women’s right to abortion, or even pay back for something I did to her parents. A self appointed leftist martyr wants to stop his progress, and soil his name in public, by making up a story he crossed the sexual line when they were alone 36 years ago. Not rape, she admits, but don’t worry, all the political hacks, and leftist “news” sources will make it rape. So regardless if he is strong in faith, and while it should not matter to the faithful, falsely accused servant of God, half of society labels him a racist. Whatever he might have done for society stops right there, because new a nation hysteria has come to power. Of course not fair, but worse it is the beginning of one sex or political hysteria over the individual, without one shred of truth or evidence needed.
Now God has also blessed me with a daughter, a happy healthy 2.5 year old full of life. Again I will invest nearly all my energy and time all over again. I will raise, love, and provide for her no different than I raised my son. I will pray she will also become a well rounded, educated, and faithful Christian. Then tearfully as with my son, release into the world to find her way in young adulthood.
I hope and pray she never put herself into a situation, that Prof. Ford did, but even if she did, inappropriate sexual behavior or God forbid rape, is never the woman’s fault, period! If either had happened, especially rape, it needs to be reported right away. Now before you go off, into your well respected profession experience, about blocked traumatic memories and triggered memories, etc. I get it! No it’s not fair, but it is the way it is. As time passes so do memories and equally any chance of “justice” or corrective actions to reverse course in a school or work environment. Even when it’s one’s word over the other, at the very least it sets the ball in the right direction, for all in that environment. Seeking justice after 30-50 years puts the victim at a disadvantage, well until today.
I also understand it is not fair or right that a women’s reputation, and career, can be ruined or halted if she reports sexual harassment, but two wrongs do not make a right. The fight for justice and equality for women has come with many abuses, now to a very dangerous level. One where regardless of proof, or any length of time we MUST always treat a women’s accusation as truth, over a man, until proven innocent. Yet that just puts us into the “How often do you beat your wife” entrapment.
So now let me use my family yet once again. My grandfather was the victim of false accusations, and unfair imprisonment. Why? Simple, because one man had the “right” political alignment, and the “right” nationality/tribe and his word was worth more than my grandfathers. By the powers of Stalinist/Communist government, that little, of a nothing man, got to decide who got justice, and who got what he imagined my grandfather deserved. The courts only needed to hear his word over my grandfather, of course that’s if one even got a kangaroo trial. My father never knew his father until he was eleven years old. That was not fair either. Thankfully things have changed in the former Soviet Union, and America. Justice or even equality of the sexes will never be equal, perfect or even fair, regardless we should never even slightly allow our nation to fall back to a period such as the Stalinist period. Where one man’s word, or now our case any and all woman’s word is of more value than any man. Simple because…
Rapist not racist
Simply because, not simple because
Exactly. Excellent and good luck ro yr son in his studies.
Thank you Nikos.
I missed the Monomakhos editorial condemning the Donald for inviting and lauding Duterte and his ‘kill all drug dealers’ command to his civilians.
Lawlessness is loved when it meets your bell spectrum position.
Like not having a hearing for Garland. Jeepers, talk about lawlessness. We are in the majority so we won’t have a hearing for a Presidential nominee even.
Madam Ford didn’t explain how the interaction with Kavanaugh ended; probably because he quickly realized she wasn’t enjoying his freshman moves. Some other girl might have found it fun. This is the problem. Men are the aggressors and not all aggressions are the same.
My bigger beef with Kavanaugh is he doesn’t answer any questions. Who gets to go into an interview and not answer anything at all. Sir, what is your opinion on Case X? Well, it is precedent. Sir, does it need to be overturned? Well, that depends on the case presented. Sir, in your opinion does it need to be overturned? Well, that depends on the case presented. And this friends is the heart of the matter with Msr. Kavanaugh.
All the left wing women coming out of the woodwork think they are heroes. The constant drumbeat from far right societies condemning even birth control get 80% of the credit. Kavanaugh gets a paltry 5% for freshman moves and these women get 15% for their weak attempts at bitching about some juvenility from 35 years ago.
Lawlessness. For the same 35 years as the Kavanaugh story, the US has allowed illegal immigration, overlooked it and invited it for union busting, fruit and veg picking, hotel toilet cleaning, and not suddenly, some bs hero comes riding in condemning it falsely. And the real story is you can’t legally even evict 10 million illegal immigrants or their offspring. It is logistically impossible. Do we provide a lawful solution? Nope. We just talk tough and destroy a few families along the way.
Lawlessness. Now there is some Monomakhos humor.
Mounting speculation suggests the Third World War will be started by “Orthodox Christians” fighting each other in Ukraine. It’s a scenario that should make us stop and think how ridiculous that would be.
At this point there’s probably no stopping the EP from granting Ukrainian autocephaly. However the Moscow Patriarchate is in a position to help facilitate the de-escalation of an ensuing war. Metropolitan Onuphrey certainly could denounce and condemn civil war in Ukraine.
On the Sunday of Orthodoxy, Patriarch Kirill preached:
“Among us even today appear, from time to time, false teachers who tempt the people with the call to save Orthodoxy, to save its purity, and who repeat that dangerous, sinful, and contradictory slogan, ‘Orthodoxy or death.’ In the eyes of such people you will not find love; in them burns the demonic fire of pride, the striving for Church power, and the destruction of Church unity.”
These are good words from Patriarch Kirill, and I hope these words are a light and guide for the MP in the Ukraine, if and when civil war breaks out.
It all depends on what Poroshenko does and does not do. If he simply basks in the ideological pride of an autocephalous UOC, then it is doubtful things will go past excommunication. Why bother? All that is being done is the uniting of uncanonical schismatics into one single uncanonical schismatic “autocephalous church”. Not much to see there.
But should the weapons be brandished by Poroshenko against MP parishes or holy sites, then the die will be cast.
My guess is that Poroshenko will claim that Moscow already took the first shot, and then he will be defending his country. Things could certainly get very ugly, very fast.
I have to wonder if this “autocephaly” is akin to how Joseph Stalin brought back the Russian church as a way to provide a nationalistic and moral argument to defeat the invasion of the Nazis. Except now it will be Poroshenko’s Ukrainian church that will provide the nationalistic and moral argument to fight the invasion of the Russians. Poroshenko wants autocephaly “for reasons of national security.” That doesn’t sound good for the UOC-MP.
On the contaray, it will end the western rite uniatism by uniting the Christians of Ukraine under one Patriarch.
Nationalism is the divine dictate in response to the hubris of the Tower of Babel.
See
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/09/yoram-hazony-virtue-of-nationalism-review.html
http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/print/WSJ_-A011-20180407.pdf
Internationalism is just another Tower of Babel.
Only GOD can unite us, not humans.
More on Constantinople vs Ukraine:
Interview with Metr. Hilarion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=472&v=kaZVcaY1FRE
For the first time, the United States and eight other nations will join Ukraine in the country’s largest aviation exercise — dubbed Clear Sky 2018.
The Eastern European training exercise aims to enhance capabilities in the region to secure air sovereignty with NATO partners and other allies, according to an Air Forces in Europe press release.
https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2018/09/24/air-force-jtacs-fighters-drones-and-more-head-to-ukraine-to-train-with-allies-on-russias-eastern-flank/
China donates 50 ambulances to Ukraine
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-09/25/c_137490384.htm