The Bishops Have Spoken, Sort of

Posted on by Fr. Peter
So all of the Orthodox Patriarchs, or their representatives have been meeting at the Phanar in Istanbul, Turkey. The heads of 14 Orthodox Churches were in attendance. They commented twice in their statement about the current world financial crisis. Well I guess it is a response, it is pretty lame if you ask me. I will put the two quotes below and a link to the entire document so you can read for yourself.

8. The gap between rich and poor is growing dramatically due to the financial crisis, usually the result of manic profiteering by economic factors and corrupt financial activity, which, by lacking an anthropological dimension and sensitivity, does not ultimately serve the real needs of mankind. A viable economy is that which combines efficacy with justice and social solidarity.

10. The Orthodox Church believes that technological and economic progress should not lead to the destruction of the environment and the exhaustion of natural resources. Greed to satisfy material desires leads to the impoverishment of the human soul and the environment. We must not forget that the natural riches of theearth are not only man’s property, but primarily God’s creation: “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein” (Ps.23:1). We ought to remember that not only today’s generation, but also future generations are entitled to have a right to the resources of nature, which the Creator has granted us.

I often wonder in cases like this if they have the statement all drawn up before they even meet. That would seem the case here. These bishops are so out of touch with reality! It will take some time to read the statement in it’s full measure and comment on it. Here is the link to the entire document.

Orthodox Delegate Sees Pope’s Mission as Duty of Unity

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Says Tired Society Demands United Christian Voice

VATICAN CITY, OCT. 12, 2008 (Zenit.org).- A representative of the Orthodox Church who addressed the world Synod of Bishops spoke of the Bishop of Rome as a sign of unity among Christians.

Archimandrite Ignatios Sotiriadis, fraternal delegate from the Orthodox Church of Greece, spoke Saturday to the synod, which is focusing on the Word of God in the life and mission of the Church.

His address brought more applause than any other intervention in the first week of the synod.

“Your Holiness,” he said, “our society is tired and sick. It seeks but does not find! It drinks but its thirst is not quenched. Our society demands of us Christians — Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants, Anglicans — a common witness, a unified voice. Here lies our responsibility as pastors of the Churches in the 21st Century.”

“Here,” the Orthodox pastor continued, “is the primary mission of the First Bishop of Christianity, of him who presides in charity, and, above all, of a Pope who is Magister Theologiae: to be the visible and paternal sign of unity and to lead under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and according to Sacred Tradition, with wisdom, humility and dynamism, together with all the bishops of the world, fellow successors of the apostles, all humanity to Christ the redeemer.”

“This is the profound desire of those who have the painful longing in their heart for the undivided Church, ‘Una, Sancta, Catholica et Apostolica,'” he concluded. “But it is also the desire of those who, again today, in a world without Christ, fervently, but also with filial trust and faith, repeat the words of the apostles: ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life!'”

Weekend Round Up

Posted on by Fr. Peter
I am dong this a little early this week because I am leaving right after liturgy today to head to my parents house. They have been on a cruise for the last 10 days and I am going to open the house and turn on the heat for them. I hear the cruise was nice but there was some kind of bug going around so everyday people were getting sick. Anyway they are on their way home and will arrive back in Quincy sometime after 6pm.

As some of you may know I was on the local radio station on Friday. My Shepherd of Souls program is heard on this station on Sunday mornings at 8:30 but the station manager invited me on to do the morning show with him. It was great fun and it looks like I am going to be invited back each Friday morning. More on this when I find out what is going on. It was an early start and for any of you who know me you know I am really not an early morning person.

After the radio time I went off to the Fire House for lunch with guys. I like to spend time on Fridays with them to see what is going on in their lives and how they are coping with different things. Ministry outside the walls can be difficult and it is not every ones cup of tea but I like it and I look forward to it.

Yesterday (Saturday) was spent doing laundry and getting the bulletin finished and working on the sermon for Sunday. Something I should be doing right now. Not much else went on. The Red Sox lost the second game but there are five more to go and they come home now for two so we shall see what happens. This is an odd time of year when all four Boston teams, five if you count the Revolution, that’s the soccer team we have, are all playing. Very strange to hear the hockey scores at the same time you hear the baseball scores.

So now back to the sermon. I am also uploading the new episode of Shepherd of Souls and other stuff. Multi-tasking this early in the morning.

Thousands Turn to Online Prayer

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Thousands turn to online prayer and advice as financial situationworsens

Posted On : October 9, 2008 1:10 PM
Posted By : WebmasterRelated Categories: ACO EnglandACNS:
http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2008/10/9/ACNS4533

Web users looking for support during the current financial situationhave boosted traffic to a Church of England website section focusing ondebt advice by over 70 per cent, and increased visitor numbers to theChurch’s online prayer page by more than a quarter.

The Matter of Life and Debt website section – containing a new ‘debtspiral’ feature so visitors can work out if they are one of the manyfamilies who will be seriously affected by the credit crunch, and usefuladvice for those worried about debt – has seen a 71 per cent increase intraffic in recent weeks.

It can be viewed by visiting www.cofe.anglican.org/debt. A new Prayer for the Current Financial Situation has been viewed nearly8,000 times since it was published online in September – increasingtraffic to the popular Prayers for Today section by 28 per cent.

It can be found online at www.cofe.anglican.org/prayers. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, recently said: “At thistime of international financial turbulence, it is important that theChurch should be offering the opportunity for prayer and reflection.”Prayers for Today also contains many other useful contemporary prayers -covering issues such as exam stress, and world peace.

Prayer for the current financial situation

Lord God, we live in disturbing days:
across the world,
prices rise,
debts increase,
banks collapse,
jobs are taken away,
and fragile security is under threat.
Loving God, meet us in our fear and hear our prayer:
be a tower of strength amidst the shifting sands,
and a light in the darkness;
help us receive your gift of peace,
and fix our hearts where true joys are to be found,
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

On the Radio

Posted on by Fr. Peter
If you are in the Southbridge or South Central Worcester County area tomorrow (Friday) then tune in to WESO 970AM from 7-9 I will be a guest on the morning show. Who knows what will happen but I am in the hot seat for two hours. Call in if you can.

Where are Our Bishops?

Posted on by Fr. Peter
We are 28 days from a National Presidential Election. The economy has been going down the tubes for the last few weeks. The Dow in going down. And where are our Orthodox Bishops? I have spent a little time looking at the website of SCOBA (The Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in America) and not a statement on the election. Not a statement on the economy. Nothing or bishops are silent. In these times of uncertainty we need to hear from out leaders. We need assurance from them and we need guidance from them. But all we get is silence.

Now I could be wrong and if I am please send me links to their statements and I will post them here for all to read. Bishops we need to hear from you!

Blog Martyr

Posted on by Fr. Peter
If anyone thinks discipleship does not have a cost you need to read this story. Rania was from Saudi Arabia, you remember them they are our partners in the Middle East. The ones who helped us overthrow Saddam and the others. Well Rania converted to Christianity and she blogged about it and was then burned to death for her story. I will not tell you anymore I would like you to read it and remember Rania next time the government talks about our friend the Saudis! This just makes me sick.

H/T Tall Skinny Kiwi

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