Alex, don't know about how courageous....have you ever heard the saying "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread"? I know lately I have really been a jerk at times...I just get so tired of all the negativity on this forum and like you have done in the past I keep telling myself I just need to stop coming here. So many of us who post on here need a good dose of Dr. John's wisdom. We get so wrapped up in all the "churchiness" that we lose sight of what Christianity is supposed to do. I love my Byzantine Church and traditions, but if it can't reach people where they are, then it is just a museum piece. There are problems in all churches...Catholic (East and West), Orthodox of every jurisdiction, Protestant and in all religions. But that is to be expected in any institution. Where human beings are involved, there will be problems. But we can't lose hope and go on doing the best we can. I have heard it said that we get the priests and bishops we deserve...that gives much food for thought. To solve the problems of the churches we need to look to our own lives first. To reform the church I can only begin by reforming myself. And leave my neighbor, my bishop, my priest and everyone else to God. I've had it here. Most of the posters see the church's problems as caused by someone else...a bad priest, a bad bishop, too many gays, people who like a modern approach to Liturgy, those who like Latinisms, everyone but him or herself. I'm over it!
moe
