Apr

18

The Pope and the Orthodox: Serious About Sexual Misconduct Reform?

April 18, 2008 | Comments Off

by Theophan Zarras
The media is widely reporting news of the Pope’s current visit to the United States and his comments on the sexual abuse crisis.
The pontiff called the scandal a cause of “deep shame”, and spoke of the “enormous pain” that communities have suffered from such “gravely immoral behaviour” by priests. Source
The pope went […]

Jan

25

Earth to Bishop Nikolai, Earth to Fr. Isidore, Do You Read Us?

January 25, 2008 | Comments Off

By Paul Cromidas
A January 10th story in the Anchorage Daily News tells of the installation by Bishop Nikolai of a convicted sex offender as a lay reader in the Orthodox Church in Alaska. Judging from the comments attributed to the Chancellor of the Alaska diocese, Fr. Isidore, this action appears to be in flagrant disregard […]

Jan

4

A Place to Start on Misconduct Reform

January 4, 2008 | Comments Off

(Editor’s Note: this article also appeared in this weekend’s edition of The National Herald.)
By Paul Cromidas
In its most recent edition of the Orthodox Observer, its official paper, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOA), announced that three priests had been “Returned to Status of Layman” (translation: defrocked).
As usual, there were no reasons given for these […]

Sep

17

…And, What About the Misconduct Advisory Board?

September 17, 2007 | Comments Off

Editor’s note: The concerns raised in this article are echoed by Catherine Metropoulos in an April 20, 2007 letter to Orthodox Reform which stated “most of our Board’s work has been tabled or stifled” due to factors including “…a total lack of interest on part of our hierarchy” (click on image at right to view […]

Apr

17

Metropolitan Isaiah’s Letter Questioned

April 17, 2007 | 1 Comment

By Paul Cromidas
(Writer’s Note: Like my fellow parishioners, I was saddened and in disbelief when I learned that our long-time pastor was suspended on charges of sexual misconduct. Nevertheless, after reading Metropolitan Isaiah’s letter to the parish, I felt that a response was called for. Ironically, I have been writing about the church misconduct […]

Aug

26

More Deception and Cover-Up by the Greek Archdiocese in its Official Newspaper

August 26, 2006 | Comments Off

by Paul Cromidas

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOA) recently informed its faithful that two priests were suspended, a third had his suspension rescinded and a fourth was “Returned to status of layman”. There were no reasons given for these actions. This appears to be part of a continuing pattern by the GOA of […]

Jul

5

The Shameful Cover-Up Continues: The GOA and the Defrocking of Fr. Barrow

July 5, 2005 | Comments Off

Originally on the OrthodoxNews.com July 5, 2005
By Paul Cromidas
Well, there it is: a brief, innocuous listing in the May 2005 issue of the Orthodox Observer, the official newspaper of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. The listing, in the “Clergy Update” section, reads:
“Returned to Status of Layman
Barrow, V. Rev. Gabriel – 02-22-05”

May

17

Priest is Defrocked, But The GOA Doesn’t Really Want Us To Know About It

May 17, 2005 | Comments Off

Originally published on Orthodoxnews.com on May 17, 2005
By Mr. Paul Cromidas
The Toledo Blade newspaper reported last week that Fr. Gabriel Barrow of the Houston area had been defrocked by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The article is posted in today’s issue of this website. Fr. Barrow had also been removed as a priest of the Antiochian Orthodox […]

Mar

17

Money and Misconduct

March 17, 2005 | Comments Off

By Paul Cromidas
(This article/letter was sent to The National Herald, the Greek-American newspaper based in New York. The paper asked for documentation about the priests’ convictions noted in the article. This was supplied, but the paper chose not to publish the article. P.C.)
The appearance in your February 5 issue of a letter from […]

Jul

25

Metropolitan Isaiah Should Step Aside and also Answer Some Questions

July 25, 2004 | Comments Off

Conflict of Interest in Chairing Misconduct Board and Spiritual Court
By Paul Cromidas
July 25, 2004
Metropolitan Isaiah, head of the Denver diocese of the Greek Orthodox Church of America (GOA), should remove himself, or be removed, as chairman of the GOA’s Clergy Sexual Misconduct Advisory Board. He should also stop presiding at Spiritual Court sessions for […]

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