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| Fr. Stephen (pictured left) at the visitation of the Kursk Root Icon last month at St. Elias in Houston |
Certainly, one is to be afforded some measure of latitude when one has been accused and not convicted of the crime of possessing child pornography. How should this be tempered by the concerns of parents during weekly Divine Liturgies? How does one square the treatment of another priest who disobeyed the archdiocesan dress code being barred from all Antiochian parishes, with the apparent episcopal blessing for Fr. Stephen to stand in the altar of area churches on Sunday? Thoughts?
HOUSTON (KTRK) - A different setting for a former priest -- Stephen Burke was in court Friday morning on charges of possessing child pornography.
The choice of clothing in the courtroom is usually calculated to give a favorable impression of the defendant. This defendant donned attire that would usually be beyond reproach. But this isn't your typical defendant.
Burke was removed as priest of St. Anthony the Great Antiochian Orthodox Church in Spring back in January, but still he wore his clerical garments to court on Friday.
Prosecutor Darin Darby said, "I don't know. I mean, if that's how he dresses every day, that's how he dresses every day. That's fine. That's his choice."
Burke is accused of two counts of possession of child pornography. It was allegedly found on his church computer. The state claims it consists of a few images of young girls in various stages of undress. Burke was allegedly unable to offer an explanation for the images, either to church members or investigators.
"His explanation, based on the police investigation, was inconsistent with what was found on the computer that he used," explained Darby. "Several of the images included, as probable cause states, images of children under the age of 12, also one image of the defendant undressed."
Defense attorney David Breston said, "We look forward to clearing Father Burke in a jury trial."
Authorities don't believe Burke knew any of the girls in these images that were allegedly found on his computer.
The question is whether he will wear his priest clothing at that trial. Defense attorney and former prosecutor Kim Ogg says the clerical attire could work against him.
"If it's learned by that same jury, where the false impression has been created, that he's not active in the priesthood, it'll be an indication of his lack of credibility and that's what he risks," Ogg explained.
Burke's lawyer didn't have any comment on his client's choice of clothing. Burke remains free on $20,000 bond.
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I think there is a disturbing fact here that seems to not be taken into account. Met. Phillip banned a priest from attending any Sunday services over a comment on a blog, but this man, who remains under a serious cloud of suspicion is welcomed into the altar and even has been known to hold the communion cloth.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like the message is either, "we're not taking this seriously" at the worst or "we can manage it. what could he possibly do?" Meanwhile forgetting that the evidence that the prosecutor made public is very disturbing and if true, shows a serious degree of brazen behavior (on a work computer, didn't attempt to hide the files, had pictures of himself disrobed, which, if true, points to an intent to pursue more than simply more pornography consumption). The Catholic Church has had to learn this lesson the hard way, you cannot help but wonder how the Orthodox and Protestants did not learn anything from the ongoing tragedy in the RCC.
It's time that we put away any childish notions about the dangers that child predators pose. Maybe there needs to be a serious grassroots movement calling for real training on this subject and real measure taken to protect children, like background checks and preventative and awareness training. It may not seem fair, but it's quickly becoming the price of admission if you want to have anything to do with kids.
Anything I would post as a comment can and would be held against me even as a layman and no longer of that Archdiocese. Just the fact that Stephen is so clueless as to show up in clerical garb in a child porn case says he is an absolute nutcase. And those who ordained him and continue to permit him to continue to serve with the honor of the priesthood says they are even more clueless. This is a Demotivator poster for what it wrong with "Orthodoxy in America". ANAXIOS!
ReplyDeleteWell said. Houston Orthodox, are you listening?
ReplyDeleteWhy would any man have a naked picture of himself on his computer next to files of 10 year old girls? Is this not typical child sex abuse pattern seen in hundreds of other cases?
ReplyDeleteWhile out on bond and currently not guilty in court of law, and attempts at technicalities; in Christ's Church, should we not immediately stop this priest from serving at the altar with a Bishop among other children behind the altar?
How can parents bring their children to a Church where he would be serving as example of Christ and minister of The Holy Gospel?
Beyond technicalities of the law which would allow delaying this case in court, would not a librarian, teacher, coach, principle or other folks in similar positions, already be on suspension without pay and kept away from children?
Why is he being allowed to be near other children? Yes, he might be suffering from getting caught, but get him some needed counseling right away (i.e. Harry Schaumburg work with Pastors who are caught in sexual sins), and protect other children at the same time!
If he gets away with continuing to serve AFTER being caught with child pornography next to his own naked body pictures, will he not be emboldened to do much worst to other children?
Have we not learned anything from Orthodox Apostle's command and divinely inspired wisdom to the Orthodox Church in Corinth (1cor 5&6), where we are told as those who are called to judge angels one day, we should rightly discern and judge those caught in sexual sins, especially those in priestly duties, for the sake of his soul and for the sake of the Body of Christ as well as for the example of The Gospel of Christ lived out in holy love amongst us?
Why are parish members being silenced and thrown out of Church or forced to stop coming out of fear for their own children, while this man walks around scott free?
Are his legal bills and salaries still being paid by the donations of parish members?
After all the problems that RCC and some protestant churches have gone through, have we not learned anything about coverups that come back to bite us but more importantly our vulnerable children? Did not our God Jesus Christ warned us about not harming His children and for a mill to be cast around our neck and into the depth of the sea rather than harm one of his little ones?
Good questions all. I don't have any updates on this story.
ReplyDeleteWhat is ROCOR discipline process for St. Elias where this one attends with his clergy vestments? From what I recall, Russian Church even bulldozed and burned down a Church when they had vile sin committed at the altar with a secret ceremony for homosexual marriage.
ReplyDelete