Note: click on the image below for a larger version of this article.

While the Southern Baptist Convention has rejected a sex-abuse database, they at the same time are adopting alternate measures and education. View the SBC web site for more information on these landmark developments, and this document on sexual abuse in particular. Also note the SBC’s Resources for Sexual Abuse Prevention.

Chapman made many notable remarks, including this one:

“We must determine that when we know someone is a sexual predator, we will expose him and bring charges against him for his crimes, whether he is a pastor, a member of the staff or a member of the church,” Chapman continued. “We cannot stand by and refuse to stand up against these vile criminals and allow them to practice their evil deeds.” Source

Read the full article

Subject to court approval, the lawsuit against the former Archimandrite Michael Rymer and the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco has been settled. The complaint in this case had alleged that Fr. Michael sexually abused a mentally incompetent man.

Since the plaintiff in this case is an adult with a disability, any compromise of the claim must be reviewed by a judge. A hearing for this purpose has been scheduled for August 5, 2008.

Fr. Michael was defrocked at the request of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America on December 11, 2006. According to court documents filed on January 16, 2007, he resides at the St. John of Shanghai Monastery in Manton, California. This monastery belongs to the Orthodox Church in America, and its abbot is Archimandrite Jonah Paffhausen.

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 reinstatement of Fr. Theodore was that “he has repented” and also “to give him a second chance.” Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver supports him wholeheartedly. The Holy Synod had discussed Fr. Theodore’s case in its meeting on March 2007.” source

(more…)

Click here to learn more about the petition or sign up to add your support.

Editor’s note: The article below shows the real scandal in such situations: “The truly damaging scandals arise when church leaders mishandle these crises by failing to treat them with the gravity they deserve. Many in church authority have failed their calling and their congregations under similar conditions, through defensiveness, dissimulation and deferring hard decisions.” (Source)

We encourage our readers to contact their respective Orthodox Bishops and admonish them to read this article to learn a lesson on how to appropriately handle clergy sexual abuse.

Editorial: Prestonwood Church does the right thing
Date: Sunday, May 25, 2008
Video: DallasNews.com/video
Article: DallasNews.com

It is quite possibly a church’s worst nightmare: a minister caught in sexual impropriety involving a child.

We’ve seen this play out time and time again over the past few years, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church. Bishop Kevin Farrell, the new Catholic ordinary in Dallas, told this newspaper’s Sam Hodges recently that the diocese is short of money. The bishop didn’t elaborate, but one reason for the financial shortfall is the tens of millions of dollars paid out locally to clerical sex abuse victims. And it’s impossible to put a dollar figure on the loss of trust and confidence in church authorities.

Why has it been so difficult for the institutional leaders in churches to understand what’s at stake for their credibility in these ugly matters? (more…)

Date Published: 5/16/2008

Publication: First Coast News (Jacksonville FL)

JACKSONVILLE, FL — Father’s Day cards are now part of the mounting legal paperwork in a lawsuit involving a former local Greek Orthodox priest and a teenage boy.

The Very Reverend Nicholas Graff is being sued by the mother and grandparents of the boy identified as ”John Doe” because of his age at the time.

Until last June Graff served as a religious leader at the St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church in Jacksonville.

The lawsuit alleges that obsessive and inappropriate behavior by Graff escalated into sexual misconduct.

The boy was 10 years old at the time, according to court documents. (more…)

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.

A recent poll of Orthodox Clergy by the Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute conducted a first of its kind survey of a variety of issues.

Responses show the percentage of clergy who said that the following subjects are very important and should be the topic of open discussion within the church. Note the following responses which in some cases related to clergy sexual misconduct:

Emotional and psychosexual maturity of priests:
45% of GOA clergy said it should be discussed openly
29% of OCA of OCA clergy said it should be discussed openly

Problems of sexual misconduct by priests:
43% of GOA clergy said it should be discussed openly
25% of OCA clergy said it should be discussed openly

Clergy divorces and remarriage of divorced priests:
62% of GOA clergy said it should be discussed openly
17% of OCA clergy said it should be discussed openly

Family problems of the Orthodox Priests:
55% of GOA clergy said it should be discussed openly
25% of OCA clergy said it should be discussed openly

Read more about the study at Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute

Date Published: 5/13/2008

Publication: Orthodox Church in America Website

SYOSSET, NY [OCA Communications] — The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, meeting at the OCA Chancery in Oyster Bay Cove, NY, May 13 to 15, 2008, has issued the following statements concerning the Diocese of Alaska.

”The Holy Synod of Bishops, meeting at its full, regular Spring Session, reviewed the Leave-of-absence of His Grace, NIKOLAI, Bishop of Sitka, Anchorage, and Alaska, in accordance with the request of Bishop NIKOLAI that this be reviewed at the May Session, rather than at the October Session. The Holy Synod of Bishops of The Orthodox Church in America, meeting at the Chancery in Oyster Bay Cove, New York, effective May 13, 2008, retired His Grace Bishop NIKOLAI (Soraich) from the Diocese of Alaska, with the title ‘Former Bishop of Sitka.’ He remains, in retirement, a Bishop of the Orthodox Church in America.” (more…)