Posted by Al
on 5/10/2009, 10:10 am, in reply to "Re: Real #'s- Metropolitan Jonah's Russian Interview - "It is Time to be Direct""
Message modified by user Al 5/10/2009, 10:49 am
Tom-
I would add to your "certainly not faithful parishioners" questions whether or not many of the CEOs (Christmas and Easter Only) of any faith are actually observant of any faith. I would also suggest that a surprising number of "ethnics" that show up at Pascha in the US are frequent attendees or members of other heterodox congregations. I met many Slavs who dutifully showed up on Pascha because it was so nostalgic, and then returned to their heterodox congregation the rest of the year. I would be willing to bet you can find the same amongst the Greek CEOs of Chicago.
The whole topic begs serious, competent study if we are to attempt to evangelize the US. Gotta face the possibly hurtful truth to make progress. The Church's business is aiding in the salvation of souls, not vaporous, self aggrandizing member counts. Has anyone in authority asked, seriously, why so few in the US choose Orthodoxy as the path to salvation and then honestly tried to correct that? Perhaps some parishes, but not the "institutional" Church in the US itself. Even more sorrowful is that the OCA claims the sole legitimacy for leading this mission, and has done nothing even remotely earthshaking. Perhaps it's because there aren't enough monasteries?????
Al
Paros Island, Greece
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