Ecumenical Patriarch & Abortion

[JamesR]

The Ecumenical Patriarch made a statement about abortion I was wondering your thoughts on it:

Although the Orthodox Church believes the soul enters the body at conception and, generally
speaking, respects human life and the continuation of the pregnancy, the church also respects the liberty and freedom of all human persons and all Christian couples. . . .We are not allowed to enter the bedrooms of the Christian couples...We cannot generalize. There are many reasons for a couple to go toward abortion.

Source

This statement makes me somewhat uneasy, the only justifiable reason I could see from an Orthodox standpoint for abortion is if it threatens the health of the mother. But, the EP doesn't seem to mention that at all, rather, he says that there are "many reasons" and makes no mention to health. Likewise, notice he says "Christian" couples, I find that to be somewhat of an oxymoron, since canonically speaking, you cannot be an Orthodox Christian and have abortions with no good health reason to justify it.

Thoughts?

[Michał Kalina]

Enjoy this thread: http://www.orthodoxchristianity.net/forum/index.php/topic,3282

[SolEX01]

Or this thread:

http://www.orthodoxchristianity.net/forum/index.php/topic,26264.0.html

[yeshuaisiam]

James, I don't know what to say about the Patriarch....

But here is a post that I made which I quoted 3 VERY early Christians (one the EO church considers a saint) who all speak of abortion as MURDER. http://www.orthodoxchristianity.net/forum/index.php/topic,45901.msg898964.html#msg898964

If the Patriarch in ANY way is supporting abortion then I do believe he is out of line with the foundation of early Christian thinking.... (I am not positive that's what he's implying).   The lingo used is a bit unclear to me too.

[J Michael]

The Ecumenical Patriarch made a statement about abortion I was wondering your thoughts on it:

Although the Orthodox Church believes the soul enters the body at conception and, generally
speaking, respects human life and the continuation of the pregnancy, the church also respects the liberty and freedom of all human persons and all Christian couples. . . .We are not allowed to enter the bedrooms of the Christian couples...We cannot generalize. There are many reasons for a couple to go toward abortion.

Source

This statement makes me somewhat uneasy, the only justifiable reason I could see from an Orthodox standpoint for abortion is if it threatens the health of the mother. But, the EP doesn't seem to mention that at all, rather, he says that there are "many reasons" and makes no mention to health. Likewise, notice he says "Christian" couples, I find that to be somewhat of an oxymoron, since canonically speaking, you cannot be an Orthodox Christian and have abortions with no good health reason to justify it.

Thoughts?

Oy.  Vey.   

[choy]

The Ecumenical Patriarch made a statement about abortion I was wondering your thoughts on it:

Although the Orthodox Church believes the soul enters the body at conception and, generally
speaking, respects human life and the continuation of the pregnancy, the church also respects the liberty and freedom of all human persons and all Christian couples. . . .We are not allowed to enter the bedrooms of the Christian couples...We cannot generalize. There are many reasons for a couple to go toward abortion.

Source

This statement makes me somewhat uneasy, the only justifiable reason I could see from an Orthodox standpoint for abortion is if it threatens the health of the mother. But, the EP doesn't seem to mention that at all, rather, he says that there are "many reasons" and makes no mention to health. Likewise, notice he says "Christian" couples, I find that to be somewhat of an oxymoron, since canonically speaking, you cannot be an Orthodox Christian and have abortions with no good health reason to justify it.

Thoughts?

Did he declare this Ex Cathedra?


Oh wait.... 

[Shanghaiski]

It's just another overly-diplomatic and meaningless statement. I'm not sure why our bishops make so many of them.

[orthonorm]

The Ecumenical Patriarch made a statement about abortion I was wondering your thoughts on it:

Although the Orthodox Church believes the soul enters the body at conception . . . .

Source

. . . .

Thoughts?

No.

[Punch]

It's just another overly-diplomatic and meaningless statement. I'm not sure why our bishops make so many of them.

No courage?  Maybe some of them are afraid that if they make people unhappy, they will stop sending money and they will have to start sewing tents like the Apostle.  Possibly even be beheaded.  Read Luke 18: 1-8.  The murdered unborn cry continuously to the Father.  I would hate to be one of the politically correct when the Son returns.

[Maria]

The Ecumenical Patriarch made a statement about abortion I was wondering your thoughts on it:

Although the Orthodox Church believes the soul enters the body at conception and, generally
speaking, respects human life and the continuation of the pregnancy, the church also respects the liberty and freedom of all human persons and all Christian couples. . . .We are not allowed to enter the bedrooms of the Christian couples...We cannot generalize. There are many reasons for a couple to go toward abortion.

Source

This statement makes me somewhat uneasy, the only justifiable reason I could see from an Orthodox standpoint for abortion is if it threatens the health of the mother. But, the EP doesn't seem to mention that at all, rather, he says that there are "many reasons" and makes no mention to health. Likewise, notice he says "Christian" couples, I find that to be somewhat of an oxymoron, since canonically speaking, you cannot be an Orthodox Christian and have abortions with no good health reason to justify it.

Thoughts?

The EP is dead wrong here.
There is no excuse for killing the unborn. Abortion is murder.

Even in an ectopic pregnancy, where the embryo has implanted itself in the walls of the Fallopian tube, there is still a chance that the life of that embryo can be saved. Daily, we are developing new technology and methods to save lives. 

[William]

It's just another overly-diplomatic and meaningless statement. I'm not sure why our bishops make so many of them.

No courage?  Maybe some of them are afraid that if they make people unhappy, they will stop sending money and they will have to start sewing tents like the Apostle.  Possibly even be beheaded.  Read Luke 18: 1-8.  The murdered unborn cry continuously to the Father.  I would hate to be one of the politically correct when the Son returns.

That is why I admire some fundamentalist groups no matter how wrong they are.

[Shanghaiski]

I think it's a matter of matching the teaching to the audience. When a hierarch such as the EP says something, he may be speaking to a particular group of people, but this may not be clearly defined, and it's easy to take phrases out of context--or even entire actions, for that matter. Being a chief bishop for many years, he has a different sort of role than that of a spiritual father or a diocesan bishop.

[Punch]

I think it's a matter of matching the teaching to the audience. When a hierarch such as the EP says something, he may be speaking to a particular group of people, but this may not be clearly defined, and it's easy to take phrases out of context--or even entire actions, for that matter. Being a chief bishop for many years, he has a different sort of role than that of a spiritual father or a diocesan bishop.

I thought that telling people what they want to hear is a form of dishonesty.  Shouldn't Truth be Truth whatever the audience?

[stanley123]

The Ecumenical Patriarch made a statement about abortion I was wondering your thoughts on it:

Although the Orthodox Church believes the soul enters the body at conception and, generally
speaking, respects human life and the continuation of the pregnancy, the church also respects the liberty and freedom of all human persons and all Christian couples. . . .We are not allowed to enter the bedrooms of the Christian couples...We cannot generalize. There are many reasons for a couple to go toward abortion.

Source

This statement makes me somewhat uneasy, the only justifiable reason I could see from an Orthodox standpoint for abortion is if it threatens the health of the mother. But, the EP doesn't seem to mention that at all, rather, he says that there are "many reasons" and makes no mention to health. Likewise, notice he says "Christian" couples, I find that to be somewhat of an oxymoron, since canonically speaking, you cannot be an Orthodox Christian and have abortions with no good health reason to justify it.

Thoughts?

The EP is dead wrong here.
There is no excuse for killing the unborn. Abortion is murder.

Even in an ectopic pregnancy, where the embryo has implanted itself in the walls of the Fallopian tube, there is still a chance that the life of that embryo can be saved. Daily, we are developing new technology and methods to save lives. 

Perhaps he is saying that as with any sin, we should not set ourselves up as judge and jury of a person who has committed that sin, even one as gravely wrong as abortion. It is for God to judge the person, and not us.

[Maria]

The Ecumenical Patriarch made a statement about abortion I was wondering your thoughts on it:

Although the Orthodox Church believes the soul enters the body at conception and, generally
speaking, respects human life and the continuation of the pregnancy, the church also respects the liberty and freedom of all human persons and all Christian couples. . . .We are not allowed to enter the bedrooms of the Christian couples...We cannot generalize. There are many reasons for a couple to go toward abortion.

Source

This statement makes me somewhat uneasy, the only justifiable reason I could see from an Orthodox standpoint for abortion is if it threatens the health of the mother. But, the EP doesn't seem to mention that at all, rather, he says that there are "many reasons" and makes no mention to health. Likewise, notice he says "Christian" couples, I find that to be somewhat of an oxymoron, since canonically speaking, you cannot be an Orthodox Christian and have abortions with no good health reason to justify it.

Thoughts?

The EP is dead wrong here.
There is no excuse for killing the unborn. Abortion is murder.

Even in an ectopic pregnancy, where the embryo has implanted itself in the walls of the Fallopian tube, there is still a chance that the life of that embryo can be saved. Daily, we are developing new technology and methods to save lives. 

Perhaps he is saying that as with any sin, we should not set ourselves up as judge and jury of a person who has committed that sin, even one as gravely wrong as abortion. It is for God to judge the person, and not us.

The EP's statement was sufficient to drive away some Orthodox inquirers and catechumens who were originally Roman Catholic. They left Orthodoxy and joined some sedevacantist group.

[Alpo]

I think it's a matter of matching the teaching to the audience. When a hierarch such as the EP says something, he may be speaking to a particular group of people, but this may not be clearly defined, and it's easy to take phrases out of context--or even entire actions, for that matter. Being a chief bishop for many years, he has a different sort of role than that of a spiritual father or a diocesan bishop.

I thought that telling people what they want to hear is a form of dishonesty.  Shouldn't Truth be Truth whatever the audience?

One would assume that after being married for many years you had learnt that sometimes Truth must be explained in the way that audience won't misunderstand it.

[Kerdy]

The Ecumenical Patriarch made a statement about abortion I was wondering your thoughts on it:

Although the Orthodox Church believes the soul enters the body at conception and, generally
speaking, respects human life and the continuation of the pregnancy, the church also respects the liberty and freedom of all human persons and all Christian couples. . . .We are not allowed to enter the bedrooms of the Christian couples...We cannot generalize. There are many reasons for a couple to go toward abortion.

Source

This statement makes me somewhat uneasy, the only justifiable reason I could see from an Orthodox standpoint for abortion is if it threatens the health of the mother. But, the EP doesn't seem to mention that at all, rather, he says that there are "many reasons" and makes no mention to health. Likewise, notice he says "Christian" couples, I find that to be somewhat of an oxymoron, since canonically speaking, you cannot be an Orthodox Christian and have abortions with no good health reason to justify it.

Thoughts?

Well, if I were you I would focus on this part:

the Orthodox Church believes the soul enters the body at conception

[Gebre Menfes Kidus]

It's just another overly-diplomatic and meaningless statement. I'm not sure why our bishops make so many of them.

No courage?  Maybe some of them are afraid that if they make people unhappy, they will stop sending money and they will have to start sewing tents like the Apostle.  Possibly even be beheaded.  Read Luke 18: 1-8.  The murdered unborn cry continuously to the Father.  I would hate to be one of the politically correct when the Son returns.

Amen to that.


Selam

[Gebre Menfes Kidus]

The Ecumenical Patriarch made a statement about abortion I was wondering your thoughts on it:

Although the Orthodox Church believes the soul enters the body at conception and, generally
speaking, respects human life and the continuation of the pregnancy, the church also respects the liberty and freedom of all human persons and all Christian couples. . . .We are not allowed to enter the bedrooms of the Christian couples...We cannot generalize. There are many reasons for a couple to go toward abortion.

Source

This statement makes me somewhat uneasy, the only justifiable reason I could see from an Orthodox standpoint for abortion is if it threatens the health of the mother. But, the EP doesn't seem to mention that at all, rather, he says that there are "many reasons" and makes no mention to health. Likewise, notice he says "Christian" couples, I find that to be somewhat of an oxymoron, since canonically speaking, you cannot be an Orthodox Christian and have abortions with no good health reason to justify it.

Thoughts?

The EP is dead wrong here.
There is no excuse for killing the unborn. Abortion is murder.

Even in an ectopic pregnancy, where the embryo has implanted itself in the walls of the Fallopian tube, there is still a chance that the life of that embryo can be saved. Daily, we are developing new technology and methods to save lives. 

Agreed Maria. The statement is very disturbing to me.



Selam

[Gebre Menfes Kidus]

The Ecumenical Patriarch made a statement about abortion I was wondering your thoughts on it:

Although the Orthodox Church believes the soul enters the body at conception and, generally
speaking, respects human life and the continuation of the pregnancy, the church also respects the liberty and freedom of all human persons and all Christian couples. . . .We are not allowed to enter the bedrooms of the Christian couples...We cannot generalize. There are many reasons for a couple to go toward abortion.

Source

This statement makes me somewhat uneasy, the only justifiable reason I could see from an Orthodox standpoint for abortion is if it threatens the health of the mother. But, the EP doesn't seem to mention that at all, rather, he says that there are "many reasons" and makes no mention to health. Likewise, notice he says "Christian" couples, I find that to be somewhat of an oxymoron, since canonically speaking, you cannot be an Orthodox Christian and have abortions with no good health reason to justify it.

Thoughts?

What is especially disturbing is the "generally speaking" part. The Church does not "generally" respect human life, the Church unequivocally respects human life. I don't like to criticize Orthodox hierarchy, but I find this statement very unfortunate and problematic on a number of levels.

My prayers for the Ecumenical Patriarch.


"Lord have mercy."


BTW, can anyone provide another link to the entire comment? The link won't work on my computer for some reason.


Selam

[orthonorm]

The Ecumenical Patriarch made a statement about abortion I was wondering your thoughts on it:

Although the Orthodox Church believes the soul enters the body at conception and, generally
speaking, respects human life and the continuation of the pregnancy, the church also respects the liberty and freedom of all human persons and all Christian couples. . . .We are not allowed to enter the bedrooms of the Christian couples...We cannot generalize. There are many reasons for a couple to go toward abortion.

Source

This statement makes me somewhat uneasy, the only justifiable reason I could see from an Orthodox standpoint for abortion is if it threatens the health of the mother. But, the EP doesn't seem to mention that at all, rather, he says that there are "many reasons" and makes no mention to health. Likewise, notice he says "Christian" couples, I find that to be somewhat of an oxymoron, since canonically speaking, you cannot be an Orthodox Christian and have abortions with no good health reason to justify it.

Thoughts?

Well, if I were you I would focus on this part:

the Orthodox Church believes the soul enters the body at conception

I would too, since it isn't true. See my post above.

[Opus118]

The Ecumenical Patriarch made a statement about abortion I was wondering your thoughts on it:

Although the Orthodox Church believes the soul enters the body at conception and, generally
speaking, respects human life and the continuation of the pregnancy, the church also respects the liberty and freedom of all human persons and all Christian couples. . . .We are not allowed to enter the bedrooms of the Christian couples...We cannot generalize. There are many reasons for a couple to go toward abortion.

Source

This statement makes me somewhat uneasy, the only justifiable reason I could see from an Orthodox standpoint for abortion is if it threatens the health of the mother. But, the EP doesn't seem to mention that at all, rather, he says that there are "many reasons" and makes no mention to health. Likewise, notice he says "Christian" couples, I find that to be somewhat of an oxymoron, since canonically speaking, you cannot be an Orthodox Christian and have abortions with no good health reason to justify it.

Thoughts?

I remember this statement that priests aren't going to enter the bedroom. It dates from the 1960s. I seem to remember it was about contraception. Perhaps Patriarch Bartholomew was a spokesperson for Patriarch Athenogoras at the time. I do not know. Having read the San Francisco Chronicle from the time I learned to read (comics mostly) to when I left the Bay Area in 1980, I recommend taking the quote from this paper with more than a grain of salt.

[J Michael]

The Ecumenical Patriarch made a statement about abortion I was wondering your thoughts on it:

Although the Orthodox Church believes the soul enters the body at conception and, generally
speaking, respects human life and the continuation of the pregnancy, the church also respects the liberty and freedom of all human persons and all Christian couples. . . .We are not allowed to enter the bedrooms of the Christian couples...We cannot generalize. There are many reasons for a couple to go toward abortion.

Source

This statement makes me somewhat uneasy, the only justifiable reason I could see from an Orthodox standpoint for abortion is if it threatens the health of the mother. But, the EP doesn't seem to mention that at all, rather, he says that there are "many reasons" and makes no mention to health. Likewise, notice he says "Christian" couples, I find that to be somewhat of an oxymoron, since canonically speaking, you cannot be an Orthodox Christian and have abortions with no good health reason to justify it.

Thoughts?

The EP is dead wrong here.
There is no excuse for killing the unborn. Abortion is murder.

Even in an ectopic pregnancy, where the embryo has implanted itself in the walls of the Fallopian tube, there is still a chance that the life of that embryo can be saved. Daily, we are developing new technology and methods to save lives. 

Perhaps he is saying that as with any sin, we should not set ourselves up as judge and jury of a person who has committed that sin, even one as gravely wrong as abortion. It is for God to judge the person, and not us.

So, we're not to say that a sin is a sin?

[TheTrisagion]

I think that abortion can be justified in situations that murder is also justified.  Like for example... oh wait. Nevermind. 

[Punch]

The Ecumenical Patriarch made a statement about abortion I was wondering your thoughts on it:

Although the Orthodox Church believes the soul enters the body at conception and, generally
speaking, respects human life and the continuation of the pregnancy, the church also respects the liberty and freedom of all human persons and all Christian couples. . . .We are not allowed to enter the bedrooms of the Christian couples...We cannot generalize. There are many reasons for a couple to go toward abortion.

Source

This statement makes me somewhat uneasy, the only justifiable reason I could see from an Orthodox standpoint for abortion is if it threatens the health of the mother. But, the EP doesn't seem to mention that at all, rather, he says that there are "many reasons" and makes no mention to health. Likewise, notice he says "Christian" couples, I find that to be somewhat of an oxymoron, since canonically speaking, you cannot be an Orthodox Christian and have abortions with no good health reason to justify it.

Thoughts?

The EP is dead wrong here.
There is no excuse for killing the unborn. Abortion is murder.

Even in an ectopic pregnancy, where the embryo has implanted itself in the walls of the Fallopian tube, there is still a chance that the life of that embryo can be saved. Daily, we are developing new technology and methods to save lives. 

Perhaps he is saying that as with any sin, we should not set ourselves up as judge and jury of a person who has committed that sin, even one as gravely wrong as abortion. It is for God to judge the person, and not us.

The EP's statement was sufficient to drive away some Orthodox inquirers and catechumens who were originally Roman Catholic. They left Orthodoxy and joined some sedevacantist group.

I have to say that you are correct.  And it would go beyond just the Roman Catholics.  If I would have read that statement at the time that I was having doubts about my former denomination (WELS Lutheran) and was searching for the True Church, I would never have set foot in an Orthodox Church.   

[Punch]

I think it's a matter of matching the teaching to the audience. When a hierarch such as the EP says something, he may be speaking to a particular group of people, but this may not be clearly defined, and it's easy to take phrases out of context--or even entire actions, for that matter. Being a chief bishop for many years, he has a different sort of role than that of a spiritual father or a diocesan bishop.

I thought that telling people what they want to hear is a form of dishonesty.  Shouldn't Truth be Truth whatever the audience?

One would assume that after being married for many years you had learnt that sometimes Truth must be explained in the way that audience won't misunderstand it.

Been married 32 years, and still stand by what I wrote above.  We are talking about murder here, not whether or not a pair of pants make her butt look big.  And even then, my wife learned years ago not to ask my opinion if she is not ready to hear it.

[primuspilus]

The EP have his opinion. I couldnt care less. Now if he uses his position to try and change what the Church teaches........

[vamrat]

The EP have his opinion. I couldnt care less. Now if he uses his position to try and change what the Church teaches........

......then it might be time to let JamesR anathematize him.

[primuspilus]

The EP have his opinion. I couldnt care less. Now if he uses his position to try and change what the Church teaches........

......then it might be time to let JamesR anathematize him.

JamesR...the one man synod.

[choy]

Maybe this is taken out of context?  Maybe he is talking about ectopic pregnancies?

[J Michael]

Maybe this is taken out of context?  Maybe he is talking about ectopic pregnancies?

Well, the "Source" is dated 1996, and it quotes an article from 1990 from the S.F.Chronicle.  Nowhere in what is quoted is the word "ectopic" used, or even inferred or implied.  So...maybe not.

But....maybe since then the EP has changed his mind about it.  Oh...wait....CHANGE?  IN ORTHODOXY?? IS OUTRAGE!!!    







(Before anybody gets their knickers in a twist, I do know that the EP and Orthodoxy are not identical.)

[choy]

Maybe this is taken out of context?  Maybe he is talking about ectopic pregnancies?

Well, the "Source" is dated 1996, and it quotes an article from 1990 from the S.F.Chronicle.  Nowhere in what is quoted is the word "ectopic" used, or even inferred or implied.  So...maybe not.

But....maybe since then the EP has changed his mind about it.  Oh...wait....CHANGE?  IN ORTHODOXY?? IS OUTRAGE!!!    

(Before anybody gets their knickers in a twist, I do know that the EP and Orthodoxy are not identical.)

Well, an interview is not a teaching, though unfortunately many people today can mistake that.  He may have mispoken or whatever, I do not know.  But certainly today in the OCA we are 100% pro-life.  So I couldn't care less what he said.  He can't infallibly declare something to change our beliefs and he certainly is entitled to his own opinions.

[J Michael]

Maybe this is taken out of context?  Maybe he is talking about ectopic pregnancies?

Well, the "Source" is dated 1996, and it quotes an article from 1990 from the S.F.Chronicle.  Nowhere in what is quoted is the word "ectopic" used, or even inferred or implied.  So...maybe not.

But....maybe since then the EP has changed his mind about it.  Oh...wait....CHANGE?  IN ORTHODOXY?? IS OUTRAGE!!!    

(Before anybody gets their knickers in a twist, I do know that the EP and Orthodoxy are not identical.)

Well, an interview is not a teaching, though unfortunately many people today can mistake that.  He may have mispoken or whatever, I do not know.  But certainly today in the OCA we are 100% pro-life.  So I couldn't care less what he said.  He can't infallibly declare something to change our beliefs and he certainly is entitled to his own opinions.

Apart from the fact that statements made in an interview could very well be "a teaching", I couldn't agree with you more  .

Actually, you probably should care about what he says or said because he is looked upon quite widely (whether rightly or wrongly is an altogether different matter) as "the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox."  As such, what he says does have ramifications.

[choy]

Apart from the fact that statements made in an interview could very well be "a teaching", I couldn't agree with you more  .

Actually, you probably should care about what he says or said because he is looked upon quite widely (whether rightly or wrongly is an altogether different matter) as "the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox."  As such, what he says does have ramifications.

Only non-Orthodox think that.  The Orthodox know that our spiritual leader are the Fathers and Mothers of our faith who have taught orthodoxy.  We've had many heretical Patriarchs of Constantinople in the past, we know our faith does not hinge merely on the opinion of one.

[recent convert]

I often wonder if there is much known, of what is already obscure, of Orthodoxy in the world beyond the contradictory aspects of a seemingly worldly patriarch and a couple of "synods of resistance" at Athos?

[J Michael]

Apart from the fact that statements made in an interview could very well be "a teaching", I couldn't agree with you more  .

Actually, you probably should care about what he says or said because he is looked upon quite widely (whether rightly or wrongly is an altogether different matter) as "the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox."  As such, what he says does have ramifications.

Only non-Orthodox think that.  The Orthodox know that our spiritual leader are the Fathers and Mothers of our faith who have taught orthodoxy.  We've had many heretical Patriarchs of Constantinople in the past, we know our faith does not hinge merely on the opinion of one.

You're talkin' to someone who knows a little bit (not, I repeat, NOT a lot) about Orthodoxy, so I know that it's non-Orthodox (and some poorly catechized Orthodox) who think that.  They far outnumber the Orthodox.  My point is, that given that perception of the EP, what he says tends to influence people, whether or not you like it.  Didn't someone above write something about a number of non-Orthodox not coming into Orthodoxy because of the statement referred to in the OP?  So...whether you or I or anyone else like it or not, what he says does have ramifications, and possibly quite serious or widely felt ones at that.  So...you can ignore him or not, care what he says or not, but what he says does have a little bit of "influence".

[choy]

You're talkin' to someone who knows a little bit (not, I repeat, NOT a lot) about Orthodoxy, so I know that it's non-Orthodox (and some poorly catechized Orthodox) who think that.  They far outnumber the Orthodox.  My point is, that given that perception of the EP, what he says tends to influence people, whether or not you like it.  Didn't someone above write something about a number of non-Orthodox not coming into Orthodoxy because of the statement referred to in the OP?  So...whether you or I or anyone else like it or not, what he says does have ramifications, and possibly quite serious or widely felt ones at that.  So...you can ignore him or not, care what he says or not, but what he says does have a little bit of "influence".

Conversion is only brought about by God.  If those people didn't want to come into Orthodoxy because of this one issue, and they didn't bother to investigate it further, then they really weren't looking for Orthodoxy.  When I was thinking about converting to Orthodoxy, I came upon discussions on this forum which supported abortion and same-sex marriage.  I was stopped in my tracks.  But I talked to my priest and he clarified everything for me.

In the Philippines we have a saying, "ang ayaw may dahilan, ang gusto may paraan."  Literally it means, "those who don't want finds an excuse, those who do want finds a way."

[J Michael]

You're talkin' to someone who knows a little bit (not, I repeat, NOT a lot) about Orthodoxy, so I know that it's non-Orthodox (and some poorly catechized Orthodox) who think that.  They far outnumber the Orthodox.  My point is, that given that perception of the EP, what he says tends to influence people, whether or not you like it.  Didn't someone above write something about a number of non-Orthodox not coming into Orthodoxy because of the statement referred to in the OP?  So...whether you or I or anyone else like it or not, what he says does have ramifications, and possibly quite serious or widely felt ones at that.  So...you can ignore him or not, care what he says or not, but what he says does have a little bit of "influence".

Conversion is only brought about by God.  If those people didn't want to come into Orthodoxy because of this one issue, and they didn't bother to investigate it further, then they really weren't looking for Orthodoxy.  When I was thinking about converting to Orthodoxy, I came upon discussions on this forum which supported abortion and same-sex marriage.  I was stopped in my tracks.  But I talked to my priest and he clarified everything for me.

In the Philippines we have a saying, "ang ayaw may dahilan, ang gusto may paraan."  Literally it means, "those who don't want finds an excuse, those who do want finds a way."

Yes, yes, yes....I know.  None of which detracts from......oh, never mind  .  (I'll go back to my Russian lesson--far more rewarding  .)

[Punch]

You're talkin' to someone who knows a little bit (not, I repeat, NOT a lot) about Orthodoxy, so I know that it's non-Orthodox (and some poorly catechized Orthodox) who think that.  They far outnumber the Orthodox.  My point is, that given that perception of the EP, what he says tends to influence people, whether or not you like it.  Didn't someone above write something about a number of non-Orthodox not coming into Orthodoxy because of the statement referred to in the OP?  So...whether you or I or anyone else like it or not, what he says does have ramifications, and possibly quite serious or widely felt ones at that.  So...you can ignore him or not, care what he says or not, but what he says does have a little bit of "influence".

Conversion is only brought about by God.  If those people didn't want to come into Orthodoxy because of this one issue, and they didn't bother to investigate it further, then they really weren't looking for Orthodoxy.  When I was thinking about converting to Orthodoxy, I came upon discussions on this forum which supported abortion and same-sex marriage.  I was stopped in my tracks.  But I talked to my priest and he clarified everything for me.

In the Philippines we have a saying, "ang ayaw may dahilan, ang gusto may paraan."  Literally it means, "those who don't want finds an excuse, those who do want finds a way."

How cute.  So in essence, once you decide you want to do something, make up any excuse you need to make it right.  Love it.

[choy]

You're talkin' to someone who knows a little bit (not, I repeat, NOT a lot) about Orthodoxy, so I know that it's non-Orthodox (and some poorly catechized Orthodox) who think that.  They far outnumber the Orthodox.  My point is, that given that perception of the EP, what he says tends to influence people, whether or not you like it.  Didn't someone above write something about a number of non-Orthodox not coming into Orthodoxy because of the statement referred to in the OP?  So...whether you or I or anyone else like it or not, what he says does have ramifications, and possibly quite serious or widely felt ones at that.  So...you can ignore him or not, care what he says or not, but what he says does have a little bit of "influence".

Conversion is only brought about by God.  If those people didn't want to come into Orthodoxy because of this one issue, and they didn't bother to investigate it further, then they really weren't looking for Orthodoxy.  When I was thinking about converting to Orthodoxy, I came upon discussions on this forum which supported abortion and same-sex marriage.  I was stopped in my tracks.  But I talked to my priest and he clarified everything for me.

In the Philippines we have a saying, "ang ayaw may dahilan, ang gusto may paraan."  Literally it means, "those who don't want finds an excuse, those who do want finds a way."

How cute.  So in essence, once you decide you want to do something, make up any excuse you need to make it right.  Love it.

Or do you give up so easily at the first sign of trouble?  "Oh, this is too hard."  Obviously if these people really cared enough to learn Orthodoxy, they would know that the faith does not fall on the comments of one, even if he is the Ecumenical Patriarch.  As I said, there have been many heretic Ecumenical Patriarchs.  I'm not saying Patriarch Bartholomew I is, my point is that we do not believe in an infallible bishop who cannot make errors when teaching about morality and the faith.  So when they do make errors, it doesn't bring our faith, our Church, crashing down to the ground.

If they really believed in the Truth of Orthodoxy, they wouldn't have given up so easily.  Obviously they don't, they just want to run away from the Vatican II Church.  That is not a reason to convert to Orthodoxy.

[stanley123]

The Ecumenical Patriarch made a statement about abortion I was wondering your thoughts on it:

Although the Orthodox Church believes the soul enters the body at conception and, generally
speaking, respects human life and the continuation of the pregnancy, the church also respects the liberty and freedom of all human persons and all Christian couples. . . .We are not allowed to enter the bedrooms of the Christian couples...We cannot generalize. There are many reasons for a couple to go toward abortion.

Source

This statement makes me somewhat uneasy, the only justifiable reason I could see from an Orthodox standpoint for abortion is if it threatens the health of the mother. But, the EP doesn't seem to mention that at all, rather, he says that there are "many reasons" and makes no mention to health. Likewise, notice he says "Christian" couples, I find that to be somewhat of an oxymoron, since canonically speaking, you cannot be an Orthodox Christian and have abortions with no good health reason to justify it.

Thoughts?

The EP is dead wrong here.
There is no excuse for killing the unborn. Abortion is murder.

Even in an ectopic pregnancy, where the embryo has implanted itself in the walls of the Fallopian tube, there is still a chance that the life of that embryo can be saved. Daily, we are developing new technology and methods to save lives. 

Perhaps he is saying that as with any sin, we should not set ourselves up as judge and jury of a person who has committed that sin, even one as gravely wrong as abortion. It is for God to judge the person, and not us.

So, we're not to say that a sin is a sin?

We are to say a sin is a sin. For example, it is a sin to deliberately misinterpret what someone has said.

[orthonorm]

Every behavior can be a sin (and evidently thoughts, feelings, diseases, earthquakes). Can people move on to nuance now?

[William]

The Ecumenical Patriarch made a statement about abortion I was wondering your thoughts on it:

Although the Orthodox Church believes the soul enters the body at conception and, generally
speaking, respects human life and the continuation of the pregnancy, the church also respects the liberty and freedom of all human persons and all Christian couples. . . .We are not allowed to enter the bedrooms of the Christian couples...We cannot generalize. There are many reasons for a couple to go toward abortion.

Source

This statement makes me somewhat uneasy, the only justifiable reason I could see from an Orthodox standpoint for abortion is if it threatens the health of the mother. But, the EP doesn't seem to mention that at all, rather, he says that there are "many reasons" and makes no mention to health. Likewise, notice he says "Christian" couples, I find that to be somewhat of an oxymoron, since canonically speaking, you cannot be an Orthodox Christian and have abortions with no good health reason to justify it.

Thoughts?

The EP is dead wrong here.
There is no excuse for killing the unborn. Abortion is murder.

Even in an ectopic pregnancy, where the embryo has implanted itself in the walls of the Fallopian tube, there is still a chance that the life of that embryo can be saved. Daily, we are developing new technology and methods to save lives. 

Perhaps he is saying that as with any sin, we should not set ourselves up as judge and jury of a person who has committed that sin, even one as gravely wrong as abortion. It is for God to judge the person, and not us.

The EP's statement was sufficient to drive away some Orthodox inquirers and catechumens who were originally Roman Catholic. They left Orthodoxy and joined some sedevacantist group.

I have to say that you are correct.  And it would go beyond just the Roman Catholics.  If I would have read that statement at the time that I was having doubts about my former denomination (WELS Lutheran) and was searching for the True Church, I would never have set foot in an Orthodox Church.   

As an inquirer, it does make me stop and think. If the Ecumenical Patriarch can say this without censure, how do I know that abortion isn't given a green light in the future?

[orthonorm]

The Ecumenical Patriarch made a statement about abortion I was wondering your thoughts on it:

Although the Orthodox Church believes the soul enters the body at conception and, generally
speaking, respects human life and the continuation of the pregnancy, the church also respects the liberty and freedom of all human persons and all Christian couples. . . .We are not allowed to enter the bedrooms of the Christian couples...We cannot generalize. There are many reasons for a couple to go toward abortion.

As an inquirer, it does make me stop and think. If the Ecumenical Patriarch can say this without censure, how do I know that abortion isn't given a green light in the future?

Rewind . . .

William, really the tone of your posts are overly triumphal even for an inquirer.

Look at the bolded words. Contrary to the simplistic and reductionistic posts around here, couples do have abortions for many reasons. Rarely (never, although I did meet one unfortunate soul who would fit the weird and bizarre straw woman people like to paint around here to mix a metaphor) is it to MURDER someone.

God forbid we not generalize and just say people who seek out abortion are murderers.

Again, no one here believes it, so I really wish everyone would quit saying it. Lying may be or may not be a sin, but hypocrisy ranks high. And people flirt with it often around here.

The real problem here should be the fact the EP thinks a soul enters a body at conception. That is the strangest and most problematic thing about his statement. Maybe something is lost in translation.

[William]

Actually being dejected by something is pretty much the exact opposite of triumphalism.

[orthonorm]

Actually being dejected by something is pretty much the exact opposite of triumphalism.

Oh, one can make a triumph of just about anything.

[William]

Actually being dejected by something is pretty much the exact opposite of triumphalism.

Oh, one can make a triumph of just about anything.

Disappointment can be made into a triumph?

[orthonorm]

Actually being dejected by something is pretty much the exact opposite of triumphalism.

Oh, one can make a triumph of just about anything.

Disappointment can be made into a triumph?

You have to be kidding? The Good Lord musta blessed you with some kinda family. Good for you.

The victory of disappointment is food for many relationships. I can't stop the mixed metaphors.

[William]

Actually being dejected by something is pretty much the exact opposite of triumphalism.

Oh, one can make a triumph of just about anything.

Disappointment can be made into a triumph?

You have to be kidding? The Good Lord musta blessed you with some kinda family. Good for you.

The victory of disappointment is food for many relationships. I can't stop the mixed metaphors.

Okay, I see your point. I feel like I'm more despairing than trying to feel superior or triumphant or anything. See my sig you inspired.

[orthonorm]

Actually being dejected by something is pretty much the exact opposite of triumphalism.

Oh, one can make a triumph of just about anything.

Disappointment can be made into a triumph?

You have to be kidding? The Good Lord musta blessed you with some kinda family. Good for you.

The victory of disappointment is food for many relationships. I can't stop the mixed metaphors.

Okay, I see your point. I feel like I'm more despairing than trying to feel superior or triumphant or anything. See my sig you inspired.

You should really ignore whatever the EP is saying or doing. It has almost exactly no relevance to you or the parish you are attending.

It's one thing to talk Church politics writ large. It's another to confuse it for the Church.

Be careful to try to maintain that possibly artificial albeit helpful difference most of the time.

[Kerdy]

The Ecumenical Patriarch made a statement about abortion I was wondering your thoughts on it:

Although the Orthodox Church believes the soul enters the body at conception and, generally
speaking, respects human life and the continuation of the pregnancy, the church also respects the liberty and freedom of all human persons and all Christian couples. . . .We are not allowed to enter the bedrooms of the Christian couples...We cannot generalize. There are many reasons for a couple to go toward abortion.

Source

This statement makes me somewhat uneasy, the only justifiable reason I could see from an Orthodox standpoint for abortion is if it threatens the health of the mother. But, the EP doesn't seem to mention that at all, rather, he says that there are "many reasons" and makes no mention to health. Likewise, notice he says "Christian" couples, I find that to be somewhat of an oxymoron, since canonically speaking, you cannot be an Orthodox Christian and have abortions with no good health reason to justify it.

Thoughts?

The EP is dead wrong here.
There is no excuse for killing the unborn. Abortion is murder.

Even in an ectopic pregnancy, where the embryo has implanted itself in the walls of the Fallopian tube, there is still a chance that the life of that embryo can be saved. Daily, we are developing new technology and methods to save lives. 

Perhaps he is saying that as with any sin, we should not set ourselves up as judge and jury of a person who has committed that sin, even one as gravely wrong as abortion. It is for God to judge the person, and not us.

So, we're not to say that a sin is a sin?

Of course not. That would be judgmental and may offend someone.

[Shanghaiski]

I think it's a matter of matching the teaching to the audience. When a hierarch such as the EP says something, he may be speaking to a particular group of people, but this may not be clearly defined, and it's easy to take phrases out of context--or even entire actions, for that matter. Being a chief bishop for many years, he has a different sort of role than that of a spiritual father or a diocesan bishop.

I thought that telling people what they want to hear is a form of dishonesty.  Shouldn't Truth be Truth whatever the audience?

Not really. For example, a spiritual father may tell you to do one thing based on what you've got going, and another person to do another. One size does not fit all in every situation. (Just explaining. Personally, I can't do that with infanticide.)

[Opus118]

The Ecumenical Patriarch made a statement about abortion I was wondering your thoughts on it:

Although the Orthodox Church believes the soul enters the body at conception and, generally
speaking, respects human life and the continuation of the pregnancy, the church also respects the liberty and freedom of all human persons and all Christian couples. . . .We are not allowed to enter the bedrooms of the Christian couples...We cannot generalize. There are many reasons for a couple to go toward abortion.

Source

This statement makes me somewhat uneasy, the only justifiable reason I could see from an Orthodox standpoint for abortion is if it threatens the health of the mother. But, the EP doesn't seem to mention that at all, rather, he says that there are "many reasons" and makes no mention to health. Likewise, notice he says "Christian" couples, I find that to be somewhat of an oxymoron, since canonically speaking, you cannot be an Orthodox Christian and have abortions with no good health reason to justify it.

Thoughts?

I remember this statement that priests aren't going to enter the bedroom. It dates from the 1960s. I seem to remember it was about contraception. Perhaps Patriarch Bartholomew was a spokesperson for Patriarch Athenogoras at the time. I do not know. Having read the San Francisco Chronicle from the time I learned to read (comics mostly) to when I left the Bay Area in 1980, I recommend taking the quote from this paper with more than a grain of salt.

I have decided to quote myself. Usually I consider being ignored a blessing. However, this thread which I believe to be based on false premises has gone on too long.

Parts of my memory may be bad, but this one is not. This statement, in one form or another, originated in the 1960s (prior to my leaving home to go to college). My recollection is that it had nothing to do with abortion, I could be wrong, so there is an opportunity for those that want to condemn to condemn, given that I am unsure.

I would think that it would be unusual for a paper that dealt mostly with the controversy of Foster English muffins being bought out by Kilpatricks because their muffins were pre-sliced and the demise of Larraburru (sour dough) French bread, to have someone go to Constantinople to interview Metropolitan Bartholomew.

I cannot address this issue, even though my memory is firm, because I have not seen the article and more importantly I cannot write to the author directly.

I consider threads like this as a form of tribal rage,  not unlike what occurs in Pakistan, Afghanistan, etc, where people die in riots based on events that have never occurred.

The ability of people on this forum to condemn individuals with so little evidence (which should not have required my ignored post) astounds me.

I welcome any substantive posts that may follow, but I consider what has been going on here sick. This is my opinion.

[NicholasMyra]

The real problem here should be the fact the EP thinks a soul enters a body at conception. That is the strangest and most problematic thing about his statement. Maybe something is lost in translation.

I don't think it's overly problematic. It's just your typical Hellenic Christian reading of Genesis 2:7.

[J Michael]

The real problem here should be the fact the EP thinks a soul enters a body at conception. That is the strangest and most problematic thing about his statement. Maybe something is lost in translation.

I don't think it's overly problematic. It's just your typical Hellenic Christian reading of Genesis 2:7.

Great signature, NicholasMyra!  Fr. Tom's talk on the Prodigal Son parable, where he re-works it without ever losing its original meaning, is brilliant!  One I'll never forget. 

[Fabio Leite]

I don't think people who willingly choose to abort understand themselves as murderers, nevertheless the act *is* murder. I don't know how it works in other countries laws, but here in Brazil there is a distinctin between "murder with guilt" and "murder with intention".

Murder with guilt is any kind of muder where you are responsible for the death of the person. For example, if I get drunk and drive and kill someone in the process I am responsible for this death although I did not intend to kill anyone. I'd be charged of "murder with guilt". If I decide to run over a person I don't like and I kill this person, I'd be charged of "murder with intention" which is considered worse with heavier penalties. I'm sure lawyers could expand on the technicalities and grey areas, but that's the idea.

People who commit abortion are "murders with guilt". Some don't think there is a human being there, some are in doubt. They take the chance though, putting aside the possibility that they may be killing someone. It's like I chose to set fire to a house that may or may not have a baby there. It obviously is not the same thing as doing it being sure there is, but the person did find it was worth the risk. Since, in the end, there was an actual baby in the house, it was "murder with guilt". Saying "I never believed for a moment there was a baby there" doesn't change anything, just like the drunk driver who says "I never believed I'd hit someone" doesn't change the nature of the fact. At the very least, they gambled with other people's lives at stake, not their own. And lost it.

[J Michael]

I don't think people who willingly choose to abort understand themselves as murderers, nevertheless the act *is* murder. I don't know how it works in other countries laws, but here in Brazil there is a distinctin between "murder with guilt" and "murder with intention".

Murder with guilt is any kind of muder where you are responsible for the death of the person. For example, if I get drunk and drive and kill someone in the process I am responsible for this death although I did not intend to kill anyone. I'd be charged of "murder with guilt". If I decide to run over a person I don't like and I kill this person, I'd be charged of "murder with intention" which is considered worse with heavier penalties. I'm sure lawyers could expand on the technicalities and grey areas, but that's the idea.

People who commit abortion are "murders with guilt". Some don't think there is a human being there, some are in doubt. They take the chance though, putting aside the possibility that they may be killing someone. It's like I chose to set fire to a house that may or may not have a baby there. It obviously is not the same thing as doing it being sure there is, but the person did find it was worth the risk. Since, in the end, there was an actual baby in the house, it was "murder with guilt". Saying "I never believed for a moment there was a baby there" doesn't change anything, just like the drunk driver who says "I never believed I'd hit someone" doesn't change the nature of the fact. At the very least, they gambled with other people's lives at stake, not their own. And lost it.

Very nicely said!

[KBN1]

The Ecumenical Patriarch made a statement about abortion I was wondering your thoughts on it:

Although the Orthodox Church believes the soul enters the body at conception and, generally
speaking, respects human life and the continuation of the pregnancy, the church also respects the liberty and freedom of all human persons and all Christian couples. . . .We are not allowed to enter the bedrooms of the Christian couples...We cannot generalize. There are many reasons for a couple to go toward abortion.

Source

This statement makes me somewhat uneasy, the only justifiable reason I could see from an Orthodox standpoint for abortion is if it threatens the health of the mother. But, the EP doesn't seem to mention that at all, rather, he says that there are "many reasons" and makes no mention to health. Likewise, notice he says "Christian" couples, I find that to be somewhat of an oxymoron, since canonically speaking, you cannot be an Orthodox Christian and have abortions with no good health reason to justify it.

Thoughts?

I remember this statement that priests aren't going to enter the bedroom. It dates from the 1960s. I seem to remember it was about contraception. Perhaps Patriarch Bartholomew was a spokesperson for Patriarch Athenogoras at the time. I do not know. Having read the San Francisco Chronicle from the time I learned to read (comics mostly) to when I left the Bay Area in 1980, I recommend taking the quote from this paper with more than a grain of salt.

I have decided to quote myself. Usually I consider being ignored a blessing. However, this thread which I believe to be based on false premises has gone on too long.

Parts of my memory may be bad, but this one is not. This statement, in one form or another, originated in the 1960s (prior to my leaving home to go to college). My recollection is that it had nothing to do with abortion, I could be wrong, so there is an opportunity for those that want to condemn to condemn, given that I am unsure.

I would think that it would be unusual for a paper that dealt mostly with the controversy of Foster English muffins being bought out by Kilpatricks because their muffins were pre-sliced and the demise of Larraburru (sour dough) French bread, to have someone go to Constantinople to interview Metropolitan Bartholomew.

I cannot address this issue, even though my memory is firm, because I have not seen the article and more importantly I cannot write to the author directly.

I consider threads like this as a form of tribal rage,  not unlike what occurs in Pakistan, Afghanistan, etc, where people die in riots based on events that have never occurred.

The ability of people on this forum to condemn individuals with so little evidence (which should not have required my ignored post) astounds me.

I welcome any substantive posts that may follow, but I consider what has been going on here sick. This is my opinion.

I would be very interested in the original context and full quote.  The ellipsis needs to be taken note of. 

[KBN1]

It seems that the quote in the OP needs to be corrected.  As I have found it in other articles, the quote is from the SanFran Chronicle, but only portions of it being the words of Patriarch Bartholomew.

Asked the Orthodox church’s position on abortion, Bartholomais described a stand more liberal than that of the Roman Catholic Church, which condemns abortion in all cases and whose clergy have, in some cities, excommunicated leading pro-choice Catholics.

Although the Orthodox church believes the soul enters the body at conception and, ”generally speaking, respects human life and the continuation of pregnancy,” Bartholomais said, the church also ”respects the liberty and freedom of all human persons and all Christian couples.”

”We are not allowed to enter the bedrooms of the Christian couples,” he said. ”We cannot generalize. There are many reasons for a couple to go toward abortion.”

http://www.frpeterpreble.com/2009/11/abortion-an-orthodox-view.html

The bit about the soul entering the body at conception might be more the writer than what His Holiness actually said.  We also don't know the questions he was responding to.  Just sayin'.

[choy]

It seems that the quote in the OP needs to be corrected.  As I have found it in other articles, the quote is from the SanFran Chronicle, but only portions of it being the words of Patriarch Bartholomew.

Asked the Orthodox church’s position on abortion, Bartholomais described a stand more liberal than that of the Roman Catholic Church, which condemns abortion in all cases and whose clergy have, in some cities, excommunicated leading pro-choice Catholics.

Although the Orthodox church believes the soul enters the body at conception and, ”generally speaking, respects human life and the continuation of pregnancy,” Bartholomais said, the church also ”respects the liberty and freedom of all human persons and all Christian couples.”

”We are not allowed to enter the bedrooms of the Christian couples,” he said. ”We cannot generalize. There are many reasons for a couple to go toward abortion.”

http://www.frpeterpreble.com/2009/11/abortion-an-orthodox-view.html

The bit about the soul entering the body at conception might be more the writer than what His Holiness actually said.  We also don't know the questions he was responding to.  Just sayin'.

Agreed.  And we don't know what the context was.  Journalism today is all about marketing and sales, trying to come up with a story that you think people will be interested in so they will read your paper (or browse your web page and you get more hits and more advertising dollars).  So they will take things out of context and sensationalize the headlines and whatever to draw an audience.

[JoeS2]

We know that Abortion is wrong and so does the EP.  Why he is taking this stance is unknown, but as an Orthodox Christian I can not agree with his stand on mitigated circumstances involving the taking of an infant's life.   Patriarchs, and Popes have been wrong from time to time.
Maybe the next EP will sing a different tune.

[Carl Kraeff (Second Chance)]

Here are my thoughts.

JamesR's source was an article, Orthodox Patriarchs “Wink” at Abortion by Fr Edward Pehanich, where he criticized both Patriarch Karekin I of Etchmiadzin, Armenia and Patriarch Bartholemew (for a statement he was reported to have said as Metropolitan of Chalcedon). His sad conclusion was "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." http://web.archive.org/web/20040407123705/http://www.oclife.org/vnine.pdf

A quick search of the Internet produced another lead, this time in A Not So Pro-life Patriarch . . . by Hunter Baker, that refers to an article by John Couretas (a contributor to AOI). He concludes "The statement was made in 1990, but Couretas goes on to highlight the same theme in the patriarch’s thought through the years. For a church that talks about being founded in 32 b.c. this is quite a divergence from early Christian practice, which consistently exhibited tremendous concern for the value of human life." http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2009/10/27/a-not-so-pro-life-patriarch/

The problem here is that the link to Mr. Couretas' 2009 article in AOI goes nowhere. So, I would appreciate if anyone can locate a copy of the Couretas article as the key here is not the SF Chronicle interview but Couretas' alleged highlighting of the  theme in the Patrirarch's thoughts through the years. In case I have lost the reader, the theme would be "”We are not allowed to enter the bedrooms of the Christian couples,” he said. ”We cannot generalize. There are many reasons for a couple to go toward abortion.”

I think there are good reasons why many folks think the Patriarch is "soft" on abortion, aside from his thoughts on the matter. Father Pehanich's accusation may be correct and bears repeating "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." This is clear from the lack of emphasis on issues such as abortion by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in the United States. Indeed, if one were to list the issues that the Greek-Americans are concerned with, one would not see any social issue (or something that is specific to the United States). Here is a list of their concerns at the national level "Aegean dispute, Cyprus dispute, Macedonia naming dispute, Greek genocide" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaspora_politics_in_the_United_States

My conclusion is that it is up to the Patriarch to disprove the serious allegation contained in the quoted SF Chronicle article.

[orthonorm]

A quick search of the Internet produced another lead, this time in A Not So Pro-life Patriarch . . . by Hunter Baker, that refers to an article by John Couretas (a contributor to AOI). He concludes "The statement was made in 1990, but Couretas goes on to highlight the same theme in the patriarch’s thought through the years. For a church that talks about being founded in 32 b.c. this is quite a divergence from early Christian practice, which consistently exhibited tremendous concern for the value of human life." http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2009/10/27/a-not-so-pro-life-patriarch/

Carl,

Dunno if this is helpful, maybe you already saw it, but here is a blog entry by Mr. Couretas where he summarizes some of his arguments contra the Patriarch (includes links posts on the subject)

http://blog.acton.org/archives/12601-green-patriarchs-web-of-life-has-a-gaping-hole-in-it.html

I literally googled for 40 seconds trying to find your source article. Time is tight.

FWIW.

[choy]

We know that Abortion is wrong and so does the EP.  Why he is taking this stance is unknown, but as an Orthodox Christian I can not agree with his stand on mitigated circumstances involving the taking of an infant's life.   Patriarchs, and Popes have been wrong from time to time.
Maybe the next EP will sing a different tune.

Maybe he already does, given this statement was made some time ago.  Maybe he was just ill informed of the medical realities of abortion of the time.  Or perhaps again the statement was made in a context other than showing support for abortion.

[Carl Kraeff (Second Chance)]

A quick search of the Internet produced another lead, this time in A Not So Pro-life Patriarch . . . by Hunter Baker, that refers to an article by John Couretas (a contributor to AOI). He concludes "The statement was made in 1990, but Couretas goes on to highlight the same theme in the patriarch’s thought through the years. For a church that talks about being founded in 32 b.c. this is quite a divergence from early Christian practice, which consistently exhibited tremendous concern for the value of human life." http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2009/10/27/a-not-so-pro-life-patriarch/

Carl,

Dunno if this is helpful, maybe you already saw it, but here is a blog entry by Mr. Couretas where he summarizes some of his arguments contra the Patriarch (includes links posts on the subject)

http://blog.acton.org/archives/12601-green-patriarchs-web-of-life-has-a-gaping-hole-in-it.html

I literally googled for 40 seconds trying to find your source article. Time is tight.

FWIW.

Thanks! Although this later article by John Couretas confirms the reference by Hunter baker, it would be good if we can unearth the earlier Couretas article. Could it be this one?:

A patriarch who ‘generally speaking, respects human life’
October 24, 2009 10:37 PM
http://www.aoiusa.org/blog/a-patriarch-who-generally-speaking-respects-human-life/

[orthonorm]

A quick search of the Internet produced another lead, this time in A Not So Pro-life Patriarch . . . by Hunter Baker, that refers to an article by John Couretas (a contributor to AOI). He concludes "The statement was made in 1990, but Couretas goes on to highlight the same theme in the patriarch’s thought through the years. For a church that talks about being founded in 32 b.c. this is quite a divergence from early Christian practice, which consistently exhibited tremendous concern for the value of human life." http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2009/10/27/a-not-so-pro-life-patriarch/

Carl,

Dunno if this is helpful, maybe you already saw it, but here is a blog entry by Mr. Couretas where he summarizes some of his arguments contra the Patriarch (includes links posts on the subject)

http://blog.acton.org/archives/12601-green-patriarchs-web-of-life-has-a-gaping-hole-in-it.html

I literally googled for 40 seconds trying to find your source article. Time is tight.

FWIW.

Thanks! Although this later article by John Couretas confirms the reference by Hunter baker, it would be good if we can unearth the earlier Couretas article. Could it be this one?:

A patriarch who ‘generally speaking, respects human life’
October 24, 2009 10:37 PM
http://www.aoiusa.org/blog/a-patriarch-who-generally-speaking-respects-human-life/

The SF Chronicle article is not archived on their website. They start from 1992.

This post I found however does cite the article as well along with a quote from a WP article, which I verified, and a quote from a book, Conversations with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, which I also verified within context.

Orthodox EP Soft Like Anglicans on Abortion [Ecumenical]:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2053256/posts

FWIW.

EDIT: The poster obviously draws their own conclusions based on the three statements.

[Carl Kraeff (Second Chance)]

Thanks again Orthonorm!  I think it would be safe to say that there is smoke, if not fire.

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