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Glad Tidings
September 2004
Visit the Greek Orthodox
Archdiocese of America
on the World Wide Web
at: http://www.goarch.org
and St. George Greek
Orthodox Church
at: http://www.stgeorgegoc.org
F
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DITORIAL
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t has been brought to the attention of
the Editorial Staff of Glad Tidings that
some people in our community are
offended or concerned that some
articles are pointedly political in nature
regarding certain social issues. In the
August issue we printed an article regarding
Marriage, as it relates to the traditional
nuclear family, and an excerpt of an article
regarding Stem Cell Research, as it relates
to the Pro-life movement. Even though the
people who wrote these articles were not
Orthodox Christians, and those mentioned
in the articles were not Orthodox
Christians, we felt that the viewpoints
portrayed were consistent with church
teaching. It has been suggested however,
because Glad Tidings represents an
Orthodox Church, that we print material
written by Orthodox Christians. To set the
record straight we would like to take this
opportunity to print, in this issue, quotes
from Orthodox sources regarding Abortion,
Stem Cell Research, Marriage, and Same
Sex Unions..
ABORTION (www.goarch.com)
The Church from the very beginning of
existence has sought to protect "the life in
the womb" and has considered abortion as a
form of murder in its theology and canons.
Orthodox Christians are admonished not to
encourage women to have abortions, nor to
assist in the committing of abortion. Those
who perform abortions and those who have
sought it are doing an immoral deed, and
are called to repentance.
EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH
(An excerpt from a statement of the Holy
Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox
Church in America (OCA))
The current debate over research on
embryonic stem cells raises in the starkest
way a crucial moral question concerning
the ultimate meaning and value of human
life.
From the perspective of Orthodox
Christianity, human life begins at
conception (meaning fertilization with
creation of the single-cell zygote). This
conviction is grounded in the Biblical
witness (e.g., Ps 139:13-16; Isaiah 49:1;
Luke 1:41,44), as well as in the
scientifically established fact that from
conception there exists genetic uniqueness
and cellular differentiation that, if the
conceptus is allowed to develop normally,
will produce a live human being. Human
life is sacred from its very beginning...As
such, it is...created in the image of God and
endowed with a sanctity that destines it for
eternal life.
MARRIAGE (www.goarch.com)
Marriage is one of the sacraments of the
Orthodox Church. Orthodox Christians who
marry must marry in the Church in order to
be in sacramental communion with the
Church. According to the Church canons,
an Orthodox who marries outside the
Church may not receive Holy Communion
and may not serve as a sponsor, i.e. a
Godparent at a Baptism, or as a sponsor at a
Wedding. Certain marriages are prohibited
by canon law, such as a marriage between
first and second cousins, or between a
Godparent and a Godchild. The first
marriage of a man and a woman is honored
by the Church with a richly symbolic
service that eloquently speaks to everyone
regarding the married state. The form of the
service calls upon God to unite the couple
through the prayer of the priest or bishop
officiating.
SAME SEX UNIONS
(From Metropolitan Methodios of Boston)
The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of
Boston categorically expresses in the
strongest terms its great disappointment in
the split decision taken by the Supreme
Judicial Court of Massachusetts
sanctioning same sex couple unions.
In faithful accordance with holy
tradition and scripture, Orthodox
Christians define marriage as a sacred
covenant between a man and a woman. We
are greatly concerned with the far-reaching
implications of the Supreme Court decision
which will adversely affect society at large.
We strongly urge our Massachusetts
legislators to author and to pass an
amendment to the Constitution which will
defend the sanctity of marriage between a
man and a woman.
[This statement was read in all Greek
Orthodox parishes in the Boston
Metropolis. ]
What the Orthodox Church teaches
regarding Abortion, Marriage, and
other social issues can be found at
http://www.goarch.org/
Jason and Kelly Barbes
6926 Chicago Ave.
Richfield, MN 55423-2521
Steve Hatzis
1868 Minnehaha
St. Paul, MN 55119
Elizabeth Stoller
5145 France Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55410-2036
Ted and Jennifer Toso
630 Rum River Dr.
Cambridge, MN 55008-1086