May
9
OCA Discusses Rules Governing Sexual Misconduct Investigations
May 9, 2008 | Comments Off
Minutes of the OCA Spring Metropolitan Council Meeting (March 31 to April 2, 2008 included discussions on sexual misconduct policies and procedures. These clarifications contradicted earlier opinions floated by some hierarchs that only “Bishops should investigate Bishops” (source). The idea of forming an advisory board to “assist the Office and Church leadership in addressing allegations of sexual abuse” was also discussed.
An excerpt from the meeting: Read more
May
9
Further Challenges to Greek Orthodox Clergy-Laity Conference
May 9, 2008 | Comments Off
The Take Our Church Back! blog affirmed a recent letter to the editor challenging the GOA’s misconduct policy and commitment to child safety and had this to say:
We join Mrs. Metropoulos in imploring that delegates attending the Clergy-Laity Conference this summer challenge the Archdiocese’s Clergy Sexual Misconduct Policy. We must:
- Question the hierarchy’s commitment to child safety within the church.
- Insist that the corruption and secrecy within our hierarchy be stopped, and that those who sexually violate our children be held completely accountable.
- Stipulate that victims deserve compassion, not alienation and blame.
- Ensure that preventive procedures, policies, and appropriate responses be better developed and utilized.
- Demand that the Archdiocese provide on their Web site a link listing the names and photographs of all clergy suspended or defrocked for sexual misconduct so that they do not infiltrate other unsuspecting communities.
To this we would add one more reform:
- Require that all individual Greek Orthodox parish communities are acknowledged and respected by the hierarchy as the rightful and proper owners of their own incorporated properties.
The future of our church depends upon it. Source
May
5
Plea to challenge GOA’s misconduct policy and commitment to child safety
May 5, 2008 | Comments Off
Editor’s note: Catherine Metropoulos has served on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese’s Clergy Sexual Misconduct Advisory Board for the last four years.
Letter to the Editor of Orthodox Reform:
Plea to Delegates to the 2008 Clergy-Laity Congress to challenge the Archdiocese’s Clergy Sexual Misconduct Policy and their commitment to child safety…
This July the 39th Biennial Clergy Laity Congress will convene in Washington, D.C. Since the summer of 2000, I have attended these conventions entirely at my own expense both as a very concerned, devoted member of the laity, and also as a member of the Archdiocese’s Clergy Sexual Misconduct Advisory Board. It was my hope that while attending these meetings that I would help bring awareness to the very serious problem of clergy sexual misconduct within our church, while professionally and proactively ensuring that preventative procedures, policies, and appropriate responses be developed and enacted.
However, in 2006 while attending the Clergy Laity in Nashville I met three very seasoned, well respected clergymen. After our introductions, I was asked if I were a member of the Ladies Philoptochos. I replied that I was there as a member of the Archdiocese’s Clergy Sexual Misconduct Advisory Board.
Immediately one of the priests began to laugh. He called the Archdiocese’s misconduct policy a “joke.” He added that for many years the Greek Orthodox Church had mishandled matters of clergy sexual misconduct and that this problem continued. To illustrate his point, the priest then shared the history of a former clergyman by the name of Emmanuel Koveos. He said that some 30 years ago he had personally attended spiritual court hearings after Koveos had sexually molested a young girl while he served in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. The priest continued, poking fun at how for many years thereafter Koveos was moved from parish to parish while many knew of his continuing sexual improprieties. He joked how, decades later, Koveos was caught abusing another young girl while he served in Vermont, but this time he went to prison and was finally defrocked.
The clergymen were quite stunned when I informed them that it was my young daughter whom Koveos had sexually victimized in Vermont. Very embarrassed, the three priests immediately apologized for mocking the issue. Sadly, their disclosures and attitudes clearly demonstrate that not much has changed since my daughter was violated in 1997, despite my many years of advocacy. Read more
May
3
Mother of sex abuse victim reaches other parents
May 3, 2008 | Comments Off
The following interview appeared on Thursday on a local radio station in Bloomington, IL:
Monica Iliff shares her son’s story about sex abuse that unfortunately ended with his suicide. Eric Iliff was a young man when he attended a seminary in New York state. His family could never imagine his efforts to serve God would end in tragedy, including clergy sex abuse by his mentor. Monica hopes she can reach other parents who might be struggling with a sex abuse case involving their own child. Her friend and counselor Lynn Willard joins the conversation as WJBC wraps up April - Child Abuse Prevention Month. Source
May
2
Russian Orthodox bishop leaving Alaska
May 2, 2008 | Comments Off
Author: Sean Doogan
Publication Date: May 1, 2008
Publication: KTUU TV
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The leader of the Alaska Russian Orthodox Church said he is stepping down, and will leave the state within a week.
For months, Bishop Nikolai Soraich has been at the center of a growing divide within the Alaska church.
After seven years in the state, some parishioners asked church officials for his removal.
Thursday, Bishop Nikolai said he is leaving, so the Alaska church may heal, and move forward. Read more
May
2
Lawsuit Alleges OCA Priest Breached the Seal of Confession
May 2, 2008 | Comments Off
Date Published: 5/1/2008
Publication: Pokrov
Related Document: Complaint: Kounentakos v. Metropolitan Herman
A new lawsuit against OCA parties alleges an OCA Priest broke the seal of confession. Do Orthodoxy have such a “seal”? Whatever one’s interpretations of the canons, the OCA web site states this rule:
The secrecy of the Mystery of Penance is considered an unquestionable rule in the entire Orthodox Church. Theologically, the need to maintain the secrecy of confession comes from the fact that the priest is only a witness before God. One could not expect a sincere and complete confession if the penitent has doubts regarding the practice of confidentiality. Betrayal of the secrecy of confession will lead to canonical punishment of the priest. Source
Details of the lawsuit include a report of how Fr. Alexey Karlgut conducts OCA investigations: “Fr. Alexey allegedly dropped his investigation, never interviewing the witnesses given to him by Mrs. Koumentakos, when she refused to waive her right to seek further remedies in court.” Read more
Apr
28
Ex-parishioner’s suit accuses priest of attack
April 28, 2008 | Comments Off
Date Published: 4/24/2008
Author: Stephanie Innes
Publication: Arizona Daily Star
In a lawsuit his lawyer calls “a total outrage,” the priest who led Tucson’s only Greek Orthodox church for three decades has been accused by one unidentified woman of sexual assault.
A former parishioner at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Midtown made the claim against the Rev. Anthony Moschonas. No criminal charges have been filed against Moschonas.
The parishioner, identified in the lawsuit as “Jane Doe,” said the alleged sexual contact occurred during a trip to Athens, Greece — a trip she says the priest gave her as a gift for her 18th birthday.
The lawsuit does not give a time frame for the alleged assault, nor does it give a current age for the woman. She filed her civil suit March 13 in Pima County Superior Court. Read more
Apr
28
What a novel idea
April 28, 2008 | Comments Off
Date Published: 4/24/2008
Author: Theodore Kalmoukos
Publication: The National Herald
As we went to press this week, we learned that a fifth person has alleged he was molested by then Rev. Nicholas Katinas as a boy. Court documents allege that the abuse took place when “John Doe V” served as an altar boy at Holy Trinity Church in Dallas, where the now defrocked former Greek Orthodox priest was pastor for almost 30 years.
The number of alleged victims just keeps growing. By inference, the amount of money the Church will need to settle these cases, either in or out of court, will also increase.
The news broke while Pope Benedict XVI was making his first official visit stateside. While he was here, the Pope dealt with issues like animal rights, abortion, “rediscovering the authentic image of creation,” and whether the Roman Catholic Church was out of step with modern realities in America. Read more
Apr
28
Greek American is Alleged Fifth Victim of Katinas
April 28, 2008 | Comments Off
Date Published: 4/24/2008
Author: Theodore Kalmoukos
Publication: The National Herald
BOSTON – A first generation Greek American is the fifth alleged pederasty victim of former Dallas-priest Nicholas Katinas. According to court documents with Case Number 0703807D, “Between the ages of 8 and 9, John Doe V served as an altar boy at Holy Trinity (Dallas). His service was supported by his parents, who were of Greek descent and who were long-time members at the church even prior to the assignment of Katinas. In approximately 1984, using his religious authority to gain access young Does V’s psyche and under the pretext of discussing girls, Katinas talked suggestively to the boy. Katinas groomed his victim with the ‘girl discussions,’ stating Doe V was ‘a good-looking boy and that he ‘must have all the girls chasing him.’ His talking was soon followed by [sexual act] on at least two occasions. These sex acts occurred when Doe V was approximately 13 or 14.” According to the courts documents “these incidents went on for some 7 years. [Sexual acts] occurred on Sundays at least 30 times in any given year. In 2007, after this lawsuit was filled, Doe V’s mother heard that Katinas was accused of abusing young males, she notified her son. Doe V blurted his response without thinking: “It wouldn’t surprise me.” Read more
Apr
28
Church Properties: Potential risk from Katinas sexual abuse scandal
April 28, 2008 | Comments Off
The Take Our Church Back! web site points out its believe in retaining church property within the control of the local community so parishes are not liable for abuse lawsuits against the Archdiocese or Metropolis stemming from their negligence:
Let us make sure that we remain ever-vigilant in protecting our properties. We must be protected from any potential risk such as the Katinas sexual abuse scandal and what is sure to be its disastrous aftermath. We should not be forced to pay for the Katinas defendants’ liability. Source
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Articles of Orthodox Reform
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Read our ten Articles of Orthodox Reform to overcome misconduct, establish healing, and
restore trust in the Church.
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Monastery Crimes Revealed
