http://orthodoxreform.org Advocating reform to combat sexual misconduct in the Orthodox Church Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:24:30 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en 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 ... http://orthodoxreform.org/news/greek-press-reveals-names-of-goa-priests-accused-of-sexual-misconduct/ 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 ... http://orthodoxreform.org/news/southern-baptist-convention-takes-stand-on-sexual-abuse/ Date Published: 6/10/2008 Publication: Pokrov 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 ... http://orthodoxreform.org/cases/michael-rymer/rymer-case-settled/ 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 ... http://orthodoxreform.org/news/defrocked-priest-reinstated-supported-by-metropolitan-isaiah/ 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. http://orthodoxreform.org/news/petition-call-for-help-for-victims-of-oca-clergy-abuse/ 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 ... http://orthodoxreform.org/topic/tips-for-priests/baptist-church-puts-orthodox-handling-of-clergy-sexual-misconduct-to-shame/ Article: Court Orders More Records Released in Lawsuit Involving local Greek Orthodox Priest 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 ... http://orthodoxreform.org/cases/nicholas-graff/court-orders-more-records-released-in-fr-nicholas-graff-lawsuit/ 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. http://orthodoxreform.org/news/new-poll-should-parishes-have-power-to-screen-clergy/ 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 ... http://orthodoxreform.org/topic/tips-for-priests/survey-how-many-priests-back-open-discussion-of-clergy-sexual-misconduct/ Article: "OCA Holy Synod issues statements on Diocese of Alaska at 2008 Spring Meeting" 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 ... http://orthodoxreform.org/cases/bishop-nikolai/bishop-nikolai-retired-by-synod/