It is good to see Michelopulos and Dreher exploring their commitment to the law when it comes to the theft of personal communications. The respondents have also pointed out the shoe fits on the other foot.
Let us never forget that ‘leaked’ information brought down Mets. Theodosius and Herman. In reality much of what people think they know about the ‘lavender mob’ comes from ‘leaks.’
In a court of law the “fruit of the poisonous tree” means that evidence gathered in an illegal manner cannot be used in a trial, and neither can all further evidence that comes from that poisonous tree. What I am pointed to is that none of us really want to go back and examine our opinions based on this rigorous standard.
If the leaks are illegal, then the law-breakers should expect punishment. What Michelopulos and Dreher can not expect is that we “unsee” or “brainbleach” the glimpse we have seen into the Dark Wizard’s soul Stokoe has revealed. The leaks that showed Skordinski to be a conniver and ‘prove’ there is a “conspiracy” against Jonah are ethically undifferentiated from the Fester leaks. The only discernable difference is who they embarrass.
I would add that no evidence has even been presented that the bishops of the Holy Synod are trying to remove Met. Jonah. Let us not forget that to do so would be a major blow to their own reputations. Think about it- three retired metropolitans? All they are asking is for Jonah to work with them and perhaps take some time to reflect on his decision-making process. Don’t forget that Met. Jonah has made some public remarks that set off the Ecumenical Patriarchate that appeared to be sanctioned by the Holy Synod.
To understand the bishops’ perspective, we consider the words of Bp. Tikhon Fitzgerald:
“The Orthodox Church in America is not a national organization with chapters responsible to a central headquarters, although there are many deluded people who believe it is and show it by their actions. The Orthodox Church in America is, in fact, a federation of dioceses whose ruling bishops choose a chairman for their meetings. It is at their meetings, and only at their meetings, that there in reality exists anything resembling a central "headquarters."
“Saint Justin (Popovich) the famous modern Orthodox theologian of the Serbian Church, awarded an honorary doctorate by SVS when Fr. A. Schemann [sic] was the Dean wrote the following which should always be kept in mind when people look to Syosset, the Metropolitan Council or an All American Council as being some kind of "headquarters." In fact, "Syosset" and the All American Council derive every jot and tittle [sic] of their authority SOLELY from the participation of the Holy Synod in their functioning. Without the Holy Synod, the All American Council is, in fact, a nonentity. On the other hand, the Holy Synod is nothing without the Diocesan Bishops, whose servant it should be.
“There can be no diocese without a Bishop just as there can be no diocese without parishes, i.e., Faithful Christians participating in local community Eucharists at which the substitute of the Bishop (a Presbyter) or the Bishop presides in Christ's place there.…
“What seems to have developed in The Orthodox Church in America is some kind of Austro-Hungarian bureaucratic nightmare, with one diocese playing the part of an Austro-Hungarian revolutionary force, something like "The Black Hand", focussed [sic] entirely on the usurpation of power through force and scornful of spiritual power of any kind, while maintaining a virulent jealousy of the Holy whereever [sic] It [sic] might spring up.”
This excerpt from a longer posting he made on the Indiana List is very telling. Tikhon sees the office of the Metropolitan as a ‘chairmanship’ rather than an autocrat over the entire OCA. The obvious conclusion is that the Holy Synod has the right to ask the Metropolitan, as their chairman, to modify his behavior since his office is a by-product of their cooperation. This is why Met. Jonah has his ‘own’ diocese- the Washington Diocese makes him a bishop and so eligible to be their president.
Unless a new leak comes out in which a bishop is caught conspiring to actually remove Jonah, no one can really say with certainly that there is any real conspiracy against Jonah. However, if I were Bishops Melchizedek or Benjamin, I would be checking the back seat before getting into the car. The Dark Wizard wants to harm them, unless “castrate” is just another way for Fester to say “look with disappointment”.
Something to consider- the canons of the Church do not really address how evidence for a Spiritual Court is obtained. Truth is truth and evidence is evidence. The evidence Stokoe has may be ill-gotten but no one is contesting that it is authentic. That’s the scary part.
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