(World Magazine) —   Marcia Segelstein writes in World Magazine:

The Washington Post recently put together a list of “Twelve Things the World Should Toss Out.” Compiled by various contributors to the newspaper, it was intended as a kind of clever discussion of spring-cleaning on a global scale.

Among the suggestions for the scrap heap of history were tactical nukes, the Congressional Budget Office, exit polls, and virginity. Yes, virginity.

Washington Post blogger Jessica Valenti, who is also author of The Purity Myth: How America’s Obsession with Virginity Is Hurting Young Women, cited a few reasons for her suggestion.

“It’s fine to have some way of demarcating sexual initiation,” she wrote, “but old-school definitions of purity aren’t it; they’re more about inflicting shame than celebrating rites of passage. It’s time we talked about sex as something healthy and natural.”

Healthy? Segelstein takes issue with the Washington Post article:

Of course, it’s hard to talk about sex as healthy  when one-in-four teenage girls has a sexually transmitted disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Or when another young person is infected with genital bacteria or a virus every 3.5 seconds, as Dr. Miriam Grossman notes in her book about sex ed, You’re Teaching My Child What?

Read the full article at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/opinions/outlook/spring-cleaning/virginity.html

Editor’s note: Catherine Metropoulos has served on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese’s Clergy Sexual Misconduct Advisory Board for several years and here writes a followup to Paul Cromidas’ article regarding Pokrov.org. Documents related to the story include her appointment to the Misconduct Advisory Board, and articles related to the Koveos trial here, here and here).

___

Letter to the Editor:

I write in response to commentary by Paul Cromidas and concur with his very well written article entitled, “A Tribute to Pokrov: 10 Years of Courage and Commitment.” (11-9-09) I join him in thanking Melanie Sakoda, and Cappy and Greta Larson for all that they do to help protect our children, while also fighting for reforms within the Orthodox Church.  Education and prevention are crucial, and their vigilance invaluable.

While educating ourselves and our children about those who sexually prey on them still remains our best defense, an extremely important tool in the continuing battle to protect our children is in helping people know who these offenders are.  As a member of the Archdiocese’s Clergy Sexual Misconduct Advisory Board, for years I advocated strongly for the Greek Archdiocese to add to their Web site a permanent link naming defrocked clergy, especially those involved in sexual misconduct.  Regrettably, our spiritual leaders have yet to comprehend the significance of such a listing, and no such a link has ever been added to the Archdiocese’s Web page.

However, while the Greek Archdiocese continues to reject such a posting on their site, Pokrov.org does include such a list, effectively and successfully providing prevention and awareness, as is evident in the case involving a Greek Orthodox priest in Vermont.

In 1998, the former Father Emmanuel Efthimios Koveos was jury convicted of sexually molesting our pre-teen daughter at our parish in Burlington.  Following his release from prison, Koveos moved to Massachusetts through an Interstate Compact between the two states.  Falling between the cracks of Vermont’s failed judicial system, however, Koveos never received the court-ordered sex offender treatment as imposed at sentencing, but instead was granted an unsatisfactory discharge from probation and released from Vermont probation, untreated, against recommendations from his probation officer.

Although Koveos under current law won’t ever be identified on Massachusetts’ nor Vermont’s Internet Sex Offender Registries, a quick Google search of his name exposes him, along with his photograph and other public and court documents, as the convicted child molester that he is.

As a result, last year Koveos was recognized from the Internet and the local police notified after discovering that he was driving young girls to their proms, and children for birthday parties in Massachusetts and New Hampshire for a limousine service working out of the greater Boston area.

And a few years ago, even though defrocked by the church in 1999, this former priest presented himself as a respected clergyman to the congregation at the St. George Church in Hartford, Connecticut, where he also partook in performing religious services at this unsuspecting community.  Due to Pokrov’s constant vigilance, however, Koveos was recognized and subsequently ousted from the altar.

In closing I would like to respond to comments following Mr. Cromidas’ article that were made by John Koveos, son of convicted child molester and former Greek Orthodox priest, Emmanuel Efthimios Koveos.  Undoubtedly, it is his father about whom he references.

The former Father Koveos is NOT a “first time sex offender” as John Koveos so incorrectly states.  This was, however, Koveos’ “first jury conviction!” Unlike others before us, we called the police when Koveos sexually violated our daughter and did not contact the church.

As for any “real evidence in this case,” there was plenty; and more than enough to convict…

“The evidence against him at trial was solid, so solid that Judge James Crucitti would bemoan Koveos’ “complete denial” as he sentenced him to six months in jail.  “I have no doubt about your guilt,” Crucitti said. (Burlington Free Press 1-8-03)

Emmanuel Efthimios Koveos, today a registered Level 2 Sex Offender in the State of Massachusetts,  is a convicted child sex offender who refuses still to accept responsibility for his inexcusable actions/crimes; which studies have proven make him dangerous and that much more likely to reoffend.  Rather than waste more money on yet another frivolous appeal, I suggest that the Koveos’ invest instead in getting the special medical help that their father so desperately needs.

It remains my hope that the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese will soon publish on their Web site a permanent link listing those who have been disciplined for sexual misconduct.  The Church must also do its part to protect the Faithful from those who have abused their position of trust.

Catherine Metropoulos
Charlotte, Vermont

Fr. Gregory Jensen writes on OrthodoxyToday.org:

The real institutional danger facing Orthodoxy in American arises less from malfeasance and more from reasonably well-intentioned individuals making decisions without a sense of their own limits and the frailty of the Church as a social institution.

On Holy Saturday, Peggy Noonan published an interesting and important editorial in the Wall Street Journal (The Catholic Church’s Catastrophe).  She writes that often leaders of  “mighty and venerable institutions” can, over time, “become blithely damaging” to the very institution they serve.  This happens when we—and as a priest I need to include myself in this—allow ourselves “to think of the institution as invulnerable—to think that there is nothing [we] can do to really damage it, that the big, strong, proud establishment [we’re] part of can take any amount of abuse, that it doesn’t require from its members an attitude of protectiveness because it’s so strong, and has lasted so long.”

Read the full article: www.orthodoxytoday.org/OT/view/as-we-move-toward-unity

Rod Dreher writes: “My family came into Orthodoxy in a parish without pews. St. Seraphim’s Cathedral in Dallas observes the traditional Orthodox custom of parishioners standing for the entire two-hour liturgy, though there are chairs lining the sides of the worship space for those who cannot or who don’t wish to stand for the service. There is no shame in sitting down; it’s just not done by most people. Small children typically sit at their parents’ feet for most of the service. When we first started attending St. Seraphim’s, this practice was so off-putting; we couldn’t imagine standing up for so long! But we did, figuring that something that has been done for so many centuries must have something to teach us. Before long, we came to appreciate standing, and it came to be the most natural thing in the world to us.”

Read the full article: blog.beliefnet.com/roddreher/2010/02/pews-vs-standing-an-orthodox-controversy.html

Lydia Berzonsky writes a commentary at OCANews.org on the Anglican Archbishop Rowan William’s recent lecture at St. Vladimir’s:

Walking up the steps of the library at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary to the convocation room, one noticed how many people were crowding the lobby, buying books, conversing with one another. Guests quickly filled up any remaining space, as they waited to be let through the main doors, young seminarians in cassocks rushing in and out in preparation for the lecture. It was announced that there would be only a few places to sit for guests without tickets - and standing room only in the back. The rest of the room was roped off for VIPs and Saint Vladimir students. Other rooms in the library were set up for the live telecast of the event for anyone not able to crowd into the main room.

Read the full article here: ocanews.org/news/WilliamsQA2.7.10.html

Fr. Ted Bobosh writes an insightful article on the nature of accountability in America and the relationship between Orthodoxy and the Press. He begins:

I was listening to National Public Radio and heard Audie Cornish’s interview, Helen Thomas Marks 50 Years at the White House, with 89 year old Journalist Helen Thomas who was part of the White House press corps for many years.

I found Ms. Thomas’ comments about the press, and the presidential candidates and then presidents’ reaction to the press to be interesting and insightful to how some in the Orthodox world have reacted to OCAnews.org.

Read the full article: frted.wordpress.com/2010/01/31/freedom-of-the-press-and-accountability/

Fr. Ted Bobosh writes his perspective on the OCA’s Archbishop Job displaying bravery in the face of corruption and personal threats:

In one conversation I had with him in what were for him the most horrible days of his life, I could only say to him, “Let them take away your episcopacy, but never let them take your Christianity from you.” He didn’t, even when he had to humble himself before those who were devious or deviant. In the end, even when investigations revealed the depth and breadth of the scandal in the OCA’s chancery and synod, he wished to be reconciled to those he still saw as his brothers in Christ. They mocked him and tried to destroy him, but he never really understood them in that way.

Fr. Ted concludes:

He did understand a Christian end to his life — one can enter into Christ’s kingdom without being a bishop, but not without being a Christian. He was a true witness to what it takes to live at peace with others - self denial, kenotic love, self sacrifice and the willingness to take up one’s cross to follow Christ.

Read the full article here:

frted.wordpress.com/2010/01/26/archbishop-job-in-memoriam-a-christian-end-to-our-life/

Sandro Magister writes: “With Benedict XVI, for the first time in history, the Orthodox have agreed to discuss the primacy of the bishop of Rome, according to the model of the first millennium, when the Church was undivided. Never before seen: the outline of the dialogue.”

Read the full article here: chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/1341841?eng=y

Read the joint Catholic/Orthodox white paper entitled “The Role of the Bishop of Rome in the Communion of the Church in the First Millennium” here: chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/1341814?eng=y

DirectionsToOrthodoxy.com reports: “Although the scholarly publications of Dr. Williams may be cited as adequate reason for his lecture at the seminary, news of the plan to honor him is already prompting a popular consternation and even scandal.”

__________________

The Very Reverend Patrick Henry Reardon
Archpriest and Pastor
Januray 17, 2010

The Most Blessed JONAH
The Orthodox Church in America
PO Box 675 Syosset, NY 11791-0675

Your Beatitude

I beg your pastoral blessing, please. You receive this letter as President and Chairman of the Board of St. Vladimir’s Seminary, and I send it as a friend of the seminary.

I write to complain of the seminary’s decision to confer an honorary degree on Rowan Williams later this month.

Although the scholarly publications of Dr. Williams may be cited as adequate reason for his lecture at the seminary, news of the plan to honor him is already prompting a popular consternation and even scandal.

Outside of academic circles, this individual is chiefly known for his public support for sexual perversion within the Anglican Communion.

I write on behalf of two groups of people: First, I speak for the simple faithful who worship in our Orthodox parishes, those friends of the St. Vladimir’s who feel betrayed by the seminary’s decision with respect to Dr. Williams.

Second, I speak for thousands of loyal and believing Anglicans, in this country and around the world, for whom the public policies of Dr. Williams have been a source of pain and distress during the past seven years of his unfortunate tenure as Archbishop of Canterbury.

Some of these Anglicans, in fact, have been pursuing a path toward membership the Orthodox Church. The seminary’s resolve to honor Rowan Williams is causing them to reconsider their hope to join the Orthodox Church.

I learned of an instance of this as recently as this afternoon. Indeed — -if I am permitted a personal note — -let me mention that in those dark days, a quarter of a century ago, when I was a struggling Anglican trying to find his way to the Orthodox Church, my weak faith could not have sustained such an offense.

If a major Orthodox seminary had conferred such an honor on such a man as Rowan Williams back then, I likely would never have joined the Orthodox Church.

Your Beatitude, I suffer no illusion about the seminary’s strength of resolve to honor Dr. Williams. I am confident, rather, that no contrary plea from me will be taken seriously.

I write only to satisfy my conscience that a grave moral duty has been met — -to wit, the obligation to warn fellow Christians that they have embarked on a path that will lead only to scandal and disgrace to Holy Church. Indeed, this scandal is already in play.

I beg the forgiveness of your Beatitude if I have expressed myself intemperately. This is likely the case, I suppose, for this situation is truly heartbreaking.

Kissing the Sacred Omophorion, And seeking your Beatitude’s paternal benediction,

I remain,

Your faithful son in Christ our Lord,

(Very Reverend) Patrick Henry Reardon

cc: Metropolitan PHILIP Bishop Mark
Bishop Basil Father John Behr
Father Chad Hatfield
Father Thomas Hopko
Father Robert Munday
Father Wilbur Ellsworth
Mr John Maddex

 —  — Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon is a well-loved Orthodox pastor, homilist, writer, and teacher. He is pastor of All Saints’ Antiochian Orthodox Church in Chicago, Illinois, and a senior editor of Touchstone Magazine. In the past forty years, Fr. Patrick has published more than 500 articles, editorials, and reviews in popular and scholarly journals, including Books and Culture, Touchstone, The Scottish Journal of Theology, The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, Pro Ecclesia, and St. Vladimir’s Theological Quarterly.

Fr. Johannes Jacobse analyzes the recent media clash over Archbishop Demetrios’ alleged handling of two orphans:

The National Herald reported on January 15, 2010 on the plight of two Congolese boys who were not allowed to join St. Basil’s Academy by Abp. Demetrios of the GOA (See: Archbishop Demetrios’ Handling of Request to Help Two Orphans Creates Crisis). The boys, born of a Greek father and Congolese mother, recently lost their father and their mother is dying of cancer. Having no relatives in the Congo, relatives in America approached the Archdiocese to see if the children could live at St. Basil’s. The answer according to the National Herald was no.

It was a no heard round the world, at least in Greek circles, and soon newspapers were buzzing with the alleged cold-heartedness of Abp. Demetrios. New York lost no time at damage control. (See: Archdiocese Statement on Case of Orphaned Children)

Fr. Johannes concludes:

It appears Constantinople is building the framework for removal: escalating a bureaucratic mistake into a question of moral fitness; shaping that question into a hot-button issue that tugs at the heart-strings so that plausibility is fostered; launching a preemptive attack by a figure close to the Ecumenical Patriarch yet shielding the EP at the same time if the attack backfires (plausible deniability); implying as clearly as possible that Abp. Demetrios is not fit to lead.

<…>

Watch closely. This story is not really about two boys needing a home (that problem could have been solved with a couple of phone calls), but about moving Abp. Demetrios into retirement. (Source)

Read Fr. Johannes’ full article here:

www.aoiusa.org/blog/2010/01/abp-demetrios-on-the-way-out