TMatt has some good comments up about that big NYT piece on the new nationalism rising in the Russian Orthodox church, and how the hierarchy is colluding with the state to suppress religious freedom. Without necessarily defending the hierarchs, Terry points out that the Times missed some historical context that would have put their actions into a certain light -- context that Terry himself wrote about in 2000. Excerpt:
Outsiders must remember that this [the search for spiritual truth -- RD.] is taking place only a few generations after the Communists closed 98 percent of Russia's churches and, in one brief period, killed 200,000 bishops, priests and nuns and then sent another 500,000 believers to die in labor camps. Millions later died in Stalinist purges. KGB records indicate that most clergy were simply shot or hanged. But others were crucified on church doors, slaughtered on their altars or stripped naked, doused with water and left outdoors in winter.The KGB records also contain the stories of clerics who yielded. Russian Orthodoxy was a complex mosaic of sin and sacrifice, during the era of the martyrs. The Keston Institute has been at the center of efforts, for example, to document the complex interactions between the KGB and the Russian church's current leader, Patriarch Alexy II.
Many ask, in effect, if some of the church's bishops are mere candlestick holders [the Russian slang term for politicians who visit churches only for personal gain -- RD] -- or worse. Two weeks after the 1991 upheaval that ended the Soviet era, I visited Moscow and talked privately with several veteran priests.
It's impossible to understand the modern Russian church, one said, without grasping that it has four different kinds of leaders. A few Soviet-era bishops are not even Christian believers. Some are flawed believers who were lured into compromise by the KGB, but have never publicly confessed this. Some are believers who cooperated with the KGB, but have repented to groups of priests or believers. Finally, some never had to compromise.
"We have all four kinds," this priest said. "That is our reality. We must live with it until God heals our church."
Today is Orthodox Good Friday, by the way. Blessings on you all.
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Roland writes "The Polish Church will also have to deal with its clergy who cooperated with the regime. One of Benedict's appointees has already been booted out of office."
Yeah, and if so we can say "here we go again"! The Polish Church "will also have" to root out dead bishops, retired senile bishops, and just maybe, maybe a very few bishops facing retirement for things done during the 1945-1989 period that ended 20 years ago.
Perhaps since the Church beatifies and canonizes dead people, it can also vilify, or ex-communicate, or denigate dead people!
If there is a Communion of Saints can't we have the Gang of Miscreates or Rogues Galley or something like that that can be canomically declared to be in Dante's Inferno?!? The Devil's Advocate (Promoter of the Faith) can investigate the cases, interview witnesses and search documents and delve into evidence and testimony that the person led many away from God or the faith or caused others spiritual harm and that anti-miracles or lingering evil left by the miscreate has sufficient evidence to pronounce that they are now in Hell!!
Goodguyex: Perhaps since the Church beatifies and canonizes dead people, it can also vilify, or ex-communicate, or denigate dead people!
Sounds like a plan. In fact, it was a plan. A plan carried out by Stephen VI on his predecessor Formosus. The fortuity of one's death does not entitle one to escape the judgement of history for one's treacheries or lecheries.
BTW, the Advocatus Diaboli was disbarred by John Paul II to expedite the canonization of just about anyone who could spell "catholic". Wojtyła, having sainted more sinners than all of his predecessors, will himself now likely benefit from that act as he is a candidate for sainthood should a couple of verifiably healed hypochondriacs be located to testify.
It will be interesting to see what the secret police archives may reveal in his regard.
Fun and Games to those who haven't been there; there is the fact that all are human. It was like that in all of the communist countries. My experience with the young priest and nuns in Romania's Orthodox churches and monasteries was a great light.
As for the Protestant proseytingly, why bring coals to New Castle; the church is a little less than 2,000 years old, they have nothing new to offer. The church lasted under 500 years pf rule by Islam.
Have a Blessed Easter tomorrow!
Sincerely, J R Dittbrenner
"...if you've been able to find some examples of Tsarist Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church being at loggerheads, this would be a good thread to post them."
Two 'biggies' that I found rather quickly were the conflict between Ivan the Terrible and Patriarch Philip II, and the imposition by Peter the Great of Western forms on the church over the objections of its leaders. There were many other smaller conflicts over the course of the centuries however.
I'd grant that the leadership of Russia and the Orthodox Church there have had a much more stable relationship than the Orthodox Church did with leaders in other countries; but it would be incorrect to say that the relationship has always or almost always been smooth.
Thanks Rob G...
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