Ecumenism, Greek style
20 March 2008 - 14 אדר ב' 5768 by Huw
The 13 bishops of the Greek Orthodox Church’s standing committee said on March 17 that the bill was unacceptable. “The Church accepts and blesses the established wedding, according to Orthodox traditions, and considers any other type of similar relationship to be prostitution,” the committee said.
I know that’s not what they mean. But, taking the words on face value, I guess that means you Catholics - and the rest of us - are all prostitutes.
Just to be clear: Orthodox Tradition in marriage, especially the liturgical stuff, is radically different from any other wedding I’ve been to. There is *no possibility at all* that anyone married in any other religious tradition, no mater how devout, could consider their rites to have been performed “according to Orthodox traditions”. Again, I know that’s not what the Bishops of Greece mean, but that is what they said (no doubt speaking in haste prompted by either righteous anger or homophobia). And in 1000 years when someone looks back on this statement, they will debate the “real” meaning versus the “literal meaning” and there will be a council that will pounce on those not politically in favour at the time…
