In an open forum a bishop calls a priest inattentive, ignorant, blatantly disrespectful, and insolent. Then the bishop tells the priest that he should have chosen a way that “does not infringe on the dignity” of the clergy.

Well… if calling a priest inattentive, ignorant, blatantly disrespectful, and insolent does not infringe on the dignity of said clergyman – I don’t know what does.

And, just maybe, if The Committee for Church and Society would actually meet and provide some guidance then the good Father would not have to resort to “the crass political discourse so common on the Internet.”

(Speaking of territory, where is Mokissos anyway?)

Bravo John! I think Bishop Demetrios needs to hear from many people that his words here were a complete failure of spiritual fatherhood. Fr. Peter did nothing nor did he say anything wrong. The real pastoral failure rests not with Fr. Peter but with Bishop Demetrios who hardly shows a servant model of leadership in his response but instead seems consumed with the prestige and honor of his position. Sadly this behavior is not isolated but all too familiar among GOA hierarchs. Why any young man would pursue a vocation and subject himself and possibly his family to such behavior is beyond me. I do not see a pastor in the bishops words. I do not see a teacher or a mentor. I do not see a servant. I just see a bully.

Bishop Demetrios is obviously an intelligent man, as evidenced by his thoughtful Sanctity Sunday talk. I’m having trouble, however, reconciling that speech with this bullying, blustering abuse of a faithful priest who bravely spoke out on an important matter of religious freedom and personal conscience.

Phrases like “inattentiveness and ignorance” and “blatant disrespect” and accusations of “insolently” speaking out. Are Orthodox seminarians reading these words and wondering if they’ll get this kind of treatment when they become priests? Some might be considering a visit to the career counselor.

Here’s an example of how Fr. Preble spoke out so “insolently”:

The bishops of our church are the authentic teachers of the faith. It is their role as Arch-Pastors of His Church to educate the people in the faith and what the Church teaches. This is an important role but I feel many times they say only what the people want to hear. Jesus did not tell the people what they wanted to hear He told them what they needed to hear and most of them did not like it but that did not stop him. He was not concerned with what people would think or whether or not they would put anything in the collection bin, he was concerned with the salvation of their souls, period!

Citing the teachings of our Lord? Impudent priest!

The bishop also tells Fr. Preble that “the political and legal ends you erroneously thought you were serving can be achieved in numerous ways, one that does not infringe on the dignity of any of the sisters and brothers of the Holy Church, clergy and laity alike.”

Is there some secret campaign or campaigns that the Assembly of Bishops or individual bishops have underway now to influence the Obama administration on the HHS mandate and other “culture of death” problems? In what way does a bishop taking a public stand and speaking to the issue clearly to his flock and wider community “infringe” on his dignity? Were the apostles and Church Fathers concerned about this curious definition of “dignity” when they went into public places — often risking their necks — to proclaim the Gospel for all to hear? Or did they have “numerous ways” to do this without opening their mouths?

Bishop Demetrios says that there are “many parochial clergy and monastics in the United States who continually participate in various coalitions, organizations and routinely address such subjects as that of your recent post.” I don’t doubt him. If he would please give us a directory of these “numerous” coalitions and organizations we might be able to help.

It would also be instructive and edifying to have copies of the homilies, parish bulletin notices, patriarchal and episcopal encyclicals, joint declarations, youth educational materials, oratorical festival guidelines, YouTube clips, web links, and anything else related to GOA hierarchs, priests and monastics preaching and teaching on the subject of the sanctity of life. We can publish and redistribute these materials in various places. We need to educate our people. Maybe we could gather these materials, and those from other Orthodox jurisdictions, along with the directory of the “numerous” coalitions and organizations we have built in the pro-life movement, and build a website around them.

I’ve been in the GOA my entire life and I’ve never once heard a priest or a bishop or a monastic utter the phrase “sanctity of life” or deliver a sermon or informal talk on the subject. Nor did I hear those words when I lived and worked and worshipped for several years in Chicago. Nor in my visits to GOA churches when I traveled around the country. I know there are many clergy and lay people committed to the sanctity of life cause in my Church, I just haven’t met many of them. I pray their numbers increase.

Well I admit to being surprised. Sad day.

Harry, it’s real.

Folks this reply apparently by a bishop might be a hoax, replying only to a re-published copy of an article in a discussion blog seems odd for a person who is certainly able to tell the difference. I could only find this reply on this blog/forum, and not the original place where Fr. Peter’s article appears (which allows for comments). So, might not be authentic. Could be, but maybe not.

At any rate reading it an interview with the former mayor of New York, Ed Koch came to mind. Hizzoner wasn’t happy he was taking heat for failing to aid a great many in one area on the basis of his many other activities. “If we can’t please everyone, we shouldn’t help anyone??” he retorted.

It’s certainly not unprecedented for the bishops to come together and hold forth on subjects in public when it suits them, which oddly enough the text above mentions. This posting appears to be very strangely silent as to the central question in the whole matter: if then and often, why not now about this??

I recall when the then new Metroplitan of ‘The West’ or San Francisco whatever for the GOA held forth that legal gay marriage had his wink-and-affirmative nod as a civil political thing he’d support but not bless in church, a short while later a combined statement of bishops came out.

All the belittling and put-downing… Well I at least haven’t heard that bishop speak in such a way.

Certainly a more paternal response would have served better than the some of the words chosen in this response. Bishop Demetrios had a wonderful opportunity here to engage both this important issue and the Orthodox Christians who feel passionately about it. Instead, I can’t help but be saddened that he chose to play the “offended hierarch” card. I hope AOI readers will review the bishops statements of fact and respond respectfully and directly.

For my part, I would like to focus on the following quote and pose a follow-up question:

Bishop Demetrios writes:

I know not one hierarch ministering in the United States, or anywhere else, that would prioritize territory or preservation of culture and language over matters concerning life and death

If this is true then can someone please explain why the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America honors Former Senator Paul Sarbanes and his extensive legisaltive history in creating laws that violate human dignity and promote unrestricted abortion with the Athenagoras Human Rights Award and the title of Archon? Is it possible to support such human rights violations and be considered not only in good standing with the Church but a model Greek Orthodox leader? If matters of life and death come first in the Greek Orthodox Church then why exalt a member of your community who during his career actively legislated and worked against one of Orthodoxy’s most sacred and timeless truths?

Most knowledgeable voters would not be surprised at the recent turn of events concerning health care and religious institutions as determined by the administration of President Obama, whose record even as a state legislator in Illinois—a fact discussed during the Presidential campaign prior to his election—demonstrated views on exemptions of “conscience” very similar to those recently announced by the Department of Health and Human Services. If you feel “duped,” as you state it, it is likely to your inattentiveness and ignorance.

This same inattentiveness and ignorance is obviously displayed later in the same post when you state, unequivocally, that regarding your subject, “as usual our Orthodox Bishops are silent on this.” Indeed, your ignorance of the activities and blatant disrespect for your hierarch and the many others ministering in the United States is demonstrated in the accusation that we, “are more concerned with territory and language than we are with issues that affect real people! It is time for our bishops to wake up and speak out.”

Perhaps the hierarchs of the Church could decide to participate in civil discourse in the crass political discourse so common on the Internet. Perhaps there is a “more excellent way.” While the Roman Catholic Conference of Bishops has indeed received much attention for their public reactions (over several years—again, dating to a similar case involving the Chicago Archdiocese when then State Senator Obama served in the Illinois legislature) due to their many institutions directly affected by the change in policy, this does not mean that Orthodox hierarchs have been “silent.” The fact that Orthodox hierarchs may have not received the attention of the public media in similar fashion might be admitted, but this is also not the only manner to effect change in governmental policy.

Furthermore, as a former President of the Illinois Coalition Against the Death Penalty, I do not recall your commentary or acknowledgement of our Church’s action at the forefront of the successful efforts to abolish capital punishment in Illinois—an issue that obviously affects real people, including Andrew Kokoraleis, an Orthodox Christian who was the last person executed by the State of Illinois.

In addition to my own extensive activities with the Bishop’s Task Force on HIV/AIDS (the first Orthodox ministry established to confront and minister to persons living with, surviving in, and dying in this pandemic) and other social justice ministries here in the Midwest and, indeed, throughout the United States, I would also bring your attention to the lauded participation of numerous hierarchs in right-to-life issues, including the annual march in Washington, D.C. To these we could add the many parochial clergy and monastics in the United States who continually participate in various coalitions, organizations and routinely address such subjects as that of your recent post. To suggest otherwise is a most serious insult to their integrity.

Of course, I could continue with numerous other examples from personal activities of clergy and laity, of public pronouncements and statements of SCOBA and the particular Orthodox jurisdictions.

If “our people” are confused and need to hear our voices “loud and clear,” your comments are certainly counterproductive when you suggest, insolently, that His Eminence Archbishop Nicolae, myself, and our brother hierarchs are “more concerned with territory and language.” Your comments only serve to undermine their authority among those less familiar with the activities and teachings of the Church. Indeed, you have only served to ridicule all faithful Orthodox Christians in your caricature and outmoded stereotyping.

I know not one hierarch ministering in the United States, or anywhere else, that would prioritize territory or preservation of culture and language over matters concerning life and death. I do know that the political and legal ends you erroneously thought you were serving can be achieved in numerous ways, one that does not infringe on the dignity of any of the sisters and brothers of the Holy Church, clergy and laity alike. Perhaps, I pray, you will be more sensitive to upholding that dignity in your public comments in the future.

Sincerely in Christ,

Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos, Chancellor
Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago