![\"marriage-ceremony\"](\"https:\/\/www.aoiusa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/marriage-ceremony.png\")
<\/a>Source: The Voice Blog<\/a> | Chris Banescu<\/p>\nThe current societal moral collapse and the intensifying attacks on traditional marriage and the family were foreseen by previous generations of bishops of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). Approximately 40 years ago, the Holy Synod of the OCA issued an Encyclical Letter on Marriage<\/em> warning their flocks of the dangers posed by an increasingly secularized world and re-affirming the traditional, biblical, and orthodox teaching on marriage. The clarity of their teaching, boldness of their condemnation, and prophetic dimensions of their preaching are undeniable.<\/p>\n These shepherds saw the \u201csigns of the times.\u201d They discerned the growing darkness and corruption all around them and the seriousness of the cultural battles to come. They forewarned the faithful that the \u201cmoral foundations of society are collapsing.\u201d They understood the ultimate consequences of a society that abandons its moral principles, abuses its freedoms, embraces the evil of abortion, is indifferent to the murder of millions of unborn children, and glorifies corrupt sexual behaviors.<\/p>\n We find it imperative to address you on an issue of crucial importance for the Christian life. An increasingly secularized world tends more and more to neglect the traditional biblical understanding of marriage and family. Misunderstanding freedom and proclaiming the progress of a humanity supposedly too mature, sophisticated and scientific to follow Christ\u2019s Gospel, many have abandoned its moral demands. The consequences are plain for all to see: the family is disintegrating, legalized abortion is killing millions of unborn children, corrupt sexual behavior is rampant. The moral foundations of society are collapsing.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n These bishops showed no apathy, timidity, or confusion in speaking publicly on key moral issues. They were not silent or complacent in the face of danger. They denounced evil and challenged the growing corruption in the culture. They genuinely loved and cared not only for the welfare and salvation of their flocks, but of all men. They taught and preached about the importance of the family and the full meaning of marriage from an Orthodox Christian understanding. They bore witness to these timeless truths before the entire Church and the whole world.<\/p>\n We, the bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, therefore proclaim anew to you, the flock entrusted to our care, the great and holy vision of marriage that is gloriously preserved and manifested in the doctrine, liturgy and canonical tradition of the Church. We do not make this proclamation in the name of an outdated conservatism or because we consider our present society intrinsically more corrupt than the past generations.<\/p>\n We speak because we are concerned for the welfare and salvation both of you, the members of our flock, and of all men. We speak of \u201cthat which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes \u2026 concerning the word of life\u201d (John 1:1). We speak because we know the Truth of the Gospel of Christ to be the eternal Truth, the one needful thing, the good portion (Luke 10:42) for all men, in all times and places.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n These Christian leaders encouraged others to also speak out, offer guidance, and help Orthodox Christians in \u201call matrimonial matters.\u201d<\/p>\n [ . . .]<\/p>\n\n
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