Michael, it’s a start, it really is. I don’t don’t think it ends here. We are not the only people frustrated with the lack of moral leadership.

Father, I’ll give the statement from which he is quoting (from 1992) its just due. I disagree strongly that +Michael’s statement is a start at all, irrespective of what is happening to Met. Jonah. The statement in 1992 was a start. Its apparently been on permanent pause ever since. It means less than nothing until there is actual action similar to the type Hieromonk Mark suggested on the CDC thread.

What is he doing in his diocese to build and strengthen Orthodox practice and belief at the lay level? What is he doing to strengthen and support the priest under him to carry out there pastoral and teaching role regarding the faith (not general theology, but in matters such as the homosexual situation)? Are they able and willing to proactive teach and minister in these areas or are they too afraid or unprepared or worse in disagreement with the principals of the Synodal statement and the teachings of the Church?

Way too easy, especially after the fact, to say ‘piously’ that the action was wrong, but frankly, so what? What was done in the New York parishes prior to the action? I’d guess absolutely nothing. That’s either apathy or cowardice.

I can understand not wanting to get involved in the public political debates, but that is no reason that there cannot be strong, unequivocable teaching at the parish level at every opportunity. If folks don’t like it, they have two options: change or leave. Unfortunately, many will attempt the ‘third way’, i.e, the overhaul of Church teachings to match the degradation of the culture. That should not be tolerated.

Call for articles:

The Church’s Obligation to the Dependents (wife / children) of POOEs — ‘Previously Overlooked Ordination Errors’.

The only moral clarity visibly affirmed follows from just one thing, synonymous in that world: disobedience / disloyalty. To whom does a Christian owe obedience and loyalty first?

‘Obedience to wrongdoing is disobedience to Christ’ – G. Diogenes Jones.

Now I challenge those who are shocked at this clergy misconduct and the obvious overlooking of it for so many years: what of the priest’s family? What of their future?

Wait, shoudn’t he have asked permission of the Synod, or at LEAST the Metropolitan Council, before making any public proclamation of any kind?

Oh wait, I forgot – he isn’t Jonah.

Good Job, Bishop Michael.

Michael it’s a start. And given the attacks on Met. Jonah recently for his unequivocal defense of the moral tradition, it’s courageous too.

Every church is afflicted with homosexuality in some way or another. We either deal with it or we don’t. The Catholics for example, were forced to deal with it because of the pedophile scandal. The Episcopalians gave themselves over to it. Our time is coming (actually it is already here, we just don’t want to admit it yet).

The way to begin dealing with it is to be clear about what the moral tradition teaches. Bp. Michael is doing that as is Met. Jonah. The only other recent and unequivocal voice was Met. Isaiah (Met. Isaiah speaks out against same-sex marriage).

Give the man the credit that is due, even if more should be done.

It’s not nothing, but as Michael says, it’s not nearly enough. What are we going to do about the gay marriages in our midst? How long will we scandalize the faithful by allowing the openly faithless to “eat and drink damnation” to themselves?

It’s hard to comprehend the depth of the compulsion driving this priest. I hope the man finds healing but the road back is going to be difficult considering how far he traveled down it.

Still, the obtuse response about illegal and unethical behavior shows something is seriously wrong. It’s defensive. There is no moral clarity. What does it say to the priest caught up in these sins and the parish reeling from the revelations of his behavior? Not much.

Secondly, why did it take a group of laypeople hiring a lawyer to bring the actions of a troubled priest to light? Hiring private investigators is an extreme response but in this case it appears to be the necessary one. Certainly the behavior was reported to the bishop earlier. Why wasn’t any action taken then?

Harry’s implicit point that the silence from the GOA hierarchy is due to internal problems seems sound. I used to puzzle over the silence from the hierarchy about the crucial moral issues tearing the culture apart. I always thought it exhibited an unwillingness to risk political capital (Sarbannes, Snowe, etc.). Now I wonder if the problem is not that they are unwilling, but that internal conditions render them incapable of the necessary and proper responses.

Un-bloody-believable. I guess he does understand the moral impact of these actions at least.

GOA Bishop Andonios: clergy gay truckstop trysts not necessarily unethical

TNH Reporter Asks: Why he has [Fr. Recachinas, caught doing and soliciting for
gay sex at truck stops] requested to resign?

Bishop Andonios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese: For personal reasons.

TNH: Did he tell what are those personal reasons?

Andonios: I am not going to tell you anything more. The only thing I tell is
that he has not done anything illegal.

TNH: Has he done anything unethical?

Andonios: Not necessarily.

—

What was he thinking!! “Not Necessarily” unethical? Please now!

Sources:

Parishioners Say Their Priest Cruised Truck Stops for Sex
http://www.pokrov.org/display.asp?ds=Article&id=1668

Critical Moment For The Church
http://www.pokrov.org/display.asp?ds=Article&id=1669

Now if we can just get a bishop to tell us what to do about the openly gay couples communing in our churches. (Or maybe +Michael’s line about not condemning anyone means they get a pass.)