Posted on 11/13/2009 5:37:11 AM PST by marshmallow
The Greek Orthodox Church is urging Christians across Europe to unite in an appeal against a ban on crucifixes in classrooms in Italy.
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg ruled last week that the presence of crucifixes violated a child's right to freedom of religion.
Greece's Orthodox Church fears the Italian case will set a precedent.
It has called an emergency Holy Synod meeting for next week to devise an action plan.
Although the Greek Orthodox Church has been at odds with Roman Catholicism for 1,000 years, the judicial threat to Christian symbols has acted as a unifying force.
The European Court of Human Rights found that the compulsory display of crucifixes violated parents' rights to educate their children as they saw fit and restricted the right of children to believe or not to believe.
'Worthy symbols'
The head of the Greek Church, Archbishop Ieronymos, shares Catholic complaints that the court is ignoring the role of Christianity in forming Europe's identity.
It is not only minorities that have rights but majorities as well, said the archbishop.
One of his subordinates, Bishop Nicholas from central Greece, lamented that at this rate youngsters will not have any worthy symbols at all to inspire and protect them.
Football and pop idols are very poor substitutes, he said.
The Greek Church has ostensibly intervened in this case in response to an appeal by a Greek mother whose son is studying in Italy.
But without doubt it is concerned that its omnipotence in Greece is under threa
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
OMG, Kolo..........do something!! Quick!!
The Greek Orthodox Church is getting involved in politics!!!
And worse.........they're making nice to the Catholics!
OMG.......OMG!!!!
ALL Christians need to put their differences aside, now.
This is what happens when you cede your sovereignty to the EU.
The Church of Greece is not making nice with the Latins. Here’s the problem:
“A human rights group called Helsinki Monitor is seeking to use the Italian case as a precedent.
It has demanded that Greek courts remove icons of Jesus Christ from above the judge’s bench and that the gospel no longer be used for swearing oaths in the witness box.”
For the Church of Greece, this is not a political issue but rather an issue of the Greek Constitution. The Church of Greece, by the Greek Constitution, is the “prevailing religion” and as such, by law, there is no separation of Church and State in Greece.
It’s important to understand that the Greek state is in many senses, more so than any other EU country that I can think of, the offspring of The Church. Its dominant position has been pretty much unassailable but as Greece becomes more “European”, its an open question as to how much longer that can last. My bet is that it will be a very long time, but who knows. What I see in Athens these days is very discouraging.
Ohhhhhhh yeah.........riiiight......so of course, this is nothing like the Catholic Church's fight against abortion, of which you have been so critical!!
Of course........silly me!!
*Slaps forehead*
“Ohhhhhhh yeah.........riiiight......so of course, this is nothing like the Catholic Church’s fight against abortion, of which you have been so critical!!”
I’m glad you are coming to understand. It will make matters easier for you in the event of a reunion.
We're a bit slow but we'll catch on eventually.....< /s>
A simple way around this, just rename the man on the cross SPARTACUS! Of course you will really know who it represents.:-D
Albrech Durer did a woodcut of “The Young Christ”. It was actually a self potrait of Durer so if anyone hollers just say it it actually Durer.
There are lots of paintings that used real people for models for Christ paintings.
If you have a painting of Christ in a robe by the sea, when someone throws a fit say it is just a portrait of Joe Smith in a robe by the sea. But you really know who it represents.
But then there is this, Christ took on our sins on the Cross, so you might say that the man on the cross actually represents you and me!
K, I've been keeping an eye on Interfax, the Orthodox seem to be getting involved more like the Catholic Church in terms of social issues. I just thought I'd let you know so the reunion will go more smoothly. You know, kinda get used to things.
Arguing that the crucifix is a 'worthy symbol' is valid but doesn't really explain why it should be displayed in public schools.
Since the topic is religious, the response of any Church official is appropriate, called for and expected, and does not constitute the Church getting involved in politics for the sake of politics.
Your logic, if I can call it that, escapes me. Abortion is a social issue just as death penalty is. Abortion is not a religious symbol, nor is it in any way directly associated only with religion. Last time I checked, crucifixes are not a social issue.
Crucifixes in classrooms are an issue that involve appropriateness of mixing religious, not social symbolism in secular classrooms; so is swearing by the Bible, or having ten Commandments or icons in the secular court in countries where trhere is separation between Church and State.
We are talking apples and oranges here.
“Abortion is not a religious symbol, nor is it in any way directly associated only with religion.”
According to a now “retired” Latin heresiarch, anti-Abortionism is the most important “dogma” of The Church. he is now out of work. Other hierarchs in the Latin Church seem to support this heretical position and thus feel free to regularly violate the canons applicable to meddling in the affairs of another bishop’s diocese. I was just informed last Friday evening, however, that the Vatican has decided to put a stop to that activity.
We shall see progress when the Church, in Athens, Rome, or anyplace else will learn to see any secular government as enemy and urge the faithful to disobey it. Remember, no government is legal unless it is in God’s ministry (Romans 13).
Yes, I know. It makes the dogmatic pronouncements on Trinity, Christology and Mariology secondary by definition. In other words, pure, unadulterated heresy that is allowed to fester in the American Catholic Church.
The Greek Constitution specifically states that it is a Greek Orthodox Nation.
It does protect the rights of freedom of religion against that constitutional provision.
Keep in mind it is 95% one religion in that nation. One time zone.
Europe is NOT the United States. They are balkanized nations come together to form a tactical ecconomic “soft power” against the USA.
No, Alex, what Paul says is that every authoirty is from God and that one must submit to every authority on earth, for none is without God's consent.
The European Court of Human Rights isn’t EU. It’s connected to the Council of Europe, which is separate from the EU.
The assumption there is that “princes are not a terror to the good work”, whereas the usurpers at the EU are precisely that. Obey the power that agrees with God, ignore the power that doesn’t.
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