Russian Orthodox SHOCKED By Bishop Scandal! w/ Fr. Jason Charron

Fr. Jason and Matt Fradd discuss a recently removed Bishop in the Russian Orthodox Church. They talk about the futility of running to a Church because it is more "based" or there is scandal where you are.

[stormcrow]

"In the face of scandal, we strive to be saints." Absolutely.

[ohnoyce]

In the face of scandal we pray without ceasing.

[IIZCHAOS]

The church is a hospital for sinners.

We find sick people in a hospital

[rusmeister]

Speaking as an Orthodox who is Catholic-friendly, hates triumphalism, and thinks arguing between us as largely useless…

On remarriage, I’m Orthodox, and agree with you guys that divorce and remarriage are generally bad. But if an Achilles’ heel of Orthodoxy is in allowing remarriage, the Achilles’ heel of Catholicism is in its annulments and you can find effective attack on the Catholic practice of that. In short, on both sides there is abuse, and it’s not fair to attack the Orthodox “heel” while ignoring your own.
(The thing around Met Hilarion requires a separate post)
if you want to speak to Catholics who are considering leaving for Orthodoxy, then you must be very careful to avoid triumphalist Catholic sources. You should only reference people who are fully aware of the weakest points of the Catholic Church where Orthodoxy is strongest. They should know the very best Orthodox responses, because if they don’t, then you can get the “ Jack Chick“ effect and your attempts to stop such leaks will backfire.

[mickdomingo]

When I became Orthodox I was reminded by my priest that no Church was perfect and that there would be scandals (I'm an ex Catholic). However, I wasn't going to Orthodoxy because of scandals. I'm old enough to know all humans sin and are subject to the same temptations we all are.

[Hewhoyettoknowhimself]

I feel sad and frustrated in hearing both Fradd and Fr Charron parroting Muscovite accusation without mentioning the elephant in the room, that Met Hilarion is prosecuted due to his refusal to give moral support for Ukrainian invasion. Even if he did the scandal, he wouldn't be prosecuted if he still supporting the invasion...

[Janika-xjbv]

I'm Catholic, lived in Greece for a while. Attending the Orthodox Liturgy didn't hurt me one bit. Only my bad knee and feet, because it's quite long and you don't get to sit very often.

[ulysspike]

I speak and read Russian, I've looked into this (whatever info is available to the public), and the whole thing is definitely inconclusive. I would be hesitant to pass judgement on Met. Hilarion on this. It could be be true, but it could be also simple blackmail, or an internal power struggle, or more likely, blackmail of a deranged parishioner that stirred up public controversy that the Patriarchate used to further oust a bishop who has fallen out of line.

I am not Orthodox, but personally I find the story hard to believe for several reasons. Met. Hilarion is certainly not a Church careerman in for the money or such. His life is ascetic, and his start of the career was extremely ascetic. He's a composer of absolutely phenomenal church/classical music (just listen to his St. Mathew's Passion!), his homilies reveal a deep understanding of Christ's teaching, he has devoted an enormous amount of time to writing of books, study of ancient languages, translations from Syriac etc, all of which are outstanding. It's hard for me to believe that a man capable of composing/writing music and books of such profundity is deep down a twisted pervert.

[kingpatriarch]

When the Orthodox and the Romans were united, St. Basil's nomocanons allowing for divorce and remarriage in specific instances were in use. The East allowed this and the West did not. It has never been a deal breaker in rapprochement as it was never a dealbreaker when in communion.

[napoleonfeanor]

Sadly, there will always be bad apples in the hierarchy

[timfronimos]

Fellow Roman Catholics always remember, these accusations are quite common by Orthodox hierarchs when an Orthodox clergyman has too close an association w the Catholic Church. ie Bishop Isaias Papadopoulos


For sure we want the abusers called out and prosecuted but 'accused doesnt mean guilty'

[hglundahl]

5:58 Copts and Oriental Orthodox are not what we refer to as Eastern Orthodox.

They are not the schism of 1054 to 1095 (or even later in Kyiv, which had double allegiance for a while), but schisms and even heresies of those condemned in Chalcedon and Ephesus (I).

[Athair]

The Orthodox and Catholics need to stop compare and contrast jabbing eachother. This seems petty.

[bman]

This was especially painful for me because I really enjoyed Metr. Hilarion’s book on St. Isaac the Syrian.

[barrelagedfaith]

He is a really good scholar and writer so its very sad situation. And I quite agree, you don't become Orthodox primarily because of what you are leaving (whether that be Protestantism or Roman Catholicism) but because of the dogmatic truths of Orthodoxy and orthopraxy.

[CatholicsForTrump]

Was surprised to see that neither Matt or Father thought to mention 2 books by the great Erick Ybarra!

The Papacy: revisiting the debate between Catholics and Orthodox

And

The Filioque: revisiting the doctrinal debate between Catholics and Orthodox

[noahjohnson]

Fr. Jason's descriptions of Orthodoxy are as accurate as the "Chick Tracts" against Catholicism.

[jeremias-serus]

For Catholics looking for a book that refutes Eastern Orthodoxy fully, I can’t recommend Answering Orthodoxy by Michael Lofton enough.

[iliya]

I am highly skeptical of this even being vaguely true in this case.

[posmatram]

Church divorce is a bigger sin than gay marriage.