Unless we protect our children, we are allies of the evil one
As a priest, I am deeply shocked, almost beyond words, by the abuse perpetrated upon innocent children by clergy who have demonstrated a total lack of commitment to the teachings of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and who, in turn, used their sacred positions as clergy, to take advantage of children.
That any priest would violate his duty in such a way can only be described as diabolical. Although there are cultural and psychological ramifications, the problem remains primarily spiritual. Unfortunately, this sordid behavior has periodically reared its head for millennia, and is one of the clearest signs that the human race has been under demonic attack. In our days when Christians sadly fall into this terrible behavior, the media take this as the ultimate chance to criticize, and discredit, Christianity, further pushing away the society at large that has chosen to turn away from her Christian roots.
For those who know me, they are not surprised to hear that I am critical of what I perceive to be un-Christ like behavior amongst the clergy. I am sickened when I witness clergy who expect special treatment, or who gush before their bishops, like court officials in some kingdom of bygone days. We priests must stand firm in leading our people in returning to being the people of God, and rethink the relationship between our church leaders and the laity.
I pray we Orthodox clergy, be we lowly monks like myself, or patriarchs, archbishops, archimandrites, or mitered archpriests, live in humble witness to the example given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ, to serve our people as servants, knowing that our world has turned its collective back on God, and desperately needs our example of love and service.
This world cannot well afford the contemporary followers of our crucified Lord to continue giving any bad example of privilege, power and wealth, while witnessing the slaughter of innocent Christians in the Middle East, the masses turning away from Christ in the West, and countless people who are lost in poverty and hopelessness.
It would do us well, as priests and bishops, to remember that the kissing of our hand by the laity is not about us, but rather honoring Our Lord Jesus Christ, for the priest is a servant of Christ and steward of the Mysteries. When someone kisses his right hand, it is about Christ, and Christ only.
“And for their sake I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth” (John 17:19). To sanctify means to consecrate. Christ consecrated Himself for the ministry and our redemption. All the ranks of the priesthood are consecrated for ministry, according to the example of Christ, the High Priest, and if we truly follow the example of Christ, we will serve His people as simple servants.
As Orthodox clergy, we dare not dismiss the sexual abuse of children, and those who would cover the sins and crimes in their house, as simply a Roman Catholic problem. We Orthodox clergy need to remember that every time the media publishes the horrid news of child abuse at the hands of clergy, more people walk away from all forms of Christianity. Like the first century, people need to see in us the Co-Suffering Saviour, the One Who lifts us out of the mire and filth of this fallen world. The world needs to see, in us, humble, loving servants of the Lord God, and clergy who, like Saint Paul, see themselves as the worst of sinners, and who point the way to the Lord of Mercy, Who is the salvation of our souls.
Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Photo: The Weaver family children, visiting the monastery with their parents, from Atlanta, Georgia.
Friday October 30, 2020 / October 17, 2020
21st Week after Pentecost. Tone three.
Fast. By Monastic Charter: Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits)
Prophet Hosea (Osee) (820 B.C.).
Monk-martyr Andrew of Crete (767).
New Hieromartyr Neophit and Anatolius priests, Martyrs Hyacinth and Callistus (1918).
New Hieromartyr Archbishop Alexander (Shchukin) of Semipalatinsk (1937).
Venerable Anthony, abbot, of Leokhonov (Novgorod) (1611).
Holy Martyrs and Unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian in Cilicia (4th c.), and their brothers Leontius, Anthimus, and Eutropius.
Translation of the relics (898) of St. Lazarus “Of the Four Days” (in the tomb), bishop of Kition on Cyprus.
“Before Birth and After Birth the Virgin” (1827) and “Deliverer”(1889) Icons of the Mother of God.
Martyr Queen Shushaniki (Susanna) of Georgia (475) (Georgia).
St. Joseph the Wonderworker, Catholicos of Georgia (1770) (Georgia).
Holy Martyr Kozman (Georgia).
Martyrs Ethelred and Ethelbert, princes of Kent (England) (ca. 640) (Celtic & British).
Translation of the relics of St. Ethelreda, abbess of Ely. (Celtic & British).
The Scripture Readings
Colossians 2:1-7
Not Philosophy but Christ
2 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Luke 9:12-18
12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.”
13 But He said to them, “You give them something to eat.”
And they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people.” 14 For there were about five thousand men.
Then He said to His disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of fifty.” 15 And they did so, and made them all sit down.
16 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude. 17 So they all ate and were [a]filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up by them.
Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ
18 And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
“I am sickened when I witness clergy who expect special treatment, or who gush before their bishops, like court officials in some kingdom of bygone days.” – Is what’s to be expected when politics rears its head.
“We Orthodox clergy need to remember that every time the media publishes the horrid news of child abuse at the hands of clergy, more people walk away from all forms of Christianity.” – A true tragedy on many levels , for the one abused , for those weak who fall away , for those who otherwise would have sought refuse under the “Good Shepherd”…..
“Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.” – St. Mark 9:37
“Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” – St. Luke 17:1,2
Blest day, Father.
Father bless. Indeed, it is truly heart-rending to see this occur. Without trying to deflect from the depravity of this situation, I believe more children are abused by school teachers, family members and human traffickers than priests. Unfortunately, as you said, the media is quick to disparage the priest but not the others for this heinous act. Blest day, you are in my prayers.
I totally agree with you. Remember, this nation experienced similar depravity within the Boy Scouts of America. It was not only pandemic in the organization, but like the Catholic Church, they tried covering it up. Enough is enough.
Indeed.
There is a family in my parish who, before coming here had the oldest son sexually abused by a Greek priest. It wrecked havoc in the entire family and still is over 30 years from the immediate abuse. It rendered the entire community impotent. As bad as that is, the higher clergy who assigned him knew he had troubles with those demonic passions but sent him to a small mission parish with no accountability. He was a dynamic man and the parish was growing. Then the devil attacked. I do not know a worse sin. It is a blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and the hierarchy who assigned him certainly share the sin. They forced him into the path of temptation.
Lord have mercy