Catholic Patriarch of Syria: Planned U.S. Attack on Syria is ‘Criminal Act’

Gregory III, the Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, Melkite Greek Catholic Churchby Chris Banescu –

Gregory III, the Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, spiritual leader of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church in Syria and Lebanon, denounced the Obama administration for planning to attack Syria. If the U.S. launches such an attack, it would be “a criminal act” that would reap more innocent victims and help the “Islamic extremists from all over the world [who] are pouring into Syria with the sole intent to kill.” His Eminence strongly opposes any foreign intervention in Syria which will only fuel hatred, criminality, inhumanity, Islamic fundamentalism, and terrorism.

As reported by CNS News, in a public statement released on August 30, Gregory III, the Catholic Patriarch of Antioch said:

“We must listen to the Pope’s appeal for peace in Syria,” said Patriarch Gregory III. “If Western countries want to create true democracy then they must build it on reconciliation, through dialogue between Christians and Muslims, not with weapons. This attack being planned by the United States is a criminal act, which will only reap more victims, in addition to the tens of thousands of these two years of war. This will destroy the Arab world’s trust in the West.” [Read more…]

Duck Dynasty – Jase and Missy: Building A Foundation On Christ

Duck Dynasty Jase and Missy: Building A Foundation On Christby Chris Banescu –
Jase and Missy Robertson one of the husband and wife couples from Duck Dynasty, the highest rated series in A&E’s history, take every opportunity to publicly proclaim their faith in Christ and recognize God’s supremacy in their lives. Jase and Missy were recently interviewed at the “K-Love Fan Awards” in June and were not shy in sharing their Christian values and referencing the importance of God as the foundation in all things. They emphasized how their strong moral values helped them remain pure before marriage and how those same principles strengthened their family ever since. Both expressed their firm belief that placing God first is very important in life.

It is reassuring and inspiring to see the Robertson family publicly and steadfastly bear witness to Christ and consistently proclaim the moral principles that truly matter in life. In the midst of the tsunami of superficiality, corruption, and immorality that floods our television screens daily, their testimonies are a welcome and much needed light unto others.

Here are some of Jase and Missy’s comments from that interview. [Read more…]

Economic Truths are Part of God’s Dominion

Economic Truths are Part of God's Dominionby Chris Banescu –
Economic truths, like moral truths and other truths discovered through mathematics, biology, physics, and astronomy, are part of God’s dominion. As Orthodox Christians we believe that our Lord is the GOD of all creation, all matter, and all life. Not only did He invent and bring into existence the entire visible and invisible Universe, but He also created the laws that govern matter, energy, and human relations. Economic laws and truths are part of His creation as well and, like everything else in this world, subject to His authority.

Unfortunately, this truth is unknown by many Christians, even though they depend on economic principles to insure their own survival and prosperity, and support their communities and churches. Christians rely on economic laws to feed, clothe, shelter, and protect their families. Through their hard work, efforts, risks, innovations, investments, and sacrifices Christians ultimately support the new value and wealth that churches and governments can then use to feed, clothe, shelter, and help the poor. [Read more…]

Seattle Officials: Word ‘Cross’ Too Offensive for Use

Seattle Officials: Word Cross Too Offensive for Useby Chris Banescu –
All government employees in the city of Seattle have been informed that the word “cross” and the letters “T” and ‘t’, universal symbols for a Christian cross, are patently offensive and are banned from use in all official documents and communications. Encouraged by the enthusiastic support from liberal, progressive, and leftist organizations for originally banning the words “citizen” (offensive since many people are residents, not citizens) and “brown bag” (offensive to people of brown skin), Seattle’s Office of Civil Rights is expanding the list of banned discriminatory and hateful language.

As reported earlier by KOMO-TV, FoxNews, and other media organizations, city workers in Seattle were previously “advised that the terms “citizen” and “brown bag” are potentially offensive and may no longer be used in official documents and discussions.” This did not concern Elliott Bronstein official spokesman for the city’s Office of Civil Rights. “Luckily, we’ve got options,” Bronstein wrote in a memo obtained by KOMO-TV. “For ‘citizens,’ how about ‘residents?’” According to that same memo, city employees should use the terms “lunch-and-learn” or “sack lunch” instead of “brown bag.”

The Voice Blog has obtained copies of the latest memos expanding the city’s policies prohibiting the usage of offensive language in all government functions. Here are the official press releases from Seattle’s Office for Civil Rights, with additional Memos included. [Read more…]

Dostoevsky: Fear the Christian Socialist

Socialist who is a Christian is more to be feared than the socialist who is an atheistby Chris Banescu –
“The socialist who is a Christian is more to be feared than the socialist who is an atheist.” ~ Fyodor Dostoevsky

A sober warning comes to us from the writings of Fyodor Dostoevsky in his book The Brothers Karamazov. Given that some Orthodox Christian leaders today embrace and promote socialist ideas, this ominous observation should give us pause. Is history repeating itself?

“We are not particularly afraid of all these socialists, anarchists, atheists and revolutionaries…. But there are a few peculiar men among them who believe in God and are Christians, but at the same time are socialists. Those are the people we are most afraid of. They are terrible people! The socialist who is a Christian is more to be feared than the socialist who is an atheist.” ~ Fyodor Dostoevsky (Fedor Dostoevskii), The Brothers Karamazov [Read more…]

When Orthodox Bishops Spoke Boldly: Clear Teaching on Marriage and Family

Orthodox Bishop Defend Marriage Family Wedding Ceremonyby Chris Banescu –
The current societal moral collapse and the intensifying attacks on traditional marriage and the family were foreseen by previous generations of bishops of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). Approximately 40 years ago, the Holy Synod of the OCA issued an Encyclical Letter on Marriage warning their flocks of the dangers posed by an increasingly secularized world and re-affirming the traditional, biblical, and orthodox teaching on marriage. The clarity of their teaching, boldness of their condemnation, and prophetic dimensions of their preaching are undeniable.

These shepherds saw the “signs of the times.” They discerned the growing darkness and corruption all around them and the seriousness of the cultural battles to come. They forewarned the faithful that the “moral foundations of society are collapsing.” They understood the ultimate consequences of a society that abandons its moral principles, abuses its freedoms, embraces the evil of abortion, is indifferent to the murder of millions of unborn children, and glorifies corrupt sexual behaviors.

We find it imperative to address you on an issue of crucial importance for the Christian life. An increasingly secularized world tends more and more to neglect the traditional biblical understanding of marriage and family. Misunderstanding freedom and proclaiming the progress of a humanity supposedly too mature, sophisticated and scientific to follow Christ’s Gospel, many have abandoned its moral demands. The consequences are plain for all to see: the family is disintegrating, legalized abortion is killing millions of unborn children, corrupt sexual behavior is rampant. The moral foundations of society are collapsing.

[Read more…]

Orthodox Church Categorically Opposed to Abortion: Life Begins at Conception

Orthodox Church Categorically Opposed to Abortion: Life Begins at Conceptionby Chris Banescu –
Orthodox Christianity has always taught that life begins at conception. The Church Saints and Fathers have all defended the sanctity of human life. The Orthodox Church is and has always been absolutely, unequivocally, positively, universally PRO-LIFE!

We are all created in the image and likeness of God. The Orthodox Church, founded by Jesus Christ and the Twelve Apostles, bears witness to the truth that all human life begins at conception. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you,” declare the Scriptures (Jeremiah 1:5). The teachings of the Orthodox Christian faith are very clear and unambiguous: all unborn human life is sacred and innocent human life must be protected.

The Orthodox Church regards abortion as murder and opposes all forms of abortion. All Orthodox Churches throughout the whole world and across the 2,000 years since Christ have taught and proclaimed this same truth without alteration to all nations.

The Supreme Court’s assertions in the Roe v. Wade decision, regarding Christian theology prior to the 19th century, that “there was otherwise little agreement about the precise time of formation or animation” of an unborn child is false. This declaration has no basis in fact in the theology, teachings, or practices of Orthodox Christianity. It is a complete fabrication! [Read more…]