NY’s Reproductive Health Act: return to a time of barbarism

The Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Condemns New York’s New Abortion Law

The Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, strongly condemns the State of New York’s new Reproductive Health Act that was passed on January 22, 2019. This new law allows abortions up to the moment of birth and gives people who are not doctors the right to perform abortions.

The Order also deplores the celebratory atmosphere surrounding the new law, as One World Trade Center was lit pink to commemorate the passage of the law, as if it represented a great advance for the rights of women. The rights of no human being are ever advanced at the expense of another. The State of New York will not truly have respect for the rights of women until it once again restores legal protections for every human being, from his or her first moment of existence until natural death.

Hailed as progress, New York’s Reproductive Health Act is not actually an advance, but a regression, a return to a time of barbarism when the weak were at the mercy of the strong and had no protection from legal structures or governing authorities.

The Order implores New York’s legislators to reconsider this dangerous new law and reinstitute protections for all human life, no matter how weak and vulnerable. Only when such protections exist can any society truly prosper.

Rev. Alexander Karloutsos
Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
Spiritual Advisor of the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle

Comments

  1. TimmyJanuary 27, 2019 at 8:25 PM

    Well, my hat is off to the Archons for making this statement. While I believe they are dead-wrong in attempting to defend the EP's untenable aberrant ecclesiology, they certainly got this one right.

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    Replies
    1. TimmyJanuary 27, 2019 at 8:32 PM

      Although, I must admit that I can't understand how they could honor the governor of NY State with a human rights award while he admits & celebrates the fact that he was an impetus & promotor of the same legislation they are condemning in this statement.

      Math as never been my strongest subject, but I can't seem to make it add up. Am I missing something?

      Delete
    2. Matvey CassJanuary 29, 2019 at 12:42 AM

      It's as if the Archons did not research into Cuomo's views before giving him their human rights (!) award. If their background check didn't show Cuomo's pro-abortion stance, one has to wonder what exactly they were rewarding. I think this is just lip service. I am sure the "fans" of the Archons won't even take notice of this "condemnation." Lord, have mercy!

      Delete
    3. Matvey CassJanuary 29, 2019 at 12:43 AM

      Also, a good commentary on Cuomo's approach to "human rights":

      https://babylonbee.com/news/report-more-unborn-babies-in-new-york-identifying-as-convicted-criminals-so-they-cant-legally-be-executed

      Delete
  2. Archimandrite GregoryJanuary 27, 2019 at 10:15 PM

    No your instincts are on target; seems like churches in the West are not clear where they stand on important matters like life issues. Most be the societal air we breathe!

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  3. Michael LJanuary 28, 2019 at 9:10 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  4. Michael LJanuary 28, 2019 at 9:11 AM

    Shows the danger of the church wading into politics, be wary supporting politicians instead of ideals

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  5. JakeJanuary 28, 2019 at 10:27 AM

    A Google of Rev. Alexander Karloutsos led me to this video by him titled "Living in a Pluralistic Society". It's only 2 minutes and 15 seconds long, but is a microcosm of the Greek-American philosophy, religion, and way of living with and in secularism:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq3cNJB2FoE

    So much could be said. The pictures of Hillary and Obama in the background, the Niebuhrian "Christ with Culture" answer to religious pluralism (RCism explicitly in this video)in particular and how to live Orthodoxy in the secular culture. It's all so 1960's "Death of God" protestant, and is as Schmemann pointed out, a failure path of compromise that secularizes the Church (and in no way Christianizes the culture).

    What Rev. Alexander does not understand is that his "condemnation" of *anything* (including of course this particular one about New York's abortion law) is undermined by his whole way of life, his whole ontology of *being* Christian in the world. Everyone, rather they are Christian (such as myself) or not (such as Hillary and Obama - the New York legislatures - heck, most of the so called "Archons") see how he and most of his fellow communicants have long ago mixed the light with the darkness. Unfortunately for Rev. Alexander, hypocrisy is nothing to stand on and condemn...

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