Once a “Catholic psychiatrist” wrote BS in a newspaper in Belgium. Later I found out that he had no official/legal recognition as a psychiatrist.

Julie,

Thank you for your comment and support. Single mothers should not live on the margins of the Church – they are the Church – the faithful, just as the homeless are, blind people, transgendered, gay, all of God’s creation are part of the Church. Yet, many people feel ostracized by the very Church that is supposed to love and nurture them.
I hope that you have found a spiritual home.
I bid you peace.

Andriy

Yes, that is quite true – not a single speaker was on the panel to challenge her. Of course, I have no way of knowing if any challenging speakers were invited. Had I had the funds I would have traveled to Ohio to at least attend the conference. Those that preach such views need to hear from us. I do not always fault those who say such hateful things because I think at times that they simply have never truly known or spoken to those of us who know differently.
Andriy

I am sorry that you felt the need to leave the Orthodox Church, but I would like to address your comment. First of all, LGBTQ people do not have a lifestyle – we have a life. A life created by God and that includes the creation of our sexual identity. My life does include passions which are sinful. However, my life also includes that which is wholesome and sacred such as love for someone of the same gender. While I might be too hopeful for a change in the Church, Christians are called to faith and hope. The Church has changed its mind over the centuries on numerous issues and accepted changes in Scriptural interpretation and Canonical precepts. Allowing marriages between Orthodox Christians and other baptized Christians is one change. Another is the acceptance of the Western calendar (Gregorian) Paschal celebrations of the Orthodox Church of Finland – something that is prohibited by the First Ecumenical Council. I am neither accepting nor condemning these decisions – but they are examples of the Church changing. We are people of hope and as LGBTQ people we hope for change.

I was Eastern Orthodox for 10 years. I have since returned to the Catholic Church. You will wait a lifetime and beyond before the Eastern Orthodox will ever underwrite your lifestyle, and even longer before you will gain acceptance by the magisterium of the Catholic Church. Having said that, I completely understand your desire that the historical apostolic Church should endorse your passions. I have a few passions of my own which I wish the Catholic/Orthodox Church(es) would endorse. But I am honest enough (by the grace of God) to see the failure as my own, and not of the historical apostolic Christian Church.

Larissa,

Thank you for your comment. It is true that I did not attend the conference, the lack of funds prevented that. However, the views of Father Hopko and Dr. Pappas are well known as they have been published. I do not need to hear something vocalized to have an opinion on the topic or to know when something is not sound, spiritually, mentally or emotionally. I have looked at this issue – homosexuality and the Orthodox Church – for decades as an active priest – through prayer, fasting, conversations with bishops and priests and educated laypersons BEFORE I started to write publically on the issue. I do not see exposing someone’s published idea as distortion. Saint Vladimir Press has published the ideas and words of Father Hopko on homosexuality long before I drew attention to them. The views of Dr. Pappas are available in interviews with her online – both are cited on my website. I am open to honest dialogue which is why my name is one every reflection and on the website. Andriy

J, Thank you for your comment on the website. While Dr. Pappas’ views are seen as extreme by some, other “Christians” see her ideas as acceptable. I have met and corresponded with numerous LBGTQ Orthodox Christians and have met numerous parents of LGBT sons and daughters and know that they either disagree or question the teachings of the Church on this issue. They may even be the silent majority in the Orthodox diaspora. But as Christians we are people of hope and God can move mountains and certainly change minds when love and faith are involved.