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The communist party had its fingers in all the churches everywhere because the church was intriniscally the enemy. How could the Orthodox Church avoid being observed and infiltrated? And why is it held against Her as if she did it willingly? Christianity teaches that authority comes from God and that we are to submit to secular authority. It says nothing about "just" authority on earth because none of us is righteous; we are all sinners. no regime can conquer the Spirit. God does not need us to protect Him. The Church is the Church no matter what the politicial environment is -- it is there for spiritual guidance, not politicial manifestations.

Speaking of communist sympathizers -- President Roosevelt's own Vice President Henry Agard Wallace ran on the presidential ticket in 1948 of the pro-Stalinist Progressive Party, chock-full with communist workers and endorsed by the Communist Party USA. Just think, if Roosevelt had died while Wallace was still the No. 2 man , we would have had a President that was endorsed by the communists!

As Saint Paul reminds us: no one is righteous! Not one!

And why is it held against Her as if she did it willingly?

Oh, I doubt the Orthodox Church in Russia did so willingly. I guess the Church had no church, but tried to survive as best she could. I doubt that the entire church was infiltrated -- remember that the OC was heavily persecuted under the communist regime.

Kosta, do you have any details on the underground Russian church during communist times?

FDR was a Democrat Party functionary. If he gave in to Communism, it is to be expected of a worldly, power-hungry politician.

But the Russian Orthodox hierarchy sold out the faithful to the Bolsheviks in order to save their own cowardly skins. Their great predecessors had chosen martyrdom before betraying the church. They chose compromise.

The two cases are not similar - I expect no honor from Democrats, but it is disappointing when a bishop becomes an informer.