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The following article appeared in the June issues of the “Greek Press” on page 2. It is a available online at greekpressonline.com. It lists several GOA priests who allegedly have been credibly accused of sexual misconduct; many with sexual abuse of minors. Several of those accused continue to serve in the priesthood. With the exception […]

Morris H. Chapman, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee, declared at the SBC annual meeting that sexual predators in churches must be “reported to the proper law enforcement authorities and charged with their heinous crimes.” Chapman went on to say: “One sexual predator in our midst is one too many.” Source
While the Southern […]

A priest defrocked for “ethical and sexual reasons” has now been reinstated, and is supported by Metropolitan Isaiah:
“The Synod decided the reinstatement of defrocked priest John Theodore to the active priesthood and ministry of the church. Fr. Theodore had been defrocked e few years ago for alleged ethical and sexual reasons. The reasoning behind the […]

Matushka Carol Bacha has started a petition calling for help for victims of OCA clergy abuse
Click here to learn more about the petition or sign up to add your support.

Orthodox Reform is conducting a new poll:
Should Orthodox parishes be allowed to do background checks on clergy which Bishops assign to them? Or should clergy be exempt from any parish background screening?
Vote on the sidebar to the right and make your opinion heard.

Minutes of the OCA Spring Metropolitan Council Meeting (March 31 to April 2, 2008 included discussions on sexual misconduct policies and procedures. These clarifications contradicted earlier opinions floated by some hierarchs that only “Bishops should investigate Bishops” (source). The idea of forming an advisory board to “assist the Office and Church leadership in addressing allegations […]

The following interview appeared on Thursday on a local radio station in Bloomington, IL:
Monica Iliff shares her son’s story about sex abuse that unfortunately ended with his suicide. Eric Iliff was a young man when he attended a seminary in New York state. His family could never imagine his efforts to […]

Date Published: 5/1/2008
Publication: Pokrov
Related Document: Complaint: Kounentakos v. Metropolitan Herman
A new lawsuit against OCA parties alleges an OCA Priest broke the seal of confession. Do Orthodoxy have such a “seal”? Whatever one’s interpretations of the canons, the OCA web site states this rule:
The secrecy of the Mystery of Penance is considered an unquestionable rule […]

To our Readers:
Barring any dramatic events during Holy Week, OrthodoxReform.org will not be posting articles or reader’s comments on a regular basis during the holy days. We will resume regular publication following Pascha.
In case you missed them, here are some recent articles published just yesterday:

Dates Set for Katinas Jury Trial and Pre-Trial Mediation
Fifth Greek […]

Are the OCA and GOAA officials in charge of investigating sexual misconduct qualified? Are they doing a good job? Below is a roundup of some press on this topic, in one case including troubling criminal charges that have recently surfaced.
Fr. Alexey Karlgut (OCA)
According to OCANews.org, Fr. Alexey Karlgut, the OCA’s investigator into allegations of abuse […]

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• Should Parishes Screen Clergy?

  • Should Orthodox parishes be allowed to do background checks on clergy which Bishops assign to them?

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• Articles of Orthodox Reform

  • Read our ten Articles of Orthodox Reform to overcome misconduct, establish healing, and
    restore trust in the Church.

• Testimonials

  • "I'm grateful that you are so outspoken in talking to the Church. We need to really hear, and respond to the tragedy of sexual abuse by the clergy. As a former Roman Catholic priest, and now a priest of the Episcopal Church, I'm shocked at my own hardness of heart and the slow awareness of the tragedy of abuse, let alone by the clergy. It's a kind of spiritual murder. Thanks for your clear understanding, and peace! In Christ." — Raymond Maloney

• Become a Correspondent

  • We are building a network of correspondents with the interest and knowledge to keep us apprised of developments at the local level. Please email us at staff@orthodoxreform.org if you have news to share.

• Recommended Sites

  • Pokrov.org Orthodox sexual abuse web site with many resources and reports on abuse within the Eastern Orthodox Church.
  • Orthodox Safety Council Non-profit organization providing “safe environment” programs, education, and accountability for Orthodox parishes seeking to protect their communities from sexual misconduct or abuse.
  • SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) This site keeps up to date on church abuse issues. It has networks and meetings for survivors in various geographic areas around the U.S.
  • AdvocateWeb H.O.P.E. - Helping Overcome Professional Exploitation Numerous educational articles on clergy abuse, as well as abuse inflicted by other professionals such as therapists and law enforcement officers.
  • Voice of the Faithful Catholic resources to reform sexual abuse laws for the protection of children.
  • Bishop Accountability Catholic site to provide accountability on topics of sexual abuse in the Church.