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The Orthodox Christian News Service

Published by Orthodox Christian Laity, July 19, 2004

 A Message To All Delegates Of The 2004 Clergy-Laity Congress AND THE PARISHONERS THEY REPRESENT

 “For every matter there is a time and judgment”
Ecclesiastes 8:6

Vote To Postpone Consideration OF PROPOSED REGULATIONS Until the 2006 Clergy-Laity Congress

Why?

• They were issued barely two weeks before the Clergy-Laity Congress in direct violation of Archdiocesan rules and received too late for discussion;
   

• The regulations are 42 pages long, extremely complicated and took 15 months to prepare.  It’s impossible for the Congress in one or two days to make an intelligent and responsible decision on their contents;
   

• Promises to parishes they would have ample time to review and make changes in the regulations never materialized;
   

• The proposed regulations would implement a Charter under serious legal challenge in the New York State Supreme Court;
   

• The regulations could upset the beneficial cooperation between clergy and laity at the parish level.  Local churches need time to examine and discuss their implications;
   

• Imposition of the 2003 Patriarchal Charter that completely disregarded the recommendations of the 2002 Clergy Laity Congress;
   

• Impact of negative interaction between priests and parishioners.

Vote To Postpone Consideration OF PROPOSED REGULATIONS Until the 2006 Clergy-Laity Congress

Why?

Enable the Congress to focus on these important and pressing matters:

·        The fiscal status of the Archdiocese and its institutions- Holy Cross/Hellenic College and St. Basil’s Academy;

·        Passage of an Archdiocese budget and discussion of chronic budget deficits and cost overruns;

·        1.5 Million dollars in loans taken out secretly by the Archdiocese over the past three years to pay victims of sexual abuse by clergy.  A full and complete explanation must be given to the Congress;

·     What is being done to alleviate a near crisis of a shortage of priests?  Is there a strategy? A Plan?

THESE ISSUES NEED OUR URGENT ATTENTION!

Vote To Postpone Consideration OF PROPOSED REGULATIONS Until the 2006 Clergy-Laity Congress

 “Thy heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge” Proverbs 18:15
 

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