Posted on 07/02/2015 12:22:57 PM PDT by NRx
Thursday, July 02, 2015
The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America strongly disagrees with the United States Supreme Court decision of June 26, Obergefell v. Hodges, in which the Court invents a constitutional right for two members of the same sex to marry, and imposes upon all States the responsibility to license and recognize such “marriages.”
The Supreme Court, in the narrowest majority possible, has overstepped its purview by essentially re-defining marriage itself. It has attempted to settle a polarizing social and moral question through legislative fiat. It is immoral and unjust for our government to establish in law a “right” for two members of the same sex to wed. Such legislation harms society and especially threatens children who, where possible, deserve the loving care of both a father and a mother.
As Orthodox Christian bishops, charged by our Savior Jesus Christ to shepherd His flock, we will continue to uphold and proclaim the teaching of our Lord that marriage, from its inception, is the lifelong sacramental union of a man and a woman. We call upon all Orthodox Christians in our nation to remain firm in their Orthodox faith, and to renew their deep reverence for and commitment to marriage as taught by the Church. We also call upon our nation’s civic leaders to respect the law of Almighty God and uphold the deeply-rooted beliefs of millions of Americans
Axios!
AMEN, Brother!!!
It would seem fitting, that in light of this decision, that this body, or the larger one, of which this is a portion, have a public church service, declaring the names of politicians, and or those particular judges, as excommunicado.
I’m sure the six o’clock news will be stumped on that one.
Excellent
Save Thy people, O Lord,
and bless Thine inheritance.
Grant victory to Thy Church over her enemies,
and protect Thy people by Thy Holy Cross!
Here is a collection of statements from several OCA diocesan Bishops. Several of them have a SPINE, and say flat-out that they will NOT commune unrepentant “gays”, especially those who are “married” in the bogus ceremonies allowed by the Supreme Court:
http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/80311.htm
Note that you have to go to a RUSSIAN website to get this list!!!!
Meanwhile, a bunch of pro-”gay” Renovationists from Boston have started a new journal, and expect us to pay good money for it!!!!
http://www.wheeljournal.com/current
I support my Serbian and Russian brothers and sisters—as well as American converts to Orthodoxy who have experienced “gay” takeovers of Episcopal or Lutheran parishes—in strongly opposing Renovationism/Modernism!!!!
Good statement, but the ROCOR Bishop have issued the best of the best:
Updated June 13/26, 2015 Martyr Aquilina of Byblos in Syria
Today the United States Supreme Court ruled that homosexual marriage is a constitutional right in the United States of America. Given the ubiquitous coverage the news media is providing on this issue it is important that our clergymen and parishioners fully understand the position of the Church in this regard.
Living in a free society as we do, we should first be thankful that we have the opportunity to practice our Orthodox Faith without inordinate interference from the government. In recent history this was not the case in Russia, and is still not the case in many countries throughout the world. In a free society all views can be shared in the public arena – both views we agree with as Orthodox Christians and those we disagree with. We call upon our flock to be guided first and foremost by the Holy Tradition of the Church in discerning whether any contemporary question is something that is compatible to the Orthodox faith. If an Orthodox Christian chooses to engage in public political discourse this should be done with moderation and with a firm intention and watchfulness not to fall into extremism. Extremism is not conducive to softening hearts or bringing others to the faith. Laymen who choose to engage in political speech should not state that they speak on behalf of the Church. Strictly speaking such an authoritative statement can be made only by a bishop or with a bishop’s specific blessing.
It should also be made clear that living a homosexual or any other sinful lifestyle is not compatible with Christianity and this has always been the teaching of the Church. That being stated, it is also crucial to state that the Church is a Spiritual Hospital and all those wishing to receive the healing freely offered by God through their repentance and God’s Grace are fully welcome. This includes those who have participated in immoral or unnatural acts of any kind as well as those who are tempted by such sins. The Church is empathetic to those who suffer in such a way and offers them support, healing, and Christian love. Those actively engaging in any immoral or unnatural pursuits cannot live a full sacramental life within the Church. However, this does not mean that we seek to drive away or ostracize those who have transgressed in such a way. Rather, we must make all efforts to draw those in such an unfortunate situation back to chastity and the opportunity to again partake in the Life-Giving Mysteries of the Church and to engage the struggle for their salvation within the parish community.
Today’s Supreme Court ruling makes homosexual marriage legal in the United States. It should be made clear that under no circumstances will the Church recognize homosexual marriage, accord it the status of traditional marriage, or bless such unions. However, this is not to state that those who have entered into such a union have stepped beyond a line from which they cannot return. The Church has always strongly condemned heresies (such as Novatianism, Montanism, and Donatism) which deny the possibility of repentance for those having committed certain sins. It is crucial that our clergymen not shy away from the position of the Church as regards the sinfulness of homosexuality and other unnatural expressions of the God-given gift of human sexuality – but it is also crucial that such statements be made with love and with a corresponding invitation to repentance and reconciliation with the Church.
We call upon all to pray for our land – that the Lord will forgive us our collective societal sins as well as our personal sins and provide us a safe haven which allows us to work out our salvation in peace.
One would expect a good statement from ROCOR, which now is affiliated with the Church of Russia as an autonomous branch.
But we need to see some—and better yet all—Bishops of the OCA, which purports to be an Autocephalous American Orthodox Church, show some backbone in the face of the attack by the state and from internal Renovationists!!!!
My understanding is that our priests will refuse to commune anyone, homosexual or heterosexual, in a meretricious relationship. Is it different among the Serbs?
Our OCA Archbishop from Western PA says the same thing.
It is EXACTLY the same among the Serbs!
However, there are a few parishes—at least in the OCA and the Antiochian Church, and perhaps elsewhere—that commune (and chrismate, etc.) open, practicing, in some cases “married”, and “proud” “gays”, and which have a Renovationist/modernist agenda. That includes those who founded the “Wheel” journal that I mentioned previously.
(You must remember, Kolo, that I attend, commune at, and contribute to two parishes—one OCA and one Serbian. So I am involved in the life of both.)
Do they commune only gays in meretricious relationships or will they give communion to heterosexuals in similar relationships?
I think it’s a shame that a statement has to be made about gays, or that, better said, a decision on civil law by the Supreme Court somehow lead bishops to state the obvious. Was it to keep the Xenoi happy?
Good. Why did the Supreme Court decsion compel the bishops to say anything? Doesn’t it all go without saying?
Ah . . . another charming word to add to my collection of epithets for out groups by in groups who believe they're the "new chosen people."
Or . . . maybe you just have (dons dark glasses) xenophobia?
Since I am neither a priest nor a Bishop involved with these parishes, I don’t know what their practice is.
In the light of the Supreme Court diktat, the Bishops had to make these statements, for the benefit of both their own Faithful and of the outside world.
Given the action of the Court, and of a few Renovatiomist priests, deacons, and parishes (all of which trumpet their views on the Internet) nothing is “obvious” anymore. It’s all very sad.
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