tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post5037589846145042796..comments2024-03-22T11:37:52.668-05:00Comments on Byzantine, Texas: Convicted felon Bp. Demetri returning to ministry in the USByzantine, TXhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845681957622343484noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-59530972083034463542017-07-14T22:58:57.773-05:002017-07-14T22:58:57.773-05:00Alcoholism IS NOT a disease! It is a sinful, char...Alcoholism IS NOT a disease! It is a sinful, character flaw, a giving into passion. It is a SIN. This disease crap is much modern psychobabble the same psychobabble that claims you can choose whatever gender you feel like. Alcoholism is a PASSION that should be fought against just like gluttony, lust, anger, etc. Next the Papists will be saying that pedofilia is a desease and can't be helped!<br /><br />Sorry, for a clergyman, ONE strike and your out! They are to be held to a MUCH higher standard than laymen. He should be defrocked, lowered to the status of a monk and retired to a monastery to live out his repentance. Stephanoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13829723063148876014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-84222431617909343132017-03-22T10:33:58.198-05:002017-03-22T10:33:58.198-05:00A minor update. Demetri seems to have vanished li...A minor update. Demetri seems to have vanished like smoke from the Antiochian.org website. How sensible, if temporary. It's somewhat satisfying to see even they have the sense to make this silent response to the response of the laity. How sad it had to happen. However, stay tuned. He may yet re-emerge. There is a very heavily updated facebook page with his name, many edifying, pious postings. That's plenty of presence for the performer. bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14039146105983736459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-54193795326960835372016-10-31T09:47:22.090-05:002016-10-31T09:47:22.090-05:00Please everyone read this article:
https://publico...Please everyone read this article:<br />https://publicorthodoxy.org/2016/10/28/taking-women-seriously-antiochian/Steve_Barriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01700596373993979010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-34300960786569462092016-10-27T01:32:54.295-05:002016-10-27T01:32:54.295-05:00It's very useful to have the details of this c...It's very useful to have the details of this convict's designation as a sex offender so readily available. If there are plans for him to make any episcopal visitations I certainly want him to have a suitable welcome and every appropriate accommodation. So since I live near an Antiochian parish and have normal concern for my community I know the archpriest of 36 years service will be happy to know I intend to notify the local police and county sheriff if Demetre is going to be in my community. I know they would be interested in somebody like this being around kids. Or adults. I happen to be an adult too, and I try to avoid creeps like this. How nice to know bishops of the church think it's right to inflict him on the faithful and clergy of *36 years* service approve. Was Morris like this before he converted or are there special seminars at the House Of Studies to make them into Company Men?bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14039146105983736459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-67801048007529112992016-10-26T20:28:26.502-05:002016-10-26T20:28:26.502-05:00Was the Holy Basil also suffering from hard hearte...Was the Holy Basil also suffering from hard hearted unforgiveness?Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06441899759386755903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-72167859388426218562016-10-26T20:26:58.240-05:002016-10-26T20:26:58.240-05:00I relate an anecdote shared by Met. George Khodr i...I relate an anecdote shared by Met. George Khodr in a 2009 article. <br /><br />Saint Basil the Great once defrocked a priest because he committed adultery. After many years, this priest was at a funeral. He approached the casket and touched the dead man and the dead man rose. He went to Basil and said to him, “Do you need a greater sign than this of the holiness that I have acquired in order to send me back to my flock?” Basil replied, “Your holiness is between you and God, but I cannot return you to your flock because you scandalized them. It is not right for you to go to them again.”Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06441899759386755903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-63192572016593134472016-10-26T18:16:36.744-05:002016-10-26T18:16:36.744-05:00I an neither a Roman Catholic, nor am I dunk on co...I an neither a Roman Catholic, nor am I dunk on communion wine or anything else. I simply feel that the Church should consider the circumstances of what actually happened. I still believe that the real problem is alcoholism, not sexual offenses. After all Bishop Demetri was only convicted of one offense, committed while he was under the influence of alcohol. If he deals with the underlying cause, which is his alcoholism, I do not see why he should not be forgiven. I know him personally and know that he has received treatment for alcoholism and has been sober for over 10 years. Please note that if Bishop Demetri were guilty of repeated offenses of this nature, I too would oppose his reinstatement. However, he is not guilty of more than one offense. He is guilty of one offense committed when he was not in full possession of his faculties. In any case, just because some people disagree with me, that does not justify resorting to personal insults against me like the message above. <br /><br />Archpriest John W. MorrisArchpriest John Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15248014086614317924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-16851846327051461612016-10-26T17:14:08.886-05:002016-10-26T17:14:08.886-05:00Fr. John,
Are you Roman Catholic? Your answer is ...Fr. John,<br /><br />Are you Roman Catholic? Your answer is horrific!!! Please, put down the communion wine. What on earth could possibly possess you to defend a convicted sex offender? And then to support his being brought back as a bishop? You sir are an idiot!Someone who has three childrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05328717915733551991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-22302138596953043832016-10-26T11:26:09.878-05:002016-10-26T11:26:09.878-05:00Josephus asks:
"Why are you "air" ...Josephus asks:<br /><br />"Why are you "air" quoting crimes"<br /><br />Because, I don't assent to the definition based on exactly as you say:<br /><br />"that in the litigious society we live in that it would only take a single accusation made under criminal and/or civil circumstances"<br /><br />Yes, by the letter of the (civil and moral) law it is a "crime", but as you know we as Christians are too forgive all crimes - even our most dangerous and mortal enemies who would kill us, rape our wives, and "dash our little ones upon the rocks".<br /><br />Forgiveness (and thus the whole of our Christian lives) is in no way a "moral" act (i.e on the level of good vs. evil, good citizen vs. "criminal", etc.). To forgive our enemies is not a moral act because to forgive enemies is impossible - it can't be done on the moral level. That is why forgiveness (and thus our whole Christian life) is a "spiritual" act. <br /><br />The whole "convicted felon/convicted sex offender" language is moralistic and designed to prick the emotions and steer us away from our calling - in other words this language is the work of the Evil One. If you are going to be consistent then you need you should not utter the name of St. Mary (of Egypt) without appending "whore" each and every time. Of course, you don't do that but then you are a hypocrite (like everyone else! ;) ).<br /><br />As far as the world (i.e. "every TV in America") and it's image of us you better get used to it - a real persecution is coming and this worldly scolding and shame is going to be the norm. So what? They shamed our Lord by hanging him on a Cross which is the same as "a very unfavorable light on every TV in America"...oh well, that's how we are saved.<br /><br />As I have stated, I am not supportive of Bishop Demetri's return to a diocean position - but let's be honest and "shamed" by the real reasons for this, namely the weakness of us all and our inability to actually live the Law of Christ. Let's not pretend that our moralizing is somehow "necessary" (let alone good) and of the Spirit...<br /><br />I wrote an essay on this recently:<br /><br />http://stanthonylc.org/blog/Jakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16152024447008244670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-25106728829578095392016-10-26T10:55:12.032-05:002016-10-26T10:55:12.032-05:00Why are you "air" quoting crimes? They w...Why are you "air" quoting crimes? They were actual crimes for which he was incarcerated, fined, and publicly registered for the protection of the populace. <br /><br />Even if you think it's hypocritical to judge this man for a single incident when men are statistically accounted to have lusted after a woman, I hope you can concede that in the litigious society we live in that it would only take a single accusation made under criminal and/or civil circumstances to cost the archdiocese millions and put the Antiochian church in a very unfavorable light on every TV in America.Byzantine, TXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17845681957622343484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-90740282762762264702016-10-26T10:45:22.396-05:002016-10-26T10:45:22.396-05:00Nicole,
Well stated. I would quibble with the m...Nicole, <br /><br />Well stated. I would quibble with the modern(ist) definition of "addiction" that informs your thinking - I wonder if the classical temptation/passion model is not better. In that vein, then we ALL are "addicts" and no one is really qualified to be ordained/serve because we all could yield to evil "briefly" despite a perfect track record in the past.<br /><br />It is a bit ironic that most of the posters here are men who are rather indignant towards Bishop Demetri's "crimes". Yet, as statistics reveal (and confessors will confirm) at least half of them are addicted to pornography and ALL of them have succumbed to the "crime" of "looking on a women with lust in the heart".Jakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16152024447008244670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-25855187215772800642016-10-26T10:28:09.343-05:002016-10-26T10:28:09.343-05:00Well stated Stan. It is important to remember tha...Well stated Stan. It is important to remember that the Christ's Law of Love and Mercy is not "amoral", but rather rightly 'carries through' the calculus of good and evil (i.e. morality).<br /><br />Still, the majority of the posts here have had a distinctively moralistic/legalistic tone, as if perfect morality is even possible or is somehow a precondition for our salvation. Only Fr. John has consistently pointed us to the "Orthodox" mind on this issue.<br /><br />While I don't agree that Bishop Demetri should serve in a diocesen capacity, let us remember that this is due mostly to the weakness of Faith of the majority of those in the Church and not because he is somehow forever stained...Jakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16152024447008244670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-42135230314397792182016-10-26T10:15:03.106-05:002016-10-26T10:15:03.106-05:00Fr. John,
Fr. Seraphim has a point here - while I...Fr. John,<br /><br />Fr. Seraphim has a point here - while I believe you are correct in that you keep your eye on the "one thing needful" in this case (and every other case) in that the Christ's Law of Love and Mercy trumps simply legalism (whether canonically justified or not), you language is just as harsh (i.e a bit legalistic) towards those here who do not believe Bishop Demetri should serve in a normal diocesen capacity...Jakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16152024447008244670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-71358228486355293232016-10-26T10:08:03.386-05:002016-10-26T10:08:03.386-05:00Fr. Seraphim,
Now your just being silly. You mig...Fr. Seraphim,<br /><br />Now your just being silly. You might disagree with Fr. John's application of Christ's Law of Love and Mercy in the particular case of Bishop Demetri(I do for reasons stated upstream) but to impugn his basic integrity and honesty as you have done here is uncalled for - you owe him an apology. Your coming across as a simple legalist (your Lord obviously was not)...Jakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16152024447008244670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-67052745111903997042016-10-26T08:30:11.046-05:002016-10-26T08:30:11.046-05:00You write "I suppose that those who cannot th...You write "I suppose that those who cannot their agruments rationally resort to immature insults." That's rich coming from a person whose major arguments have so far been that anyone disagreeing with him is "self-righteous" "judgemental" "malicious" etc. You have a history of name-calling and judgmentalism in comments on one thread after another whenever people disagree with you.Fr. Seraphim Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14992222732962572869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-22810183561988578142016-10-26T08:04:10.246-05:002016-10-26T08:04:10.246-05:00With all due respect, Fr. John, given the comments...With all due respect, Fr. John, given the comments you have made here, I have no reason to trust what you say, in addition to which nothing in your statement establishes your assertion.Fr. Seraphim Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14992222732962572869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-19203548034070778842016-10-26T07:45:00.722-05:002016-10-26T07:45:00.722-05:00"Some of you have perverted Orthodoxy..."..."Some of you have perverted Orthodoxy..." -- an ironic statement to be made in defense of allowing a convicted sex offender to remain an active bishop.<br /><br />Forgiveness and not judging does not mean that the Orthodox church then has no bar to which it holds its leadership. 1 Corinthians 5 clearly shows us that we are actually called to judge immorality inside the church (judge in the sense of church discipline).<br /><br />I can't think of a worse translated word that leads to all sorts of misunderstandings than 'judge'. In the greek it's three words -- krino, anakrino, and diakrino, each of which has a slighly different meaning. We're called to maintain our moral standards by keeping those of bad repute out of leadership roles. We are to forgive and not look down our nose at sinners (for we all sin), but that doesn't mean criminals can remain bishops.<br /><br />We can and do hope Bishop Demetri repents of his crimes. We also can and do hope our synods remain Orthodox by taking heed of canons, scripture, and common sense to remove criminals from positions of trust inside the church.<br /><br />Also, if Bishop Demetri is a saintly person, would he not value the integrity and reputation of the church higher than himself? Why is he willing to scandalize the church, wound victims of sexual abuse by refusing to leave office, and ardently hold on to his title?<br /><br />-- StanStan Shinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15734695351360281150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-46117029282202202262016-10-26T07:23:45.301-05:002016-10-26T07:23:45.301-05:00To Bob:
I suppose that those who cannot their agr...To Bob:<br /><br />I suppose that those who cannot their agruments rationally resort to immature insults. Bishop Demetri is not a clown. He is an Orthodox Bishop and deserves to be treated with the respect that all Orthodox should treat their Bishops. He was never removed from his holy office in the Church. <br />If Orthodoxy is as judgmental as the critics of Bishop Demetri, I would never have become Orthodox much less have served as an Orthodox Priest for 36 years. Orthodoxy is first and foremost a loving and forgiving Church. Some of you have perverted Orthodoxy and made it into a cult of self-righteous judgemntalism. You forget that the canons and other traditions of the Church exist to help us towards deification. They do not exist as unbending legalistic standards. You also forget that the ultimate purpose of our Faith is to turn sinners into saints. That means that God always gives us another chance. This principle also applies to clergy. Every Orthodox clergyman is a sinner and needs forgiveness. <br /><br />Archpriest John Morris.<br />Archpriest John Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15248014086614317924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-73664173013095374132016-10-26T02:22:03.459-05:002016-10-26T02:22:03.459-05:00There must be no more grotesque thing going than t...There must be no more grotesque thing going than the apologists like John Morris. Has he really zero shame? Zero? The Antiochians have created the most craven tribe of convert clergy anywhere. Utterly terrified of speaking the truth, I guess not understanding it in the first place. Apologists for This clown Demetre, Assad, you name it. How embarrassing. The laity will have to protect themselves. First, where Demetre shows up, let him find an empty church. Then to let his metropolitan understand reality, cut off funds. Clergy like Morris are of no value so action on this must come from the bottom up. This travesty will last just as long as the laity accept it. Thankfully there's only one Morris but lots of people. Guess who'll prevail.bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14039146105983736459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-48321721690343260382016-10-25T21:45:32.706-05:002016-10-25T21:45:32.706-05:00To Fr. Seraphim Bell.
You have been misinformed....To Fr. Seraphim Bell. <br /><br />You have been misinformed. Bishop Demetri was never a Priest under Jerusalem. He came to America as a layman, graduated from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Boston, was ordained by one of our North American Antiochian Bishops and served as Pastor of St. Mary's Orthodox Church in Cambridge, Mass. I know because I served as his deacon while he was at St. Mary's. You should check your facts before you spread malicious gossip.<br /><br />Archpriest John W. Morris.<br /><br />Archpriest John Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15248014086614317924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-59814222886832013322016-10-25T16:07:17.002-05:002016-10-25T16:07:17.002-05:00I've just been informed that "Bishop"...I've just been informed that "Bishop" Demetri was formerly a priest of the Jerusalem Patriarchate. He was deposed by the JP because of behavior unbecoming of a priest. Met. Philip brought him to America and placed him as a priest in the AOA without a canonical release and later made him a bishop. If this is true, it only adds to the many reasons not to allow him to serve any further as a clergyman in the Orthodox ChurchFr. Seraphim Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14992222732962572869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-13239498218644361102016-10-25T13:09:58.442-05:002016-10-25T13:09:58.442-05:001. Restoration to any position in the Church does ...1. Restoration to any position in the Church does not equal forgiveness. There is no reasonable expectation of restoration to one's former position. I have to wonder if your misunderstanding of forgiveness is deliberate.<br /><br />2. Consignment to a monastery: a monastery is not a compulsory jobs program for fallen hierarchs. If he can't find work as a layman, how does his lack of transferable skills then become the financial responsibility of lay parishioners whose trust he has betrayed? Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09337119783547620470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-32898056769283834802016-10-25T11:21:29.485-05:002016-10-25T11:21:29.485-05:00This is a very good article and I advise all to re...This is a very good article and I advise all to read it carefully.<br />http://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/cancer-of-clericalism-antiochian-orthodox/<br />I love the last paragraph: "We desperately need leadership. The church is a fighting army, not a parading society that exists for the pleasure of an old boys’ club of generals. Clericalism is a cancer robbing the church militant of the ability to defend itself and advance on the Enemy’s positions. Orthodox clerics who don’t understand that in the Year of Our Lord 2016 should stick their heads out of the incense-filled sacristies and see the world as it truly is."<br />Steve_Barriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01700596373993979010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-36468870573535761862016-10-25T10:54:32.240-05:002016-10-25T10:54:32.240-05:00Never mind -- I found some supporting documentatio...Never mind -- I found some supporting documentation here:<br /><br />http://www.pokrov.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Letter-to-the-Clergy-of-the-Diocese-of-LA-and-the-West.pdf<br />http://www.pokrov.org/persons/bishop-demetri-matta-khoury/<br /><br />This is simply unbelievable.Stan Shinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15734695351360281150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-62137261816471882012016-10-25T10:40:34.268-05:002016-10-25T10:40:34.268-05:00Is there some supporting documentation on the Anti...Is there some supporting documentation on the Antiochian.org website or elsewhere that validates that Bp. Demetri is actively serving here in the U.S.? Not that I doubt this article but I may write some articles on this, and would like all the evidence we have regarding this news.Stan Shinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15734695351360281150noreply@blogger.com