What can Orthodox Christians do besides advocating for the overturn of Roe vs. Wade? Roman Catholicism in many areas in the United States sponsors crisis pregnancy programs that offer support to pregnant women who decide to carry their child. These programs offer counseling, financial aid, medical and housing assistance, clothing, and other essential services. When I served as a priest … Read More
June 5th, 2018
By Bishop Paul In last week’s reflection, I mentioned that I would speak further on the Church’s stand on the sanctity of life relative to abortion. At last January’s March for Life event in Chicago, I said the following as part of my remarks: “Our concern for the unborn is so important to remember this day because it is the … Read More
“Friendship and Camp” by Fr. Joel Weir
Rev. Joel Weir, Rector, St. Stephen the First Martyr Orthodox Church, Crawfordsville, IN, Camp Priest, St. John’s Camp Programs. When I was asked to write a reflection on the importance of camp programs, I immediately recalled a conversation my wife and I had with Bishop Paul on his first visit to our parish. We asked what he thought were the … Read More
May 29th, 2018
By Bishop Paul Last week, there was a referendum in Ireland to vote on discontinuing the country’s ban on abortions. In this “Catholic” nation, the referendum passed by an overwhelming majority as 1.4 million people voted to lift the ban on abortions while 724,000 voted against it (based on 68% of the vote). Now it is in the hands of … Read More
“Daily Prayer” by Dr. Albert Rossi
Father Thomas Hopko often said, “All is well.” He would quote Saint Therese of Lisieux who said, “For the heart that loves, all is well.” But, at first glance, all doesn’t seem well. We need only look at the front page of any newspaper, or the insides of our hard hearts. All doesn’t seem well. That’s the point. We are called to … Read More
May 22nd, 2018
By Bishop Paul As many know by now, another school shooting took place at Santa Fe High School in Texas last week, during which 10 people were killed. The student who committed this act had a shotgun and a handgun that he had hidden under his trench coat. I issued a statement several months ago on the Florida high school shooting. While I still stand by that statement, I realize … Read More
May 15th, 2018
By Bishop Paul “And as He was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before Him, and asked Him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not … Read More
May 8th, 2018
By Bishop Paul While the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. And he saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from … Read More
May 1st, 2018
By Bishop Paul Jesus began His public ministry proclaiming, “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” These words lie at the heart of living our Orthodox Christian Faith. The call to “repent” is not a one-time event we experience, or had experienced, at one point in our life. It is a call to change our minds, to turn from how we had previously understood … Read More
April 24th, 2018
By Bishop Paul Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” So God created man in His own … Read More