A
Alexios
Guest
Adam,
Why has +KALLISTOS Ware’s book been edited from its original in 1963 in which it said “Artificial methodis of birth control are forbidden in the Orthodox Church” (echoing Patriarch Athenagoras’ letter to Pope Paul VI on Humanae Vitae in which he assured the Pope that the Orthodox were in “total agreement” with the encyclical) to the current edition today, which says:
And what about the OCA’s website which (1) doesn’t distinguish between non-abortifacient and abortifacient, and (2) basically leaves its use up to the couple, if they see fit/their consciences are clear?
Who, in Orthodoxy, can answer this error creeping in? No, this error isn’t officially enshrined as being ok, since the Orthodox haven’t held an ecumenical council allowing or condemning it, which seems really the only way one can know for sure. How are Orthodox faithful left to judge what are reliable and traditional teachings, when incredibly popular books are edited, official websites say these things, a vast amount of faithful, priests, and hierarchs think it’s okay?
Why has +KALLISTOS Ware’s book been edited from its original in 1963 in which it said “Artificial methodis of birth control are forbidden in the Orthodox Church” (echoing Patriarch Athenagoras’ letter to Pope Paul VI on Humanae Vitae in which he assured the Pope that the Orthodox were in “total agreement” with the encyclical) to the current edition today, which says:
In fact, this edition doesn’t even make mention any difference between abortifacient contraception and non-abortifacients. It is said that many who support ABC go on to try and say that NFP is contrary to the Fathers…so, were we both wrong then, or are we both wrong now? Are is just one of us wrong now, which seems more likely?Concerning contraceptives and other forms of birth control, differing opinions exist within the Orthodox Church. In the past birth control was in general strongly condemned, but today a less strict view is coming to prevail, not only in the west but in traditional Orthodox countries. Many Orthodox theologians and spiritual fathers consider that the responsible use of contraception within marriage is not in itself sinful. In their view, the question of how many children a couple should have, and at what intervals, is best decided by the partners themselves, according to the guidance of their own consciences."
And what about the OCA’s website which (1) doesn’t distinguish between non-abortifacient and abortifacient, and (2) basically leaves its use up to the couple, if they see fit/their consciences are clear?
Who, in Orthodoxy, can answer this error creeping in? No, this error isn’t officially enshrined as being ok, since the Orthodox haven’t held an ecumenical council allowing or condemning it, which seems really the only way one can know for sure. How are Orthodox faithful left to judge what are reliable and traditional teachings, when incredibly popular books are edited, official websites say these things, a vast amount of faithful, priests, and hierarchs think it’s okay?