July 28, 201
Beloved Fathers, brothers and sisters in Christ,
If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:6-10)
In our own lifetimes we were blessed by an act of prophetic witness in July 1992, when the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America issued the magnificent “Affirmations on Marriage, Family, Sexuality, and the Sanctity of Life.” Two decades later we Orthodox who live in the diocese that includes our nation’s capital city need to be reminded of some of the moral verities contained in the Affirmations. It should be obvious to any attentive observer that those verities are under increasing assault by the intellectual, social, and cultural elites in this country—and even by many of our public officials, particularly in the federal government headquartered here in Washington, DC. More alarming is the erosion of those moral verities within some of our Orthodox congregations.
The dire need to preserve and protect the sanctity of human life from the moment of conception has been the focus of the annual encyclical of the OCA primate for Sanctity of Life Sunday each January for many years. I wish to remind you, in the prophetic spirit of the apostles, that the Holy Mystery of Matrimony and the moral limits of human sexuality are ancient traditions of the Church not subject to whatever winds of change may be blowing through our society at the moment.
The 1992 Affirmations enunciated clearly and forcefully the following principles and guidelines among others:
- God wills that men and women marry, becoming husbands and wives. He commands them to increase and multiply in the procreation of children, being joined into “one flesh” by His divine grace and love. He wills that human beings live within families (Genesis 1:27; 2:21-24; Orthodox Marriage Service).
- The Lord went even further to declare that people who look at others in order to lust after them in their hearts have “committed adultery” (cf. Matthew 5:27-30).
- Christ’s apostles repeat the teachings of their Master, likening the unique marriage between one man and one woman to the union between Christ and His Church which they experience as the Lord’s very body and His bride (Ephesians 5:21-33; 2 Corinthians 11:2).
- Marriage and family life are to be defended and protected against every open and subtle attack and ridicule.
- Sexual intercourse is to be protected as a sacred expression of love within the community of heterosexual monogamous marriage in which alone it can be that for which God has given it to human beings for their sanctification.
- Homosexuality is to be approached as the result of humanity’s rebellion against God, and so against its own nature and well-being. It is not to be taken as a way of living and acting for men and women made in God’s image and likeness.
- Men and women with homosexual feelings and emotions are to be treated with the understanding, acceptance, love, justice and mercy due to all human beings.
- People with homosexual tendencies are to be helped to admit these feelings to themselves and to others who will not reject or harm them. They are to seek assistance in discovering the specific causes of their homosexual orientation, and to work toward overcoming its harmful effects in their lives.
- Persons struggling with homosexuality who accept the Orthodox faith and strive to fulfill the Orthodox way of life may be communicants of the Church with everyone else who believes and struggles. Those instructed and counseled in Orthodox Christian doctrine and ascetical life who still want to justify their behavior may not participate in the Church’s sacramental mysteries, since to do so would not help, but harm them.
Our life in Christ is constituted by repentance. If we are to be faithful Christians, we must be constantly turning toward God, away from our sins and passions, realizing the seriousness of our sin in a spirit of repentance, and striving to change our lives. We cannot approach the Holy Mysteries without living a life of repentance, and examining our consciences and confessing our sins. When we have fallen, we repent, and try to stop our sinful behavior. Otherwise, we risk communing unto judgment and condemnation. This discipline of the Christian life leads to salvation, enlightenment and the healing of our souls. We must be faithful to that discipline of life, if we are to call ourselves Orthodox Christians.
In light of the above, what Orthodox Christian in good conscience would dare to approach the chalice containing the life-giving Holy Mysteries of the Body and Blood of Our Lord, while refusing to acknowledge, confess, and eradicate from his or her life sins against authentic Christian marriage, including fornication, homosexual activity, or adultery? Which sexually active couples co-habiting without the Orthodox sacrament of marriage can expect the Church to bless their unholy union and welcome them to the life- giving Holy Mysteries of the Body and Blood of Our Lord, unless they find separate accommodations and cease their fornication and get married in the Church?
We are all called as Christians to live a life of chastity, pleasing to the Lord, married or single. If we are Christians we are all called, whatever our attractions or past habits, to the same saving discipline that will heal our souls. Otherwise we are living in hypocrisy, a living death; just as when we judge others struggling with their sins. This has been delivered to us from the Apostles and Holy Fathers, and remains unchanged to this day. The Orthodox teaching on chastity and Christian marriage is a fundamental element in Christian life and discipline. We are called to conform our lives to the Church and its disciplines, not alter the teachings of the Church to fit either a cultural fad or our own passions. Where we stand against the prevailing cultural trends, we must stand fast, because we know that obedience to the Church’s teaching leads us to communion with God and eternal life; and disobedience leads to alienation from God, spiritual death.
As the Lord proclaims in the Gospel of St. Luke, “Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required. . .” (Luke 12:48, RSV). We Orthodox Christians have been granted eternal life as a free, unmerited divine gift. Virtuous struggle against sexual temptations is hardly too much for the Lord to ask of us. The Lord honors the genuine intent of those who, with humility and repentance, so struggle, even as He judges those who, moved by a spirit of pride and defiance, persist in the spiritual delusion that unnatural or unholy sexual activity can be blessed. I have already instructed the clergy of our Archdiocese to honor their ordinations by acting in full accordance with our uncompromising Orthodox moral tradition. I expect all of us faithful to honor our baptism and unique calling as Christians.
These teachings are not onerous, but rather, part of the light yoke and easy burden of being a faithful follower of Jesus Christ.
With love in Christ,
+Jonah
Archbishop of Washington
Metropolitan of All America and Canada
Excellent statement from the Metropolitan–but i cant believe Metropolitan Jonah signed it.
Over at OCAnews, they let any clergy post Anonymously–i guess because when you write garbage and half truths, you dont want your name to be associated with it–here is a good rebuttal to that trash
http://fatherjohn.blogspot.com/2011/07/bible-church-and-homosexuality.html
Excellent directive from Jonah! these are clearly his words. AXIOS
May God grant Metropolitan Jonah many years!!! This clear, concise statement puts plainly what the Church teaches. If you don’t like it, then either change yourself or your church. Don’t come trying to change that which is traditional teaching of the Church.
I cannot believe that this argument is going on in the Orthodox Church! Frankly, what part of the word sin do the eastern rite Episcopalians not understand? God have mercy on us all.
Eastern rite Episcopalians? Who are you talking about?
I think Fr. Gregory means people who enjoy Eastern spirituality, but prefer an Episcopalian-style interpretation of Church teaching.
Lola,
My remark was to pin point the problem as I see it with the neo Living church faction that expresses opinions that run contrary to Scripture and Tradition. They remind me of Episcopalians who love pretty liturgy as a show without having to believe the creed that is professed.
Ah . . . thank you fo your explanation. Makes perfect sense.
It becomes believable once you accept the fact that despite her exclusive ecclesiology the Orthodox Church is proving herself to be just another lukewarm Christian denomination.
AXIOS! Many years, your Beatitude!
Your Beatitude, thank you for your forthright encyclical. It is refreshing, clear, understandable and unequivocal. Boldness in the midst of moral timidity inspires. The encyclical is balanced – exposing the decadence of sexual immorality while encouraging love and repentance. AXIOS!
Why hasn’t Mark Stokoe published Metropolitan Jonah’s encyclical? He publishes items that some might consider trivial, but NOTHING on Jonah’s statements. I find that shameful.
The only reason Stokoe might be tempted to do so is so that he can criticize it. After all he does not exactly see eye-to-eye with Met. Jonah. Anyone else here monitor the rants on Voices from Russia? (S)he has a lot to say on the OCA internal struggles but much of it is in code that I can’t always decipher. But this is interesting:
It’s not that it’s in a code. They are the rantings of a unbalanced transgendered gossip monger.
As Fr. John says, this is not “code.” Rather, it is called “cognitive slippage,” which, in its most extreme form, results in the “word salads” you hear in psychiatric wards.
Having mental health issues is not blameworthy, in itself. Those who are sick and seek healing, are to be supported. Those who actively and maliciously seek to infect and contaminate everyone else aroud them, are a menace.
This is ridiculous.
This is not only ridiculous–its tone is downright threatening. JD, you are usually so tempered in your remarks. I’m surprised that you would have given these vile comments further exposure by cross-posting them here. Of course, Father Webster’s home address, phone numbers and so on are probably available elsewhere online (even at the OCA Web site), but the way this writer cites Father’s personal information gives the impression that he/she is encouraging retribution of some sort against Father Webster. Pretty spooky/bizarre behavior–but from what little I’ve read about this individual, I guess his/her comment posted above is par for the course. I think this Web site has little if anything to gain by having this individual’s rants cross-posted here.
In Christ,
Cathy Tatusko
You are probably right about my decision to cross-posting these comments but my (unclear) thinking was as follows. If Fr. Webster is getting hate mail the readers here may counterbalance that. Also I wanted to elicit more information on whether there truly is an effort against Stokoe. By that, I hope it would mean some organized effort to have him removed from the Metropolitan Council. And finally this cross-posting from Voices from Russia, as ridiculous as it is, is actually a tamer posting than most. She brags about the traffic to the website which is recently dominated by posts on the OCA internal struggle. Unfortunately, I find myself checking out her rants because of the lack of information and explanations elsewhere. I admit that that is probably unwise.
JD, I sympathize with you. It’s due to the information vacuum that we sneak a look at the Voice of Albany site from time to time. Plus, the proprietor does post some interesting photographs from over the water, like the recent Cucumber Festival. However, I find Barbara Stan’s political opinions so repugnant that I’m mentally wearing hip boots and a Hazmat suit while perusing the content.
To give the devil his due, Stan did successfully predict the coup against Metropolitan Jonah. What he fails to understand is that his high readership does not mean people take his obscene rantings seriously.
Unfortunately, some of his rantings do get repeated in more respectable fora, such as the delusion that sexually-active, unrepentant homosexuals are able to receive communion out of “oikonomia”, and the slander that Metropolitan Jonah must be a glutton simply because he is a big person.
I agree . . . ludicrous indeed. Isn’t it amazing how one can really build up someone they’ve never ever met in person on the Net?
Thank you indeed, Your Beatitude. And to all, I have been away on vacation and am tanned, rested, and ready to get back into the fight! Be looking for a future essay!
Many folks here are just too excitable! I am much more serene about the future of our Orthodox Church in America–perhaps because I am in the Diocese of the South. In any case, the discussion at OCA News has been quite interesting. On the one hand, there is indeed a pastoral issue in same-sex marriage states. On the other hand, there is a serious issue that concerns how we approach Holy Tradition. It is indeed true that we do live in a post-modern society that worships variety rather than orthodoxy. However, Eastern Orthodoxy will never become a cafeteria Christian sect, even when some misguided bishops make up novel interpretations of the Holy Canons and some folks are tempted with PC thinking and/or lenient approaches to our issues–such as homosexual conduct and marriage.
Here is what I posted on OCA News “Fascinating discussion. On the one hand, it reminds me of Father Schmemann’s motto: Question everything! On the other hand, I also think of Father Schmemann’s distinction between Holy Tradition and pious custom. I believe that Father Alexander used two yardsticks to determine what is what: First, the Holy Scriptures and second the Early Church fathers. The reason, at least to me, is simple: we are an orthodox Church, an Apostolic Church that must faithfully preserve the deposit of faith.
We all have played the game of telephone where somebody whispers something to the next person in a circle of players; by the time the message completes its journey, it invariably changes from the original. So, discernment and primary sources are just as important as being faithful to the teachings and praxis that we have received from our fathers and mothers.
It is very important to determine whether the orthodoxy of the Orthodox Church is he same or very close to the beliefs and praxis of the Apostolic Church. Most of us believe in this but it may be useful for affirmation from outside sources. Two Evangelical Protestant theologians, Andreas Kostenberger and Michael Kruger, have written a wonderful book, The Heresy of Orthodoxy: How Contemporary Culture’s Fascination with Diversity Has Reshaped Our Understanding of Early Christianity, that proves that our orthodoxy is indeed the orthodoxy of the Apostolic Church. They even explicitly (and may be pointedly) agree with Father John Behr’s affirmation that the Holy Orthodox Church is the Church of the Apostles. IMHO, the continuing work of the Holy Spirit throughout the centuries have not resulted in any revelation that is contrary to the Apostolic Church, although on the surface it may look different. The inevitable result of this reasoning is that those Orthodox who accept everything as Divinely inspired and thus unchangeable (including their rubrics and calendars) are just as wrong as those who claim it is possible that the Church will be guided by new revelations that, at least on the surface, are contrary to old and settled revelations.
The bottom line for me is the answers to four questions: What did God say regarding homosexuality and homosexual conduct? What did the Apostles say? What did the Early Church Fathers say? And, what has the Church said since the early Church Fathers?”
I should reiterate that we cannot NOT be a Christ-centered, Bible-based, apostolic and catholic and remain the True and Holy Church, the Body of Christ.
Here’s the link for the new statement by His Grace Bishop Matthias of Chicago and the Midwest. How can we thank him?
http://www.domoca.org/news_110802_1.html
And here is the actual text:
Archpastoral Message of His Grace, Bishop Matthias
Beloved Clergy and Faithful of the Diocese of the Midwest,
Christ is in our midst!
“Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise, also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.” (Romans 1:24-27)
In light of the ongoing discussions and debates about “same sex marriage”, I felt the need to address our faithful concerning this issue. Although it would appear to me that the Church doctrine and Scripture has been clear about this issue, there are those who “twist” the Scriptures and the Canons of the Church to fit their own needs. We have always believed that the interpretation of Scripture lies within the framework of “Holy Tradition” and the experience and interpretation of the Holy Fathers before us. Who are we to interpret the Scripture outside of this Sacred Tradition? Only those, who do not have the light of Christ, will interpret Scripture to their own ends.
In the above passage from Romans, St. Paul writes that because of the “lusts of their hearts,” they exchanged the truth of God for the lie. Society and our culture is trying to sell us the “lie,” that “gay marriage” is a right and that it is a natural thing. This could not be further from the truth! An error is a delusion. The delusion that St. Paul refers to is the belief that homosexuality or an “alternative life-style” is acceptable. It is unnatural and unacceptable to God! As with all sins, Christ forgives the sinner who repents. If there is no repentance though, or admittance of sin, there can be no forgiveness. The words of the Prophet Isaiah apply here, “The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe is them! They have brought disaster upon themselves.” (Isaiah 3:9)
Our society challenges the beliefs of Christ and the Church. They not only justify the sin, but they expect that this sin become acceptable. It is not! His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, shared in his pastoral letter concerning this issue the affirmations, principles and guidelines that the Orthodox Church in America proclaimed nearly twenty years ago. They are as follow:
* God wills that men and women marry, becoming husbands and wives. He commands them to increase and multiply in the procreation of children, being joined into “one flesh” by His divine grace and love. He wills that human beings live within families (Genesis 1:27; 2:21-24; Orthodox Marriage Service).
* The Lord went even further to declare that people who look at others in order to lust after them in their hearts have “committed adultery” (cf. Matthew 5:27-30).
* Christ’s apostles repeat the teachings of their Master, likening the unique marriage between one man and one woman to the union between Christ and His Church which they experience as the Lord’s very body and His Bride (Ephesians 5:21-33; 2 Corinthians 11:2).
* Marriage and family life are to be defended and protected against every open and subtle attack and ridicule.
* Sexual intercourse is to be protected as a sacred expression of love within the community of heterosexual monogamous marriage in which alone it can be that for which God has given it to human beings for their sanctification.
* Homosexuality is to be approached as the result of humanity’s rebellion against God, and so against its own nature and well-being. It is not to be taken as a way of living and acting for men and women made in God’s image and likeness.
* Men and women with homosexual feelings and emotions are to be treated with the understanding, acceptance, love, justice and mercy due to all human beings.
* People with homosexual tendencies are to be helped to admit these feelings to themselves and to others who will not reject or harm them. They are to seek assistance in discovering the specific causes of their homosexual orientation, and to work toward overcoming its harmful effects in their lives.
* Persons struggling with homosexuality who accept the Orthodox faith and strive to fulfill the Orthodox way of life may be communicants of the Church with everyone else who believes and struggles. Those instructed and counseled (sic) in Orthodox Christian doctrine and ascetical life who still want to justify their behavior may not participate in the Church’s sacramental mysteries, since to do so would not help, but harm them.
On the second day of August, we commemorate Saint Basil the Blessed, fool for Christ’s sake and wonderworker of Moscow. At Great Vespers we sing, “ …and that He (Christ) may grant to our hierarchs victory over heresies, unity in the Church, order to the world, and great mercy to our souls.” Still, to this day, we must face modern heresies, which are really old heresies “repackaged.” I pray that the Orthodox Church and its hierarchs can remain united in standing for Jesus Christ, Who is, The Truth!
Your Shepherd in Christ,
+MATTHIAS
Bishop of Chicago
and the Midwest
Apparently, the peanut gallery interprets this (and the 1992 encyclical) as allowing homosexual relationships as long as they aren’t public.
Well, no, it doesn’t. The problem with having rules against homosexual sexual activity is that authority figures in the Church aren’t usually going to know whether you have homosexual sex unless you 1) admit you have homosexual sex or 2) present yourself with a same-sex partner as a couple. That’s where the talk about justification comes in. Homosexual sex is just as wrong whether you and your sex partner are the only people who know, or whether you do it in front of a hundred people. But you can’t expect the Church to enforce the proscription against homosexual sex if nobody is aware of the sin being committed.
The problem is that once your priest and bishop find out you are involved in a serious sin like this and you don’t repent, you’re supposed to be excommunicated. This is part of their responsibility as clergy. Unfortunately, some clergy appear to be under the impression that they can commune sexually-active homosexuals, and even condone same-sex relationships that imitate marriage. Sorry, but that doesn’t really fit into the realm of pastoral discretion, much like a priest can’t consecrate Pop Tarts and coffee as the Eucharist. There’s no way we can use “oikonomia” to bless a form of marriage that has never existed, and to excuse sexual practices that have been forbidden among the people of God since before and throughout Church history.
Thank God for Bishop Matthias, Metropolitan Jonah, Bishop Michael, and all godly pastors and archpastors who are working to steady the rocking ship.
Yes, thank God. Now let the priests speak out. Especially the priests in the Midwest, who support their bishop. Which bishop do they support? The past bishop, or the present bishop? I am not sure they can support both. On the other hand, they can support both their past bishop and their present bishop without conflict if they plug their ears. Or if they let bygones be bygones, ignoring what happened, and I think they know what happened. The problem with supporting their past bishop and their present bishop at the same time, is that their past bishop and “all that” do not line up with their present bishop and “all this.”
I have no idea what happened! People keep repeating this whole, “you know what happened under Archbishop Job (of blessed memory)” but I have no idea what you are talking about. I keep asking and keep getting silence back. Please enlighten us.
I know how you feel, Midwestern Parishioner. I never heard any accusations of moral turpitude about Archbishop Job, and don’t know what the big unknown thing is about. All I know about him is that he was really looking forward to retirement.
Boy, I sure don’t “know” either because I wasn’t there. However, there have been so many comments over the years, and along with the comments, the actions. Really, look at what happened beginning at the end of 2005, and the loudest voice. Look now at the truth that is coming out. Look, really look at what happened over the course of the years. Who was Stokoe’s bishop all those years? Who was right there beside him, nodding and assenting? I remember Stokow writing that he did NOT have the blessing of his bishop to start OCAnews.borg. But how can that be possible? He didn’t have the bishop’s blessing?
I’m sorry if you haven’t had a chance to read what’s been written online. Here. Here’s just one example: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Orthodox-Forum/message/81724?threaded=1&p=21
If true, it’s just unthinkably bad. The hypocrisy. The damage. The lies.
I feel like apologizing. Don’t worry about discrediting everything Monk James says, it’s been done already. If he were the only one who said it, I would not be convinced. But he’s not the only one. If I get attacked for bringing in “gossip and innuendo,” just remember, truth is truth. If we don’t get back to the truth, we can’t move forward with the truth. Painful wounds don’t heal without help. I knew a lot of Midwest priests and I’m not sure if a lot of them realize how much their past support for what was absolutely WRONG has damaged people. I would really like to read some apologies, some admittance of being wrong, some asking of forgiveness. I really would. It would help me a lot. 🙁
This link to a message on the Orthodox Forum works only for members of the OF, so — banished as I am from that group — I can’t go there to see what I wrote, or to offer any possible clarifications or amendments.
I hesitated to post it, Monk James. Can you and or others help us understand and get past what happened with Bishop Job? I don’t want to smear anyone, I just want to find some healing. Somehow the past misdeeds need to be brought to the light and the past wrongs made right.
Even though I’m posting “anonymously” and I’m not in the parish I was in before, I’m still afraid of talking about it. That’s how strong the Cult of Job was in my parish. Was Archbishop Job an active homosexual while he was serving as bishop, were there other misdeeds more serious that have been alleged but can’t be talked about, and was he an alcoholic?
The kids adored him, they still talk about him as if he were already a Saint. People still say Mark Stokoe did a “great deed” for the Church in helping to uncover the financial misdealings. Bishop Job stood up and said, “Are the allegations true or are they false?” I’ve always thought they were false. Looking at all the things available to read, it never quite made sense to me how they could be true.
It could be that the answers should not be made known right now on this blog, but they will be made known when the time is right. If so, I can wait. Just so it happens.
Don’t speak ill of the dead. It’s unseemly. Don’t ask people to answer your private questions in a public forum. It doesn’t belong here.
Mark, in one of his “Editor’s Note” comments once stated something to the effect that he owes his placement on the Metropolitan Council to Bishop Job. I can hunt down the citation if necessary. In any event, if true, I find it troubling; but then hindsight/2020, etc.
“Don’t speak ill of the dead. Don’t ask your private questions in a public forum, it’s unseemly.”
I’m not speaking “ill” of Archbishop Job. I’m not asking “private questions.” It is not unseemly. It’s just very uncomfortable. We can talk about other bishops we know who are alive and homosexual and not only that, “unseemly” in their actions of leadership. Who’s gossiping? What we are focusing on is salvation, isn’t it? The right thing to do is to get the OCA, the leaders, and the people who worship in the Church worshiping in spirit and it truth. To examine what happened and why, to find out the truth so we can clean house and move forward. But we can’t talk about the one who is dead, it’s unseemly.
Okay, let’s just talk about the subject of Archbishop Job’s influence in the OCA and what OCAnews really did and is doing, and not about Archbishop Job’s “personal” life. It did no damage, it didn’t hurt anyone, it doesn’t need to be talked about, because it’s not “Christian” of me. It bothers people too much. Look, I didn’t do it. We are dealing with the subject of actively gay bishops. Bishops who have lied to cover up their sins. Where’s the salvation in not talking about it, but tripping over it instead?
I’ve never written or said anything in public except as what I know to be true.
While some people — for their own reasons — disagree with me or don’t believe me, I’ve never been discredited. That would involve factual rebuttals which have never been forthcoming, the decisions of certain illegitimately constituted bodies and their sinful contrivances notwithstanding.
The ‘spiritual court’ which convicted Fr Robert Kondratick of crimes he wasn’t guilty of was rigged and its verdict was false.
Abp Job and his protege’ Fr Zacchaeus had/have a great many skeletons in their (ahem) closets, and its THEY who ought to have answered the question: ‘Are the charges true or are they false?’
It’s more than interesting now that the very same people who sought to condemn FrRK are now being scrutinized. I suspect that they’ll fold like cards when their feet are held to the fire, and that FrRK will finally be vindicated and restored to the priesthood of which he was so unjustly deprived.
I believe you, and always have. What you wrote over the years reaffirmed what my husband and I had already suspected. That you have never been discredited is true. I should have put that word in quotes. Maybe it would have shown the difference between what is true, that is, that you are not lying, and what has been twisted in an attempt to “discredit” you because of what you wrote, or said.
Monk James, or Father Silver, or Father James, I would also like to thank you. People have said some untrue things about you and for that, even though I didn’t say them, I’m sorry.
Something to consider: Three of the ‘new’ OCA bishops have spoken out quite clearly against the homosexual agenda being pushed by Mrs. Stokoe-Brown, Ms. Leonova, and the rest of their ilk… but not a single one of Mark’s “appalled four” bishops has uttered a peep in defense of the faith on this matter. How predictable and utterly sad.
It’s hard to bear.
FYI: Father Lawrence Farley comes out clearly against the progressive crowd on his latest AFR podcast, Labeling the Debate. He states baldly that it is just heresy.
Link: Labeling the Debate
Link: http://ancientfaith.com/announcements/labeling_the_debate
I hope you mean “boldly”. I have visions of him with a shaved head . . .
“Baldly” also has a figurative meaning, meaning that something was stated in a blunt and forthright manner.
ahh, now I feel silly . . .
Fr. Lawrence is my parish priest. Trust me, he is neither bald nor beardless… 🙂
Excellent! Now, about His Grace’s two MC members….
Let’s hope that rightous actions follow righteous words lest this all be pious cant.
Glory be to God, as authentic apostolic christian and wholly Orthodox teaching are given in clarity by the Chosen leaders of our Christian Faith: with a good and honest heart the Church is guided. Let us pray that the practice of these Truths are manifested by our clerics and the faithful. I love my children and I would not ever want them to be led near to the soul destroying darkness of homosexuality by a misguided liberal tolerance. It is a sin that destroys the soul. God Forbid, Lord have mercy.
BJD1709