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Nine_Two
Guest
How come I never see you putting this much effort into digging up scandal in your own church?
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And God bless our siblings in the OCA. May the Spirit guide them in their leadership.
Jon
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dvdjs
Guest
I am tempted just to say: because it’s so easy to rely on others for that; there are people at CAF who spend an amazing amount of time picking at my church, however far they have to go back into the past, however much they have to strain history. But for this situation that we are actually experiencing and actually know something about? Nada.
But the real question is: what scandal?
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dvdjs
Guest
You might know little, but others know a great deal more. As I said, there are probably some important lessons that might be learned to the benefit of many from this experience. But there must be a willingness.
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Nine_Two
Guest
Your tone here suggests you think negatively of those who do it to the Catholic Church. So why do you do it to others?
My point exactly.
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ConstantineTG
Guest
But there is no source we can completely trust. Some will always claim they know more than they actually do. This reminds me of the SSPX situation. There’s always someone, somewhere saying what they know is true.
What do you believe of the situation?
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Peter_J
Guest
How did you come to the conclusion that there is “so little willingness” to discuss it?
If you’re basing that just on the *amount *of discussion, then I would have to ask: How much do you think the typical Catholic, or even more specifically the typical Eastern Catholic, actually know about the situation in the OCA?
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ByzCathCantor
Guest
In fairness, I do think he was referring to Orthodox contributors on the CAF who are members of OCA and thus assumed to have some informed views or opinions on these events.
To that, and to address our dear brother Nine_Two’s charge and concern, I would only say that I do truly empathize and do not wish to take any opportunity to “rejoice in scandal” of another Church, most especially the OCA. We should remember that this was really the pioneering Church for Orthodoxy in America, and should be especially respected for that reason. Likewise, one can also understand the curiousity of others for that same exact reason.
For my own part, it is still estimated that at least some 25% of the members of OCA are of Carpatho-Rusyn heritage, although that identity may have waned over the generations. In the early 20th century and beyond, there were numbers of former Greek Catholics who did indeed turn to what became the OCA as they rejected the restrictions imposed on Greek Catholics in the early days of their immigration to America, and in some cases over further developments (or lack thereof) in the BCC.
While it is a strange relationship at times for others to understand, there will likely always be a sense of kinship (some driven by real blood relations) between the BCC, OCA and ACROD. I know I watch with great interest when something of note (positive or negative) is happening in those communities. Yesterday, for example, I started a thread and posted a link here on CAF to a video of the ACROD clergy nominating a new Metropolitan Bishop. It was a truly extraordinary look at a historic occasion in the life of that Church, and a rare public view of Orthodox ecclesiology in action. The Archbishop presiding and representing the Ecumenical Patriarch also remarked throughout at how respecfully this process was conducted, especially given the deep love for their dearly departed +Metropolitan Nicholas (memory eternal!). Yet sadly, that thread did not get much attention, certainly not as much as this one has and likely will.
As fellow Christians sharing Apostolic heritage, may we also rejoice in the triumphs of these Churches as much as we may be curious about their unique challenges.
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Eric_Hilbert
Guest
The topic not each other.
And post with charity
And post with charity
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Cavaradossi
Guest
I’m not even sure how many active posters here are in the OCA and of those how many are in the know. But I doubt that there are enough to really have this discussion, and much of it will be hearsay (“well, my priest told me that…”). That is probably why there is a general reluctance to talk about it here, especially for those of us who are not in the OCA.
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Peter_J
Guest
I see what you’re saying, ByzCathCantor. I got confused about which forum this is.
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Credo_ergo_sum
Guest
Indeed. Every time a thread in the Non-Catholic religion forum goes about Orthodoxy the only ones that participate are those who frequent the EC-forum. Wonder why nobody cares to join us
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Peter_J
Guest
I suppose, but you could also look at it the other way around: anyone who does participate in an Orthodoxy-related thread on NCR-forum is likely to also participate in an Orthodoxy-related thread on EC-forum.Indeed. Every time a thread in the Non-Catholic religion forum goes about Orthodoxy the only ones that participate are those who frequent the EC-forum. Wonder why nobody cares to join us
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Nine_Two
Guest
Exactly. I’m a member of the OCA in good standing and while I know those who are in the know, they don’t tell me, and they don’t post on forums about it. Speculation isn’t a productive path.
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ByzCathCantor
Guest
Indeed it is not. On that note, the Holy Synod of the OCA today released a statement, explaining in some detail the circumstances of Metropolitan Jonah’s resignation and related matters, knowing that speculation would otherwise run rampant and that their faithful may otherwise be misinformed.
Out of respect for all involved and most especially the kind-spirited contributors here on CAF who are members of the OCA, I intentionally refrained from posting a link to the release. It is easy enough to find in the public domain.
Our prayers remain with the faithful and leaders of the OCA, and all those affected by these circumstances and events.
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Nine_Two
Guest
The release is on the front page of the OCA website.
Its contents are largely unsurprising.
Metropolitan Jonah was acting in a unilateral manner. There were issues with this before, unsurprising they came back.
I am surprised by the allegations he was involved in the coverup of a rape, and that demonstrates poor decision making abilities for which he should be be removed from such a high position of authority.
This is saddening, I almost wish it had been petty politics, nonetheless the Holy Synod acted in the proper manner.
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Peter_J
Guest
Well said. I don’t even see why Metropolitan Jonah made public the fact that his resignation was “in response to the unanimous request of the bishops”. (I can’t really go further with that without engaging in speculation, so I’ll stop there.)
Prayers for the OCA. :nun1:
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Hesychios
Guest
That’s good.
It shows exactly how the synod works. He was asked to step down, we do not know why and don’t need to know., for his own good? For the good of the synod? For both? No matter.
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robertericleech
Guest
Just read the OCA press release. Wow.
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Mickey
Guest
Bravo to His Grace Bishop Mathias for his candor and that of the Holy Synod of Bishops.
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