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| •Orthodox Patriarchs “Wink” at Abortion Fr Edward Pehanich In the years since the fall of Communism across Eastern Europethe Orthodox faithful of those lands have had the task of facing theunpleasant history of the subjugation of their Church to theCommunist regimes. With many clergy and hierarchscompromising the Faith by unequivocally supporting the policiesof the atheistic state, the Church lost its prophetic voice in society. There is hardly any room for us in the West to sit in judgment or criticism, we who were safely and comfortably living in thereligious freedom of the West. What is most disturbing to me, however, is to see evidence of such a trend continuing, even here where the voice of the Church was never silenced by persecution. It appears that the leaders of our Church for so long were silenced by hostile Muslim governments and then by Communists that they have forgotten how to allow the Church fulfill her role as a prophetic voice challenging the prevailing values, beliefs, goals, and behavior of the culture. Twice in the past few years we in America have witnessed visiting Orthodox shepherds from abroad “wink” at the prevailing public sentiment on abortion rather than loudly and clearly challenge us with the voice of truth proclaimed by Scriptures, and echoed by the ancient Fathers and Councils of the Church. Patriarchs Speak Recently Armenian Christians in America welcomed into their midst His Holiness, Patriarch Karekin I of Etchmiadzin in Armenia who came on a pastoral visit to his flock. During a stop at St.Mary’s Church in Washington, D.C. the patriarch was questioned on the Church’s position on abortion.-
Nearly identical in tone and spirit, and lack of any clear, prophetic teaching are statements made by His Holiness, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople when he visited San Francisco in1990 as the metropolitan of Chalcedon as part of the entourage ofthe then Patriarch Dimitrios of blessed memory. The San Francisco Chronicle recorded this exchange-
It is hard to believe that both hierarchs, speaking in the freedom of America so blatantly ignored the clear witness of the Scriptures, the writings of the Fathers, and the decisions of the Holy Councils in responding to questions on abortion. What issue is there that our Church is willing to stand for? What point will society reach before our bishops begin to take a clear stand of witness? Now with our nation poised to permit physician-assisted suicide will our venerable arch pastors continue to visit here and attempt to be “pastoral” and not offend anyone by remaining silent, or worse,give de facto permission for the killing of the sick and elderly? What does our Church stand for? Why is it that we will speakout and raise our voice to protest wrongs committed in Macedonia but not in our own neighborhoods? I must admit my great reluctance to criticize such esteemed holy fathers who have borne the cross of persecution for the holy Faith and who are at a point of scholarship and spiritual maturity that I will never attain. Yet I know that our church does not believe in any bishop as an infallible teacher of the Faith but rather the Holy Spirit guards and leads us all, bishops, priests, and laity in all truth. The witness of the Holy Scriptures, the Holy Fathers, and the decisions of the Councils are clear: abortion is a grave sin equal to murder that is only to be permitted to save the life of a mother. I rejoice in our hierarchs who have spoken loudly and clearly to us on these issues both by their words and by their presence with us at the March for Life each January in Washington. They have been criticized by segments of their flocks who have been seduced by the media but they are most nobly fulfilling their calling“rightly defining the word of truth”. Holy Fathers! Venerable Patriarchs! Lead us! Clearly define the word of truth for us! Point out for us the hard, narrow way that leads to life rather than the easy, wide path that leads to hell! |
| QUOTE (David Zampino @ May 25 2008, 05:43 PM) |
| The Armenian church's formal position on abortion is a pro-choice position, and this has been (as I understand it) one of the sticking points in unity discussions with Rome. The words of the Ecumenical Patriarch I found troubling -- but not surprising. And on this issue, the Patristic record is quite clear. Abortion has always been uniformly condemned by both East and West. While certainly the West has had more than it's fair share of dissenters on this issue (enter name of "Catholic" politician here) the Church teaching has never wavered. |