Joseph, this has the potential to be huge. Like the UN “oil for food” thing a couple of years ago. I wonder what the Acorns of Hippolytus will say then. I hope they didn’t pony up too much money for the recent “apostolic visit.”
]]>It is reported here on Michelle Malkin: http://michellemalkin.com/2009/11/20/the-global-warming-scandal-of-the-century/
Where does this leave the EPs engagement with this cause?
]]>One of the forceful opponents of WCC participation was St. Justin of Celije. The Serbian Church became heavily involved in the WCC because Tito wanted economic help from the West. Participation was seen as one route to gaining sympathy for Jugoslavia from the west. Although Justin’s present bishop-diciples oppose the WCC, the majority continue to participate because admission of Serbia to the EU is vital to the state, it is deemed important for the Church to participate in other western stuctures to show their “westerness”. That is a political reality. Our hierarchy too often choses the heresy/idolatory over Orthodoxy.
Let’ all make a pledge. The next time some says “I am a Greek/Serbian/Romanian/etc. Bishop”, let’s respond by saying “You mean you are a heretic. If you are not, then next time say I am Orthodox Bishop by the Grace of God from (Country). Maybe that will let them know how we feel
]]>Thanks.
What I still don’t understand is why conservative Orthodox Churches like Russia, Serbia, Greece, and Rumania stay.
Communism is gone, so I cannot see why the Russians do not
leave.
Theodoros
]]>Theodoros: The EP is in any organization that will call it ecumenical. The Russians, Serbs, Romanians, Bulgarians, etc. joined at a time that communists were in power in their countries. The WCC promoted a communist/socialist agenda over the years supporting for example the Marxists of Angola/Mozambique, anti US involvement in Vietnam, etc. The “orthodox” involvement in the WCC was immense in this regard. Now that all that is behind us with the fall of communism (at least in the pre-Obama universe) inertia has set in and episcopal egos like the self importance the WCC bestows upon them and therefore they continue in the WCC. Also do not doubt for a minute that their governments also perceive that their continued participation is in the national interest.
In short, they transgress canons for the sake of self ego and phyletistic concerns. It is one of the Dark One’s temptations that fogs episcopal minds, quite successfully, I might add. All we can do is speak out. Apparently the Dark One however does not perceive us as an immediate threat.
]]>But why are the Russian, Greek, Rumanian, and Serbian Churches there
in addition to Constantnople, Antioch etc…
Most of their flocks most certainly do not agree with the WCC.
In my view, leadership belongs to the first Orthodox Church that
actually denounces the WCC. This might even be the Churches of
Georgia and Bulgaria who I believe have effectively withdrawn
their participation.
Theodoros
]]>In one word they are “lukewarm.”
]]>Why are the Orthodox in the WCC? Because Churches are loading with sincecure staff who are overpaid and do nothing but attend useless meetings.
]]>Karen Armstrong thinks applying any intellectual rigor to religious teaching is tantamount to “fundamentalism” and prefers instead a quasi-gnostic soft tolerance. It’s a perfect fit with the Minnesota Council of Churches which the Minnesota Eastern Orthodox Clergy Association was once a member (I was the representative). The issue then (twenty years ago) was a resolution supporting “gay rights,” that included all the requisite self-congratulatory rhetoric (“prophetic witness” and such). We threatened to leave if passed, the measure failed, we quit the next year anyway.
Looks like the MCC has not changed in the last two decades except that it has found some deep pockets to fund the TED prize. Looks like the NCC will keep up its valiant fight for Christian cultural devolution too with the appointment of Rev. Peg Chemberlin as president. She led the MCC when I was there.
]]>Volume 12, Number 48, November 12, 2009
Lithuania Fights Back Against EU Resolution Favoring Homosexual Propaganda
By Austin Ruse
(WASHINGTON, DC – C-FAM) The fight over homosexual propaganda in schools taking place between the Lithuanian and European Parliaments escalated this week with the Lithuanian Parliament (Siemas) calling on its government to file suit against the Europeans in the Court of Justice of the European Union (EU).
The argument began with passage of a Lithuanian “Law on the Protection of Minors against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information” which prohibits promotion of “homosexual, bisexual, polygamous relations” among children under the age of 18. While the Lithuanian president subsequently vetoed the measure, the Siemas overturned his veto and the law is slated to go in effect next March.
As a consequence, in September the European Parliament (EP) voted 349-218 to condemn the new law and ask the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights to review it. The Parliament also considered what is called an “article 7” action against Lithuania, which could have resulted in Lithuania’s suspension from the European Union. Jean Lambert, a British MEP said at the time, “This law contravenes the EU Treaties, the EU Charter and the European Convention on Human Rights, and should be urgently repealed on those grounds.”
Besides the education of children and parental rights, the issue of national sovereignty is central to the debate. The Lithuanians insist they are free to enact such laws and that the European Institutions have no “competence” in them. Many Europeans have long feared what they see as inevitable EU interference in life and family matters.
More …
]]>“Christian and Orthodox” was the bizarre distinction that caught my eye.
How very, very odd.
]]>