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Joined: Nov 2002
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It is unfortunate that the Greek Orthodox church and other Eastern churches don't have priest's salaries paid by a central Archdiocese. Our eparchy has had for many years such a system. All parishes pay a monthly stipend to the eparchy. The eparchy in turns pays each priest a monthly stipend, travel allowance; and the eparchy is able to put a little amount away for healthcare and pension. All priests are treated the same, young or old; celibate or married; in a large parish or small. And we all know that in a few years we could be moved to another parish, and when this occurs, no one (either a parish or priest) loses out. May, I think you're missing Alice's point. Orthodox parishes are solely responsible for the priests salary. The diocese does not pay the priests salary. That's the reason many Orthodox priests have secular jobs.
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May did not miss the point , well at least in my view  If a Parish is responsible for the Priest's financial remuneration then they have an incredible say over what he actually does - if he doesn't please them - well there could be repercussions and these could be very nasty. 
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MAY:
OK you side-stepped PART of the issue.
What about the house the priest lives in. I dare not call it a rectory since in traditional terms (which this forum loves) doesn't fit the same mold as it once did. What about the taxes and the upkeep? And the utilities.. Electric, Gas, Cable, Phone, Satalite, Lawn Care, etc. .. That is paid for by the Parish, NOT, the priest or eparchy. It falls outside of the eparchy tax, although the eparchy owns it all.
As to Byzantine priests turned away from the Roman rite, I can name at least one. What about those who read this board? Can you speak up as to if you once followed the Western rite before choosing Eastern?
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If a Parish is responsible for the Priest's financial remuneration then they have an incredible say over what he actually does - if he doesn't please them - well there could be repercussions and these could be very nasty. They can unfortunately make the priests life you know what if they want to.
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Have you ever thought that a priest might want to get rid of his parishoners too? The street works both ways my dears.  Stephanos I That makes my blood boil. The CHURCH belongs to the parishoners NOT the priest. My Mother says it, my Grandmother said it, and now I say it. Priests come and go but the Parish is FOREVER. We, the parishoners, are the ones who PAY for the great big houses and the large yards and all the utilites of the priest. We are the ones who donate our time, our effort, and our lives. We are the lifeblood of the church NOT the priest, who, by all means, can be replaced, and in many cases SHOULD be replaced to meet the needs of the people. The people SHOULDN'T be pushed away to meet the needs of the priest. That explains the serious lack of vocations to the priesthood right there. Who would WANT to be a priest going to a parish with that attitude? Why have a priest anyway If " WE" do everything? I know that I wouldn't think of the priestly vocation if that was the attitude I could expect from parishioners! True, the parishioners are the ones who donate time, effort and pay for the rectory and the grounds maintenance, but the priest also has his share of work. You say priests can be replaced as if they grow on trees. Sadly they do not and vocations are seriously down. Conversly, the peoples needs should not be pushed aside by the priest. Sometimes there are priests who take advantage of the situation in a negative way. Keep in mind that the priest in most BCC's is highly educated (which cost him money), yet is paid a salary that would be considered well below median for the population. True they enjoy the use of the rectory paid for by the parish, however you make it appear that they all live in great big houses, they don't. Perhaps in your area they do. Many older parish rectories are in need of repair (as any older house generally does) which costs money, yet because of tight parish funds (lack of donations) the repairs often are deferred. I know of one Orthodox parish, whose married priest does have his own job, pays his own mortgage etc, who lists in the bulletin what it costs to keep the parish doors open each month. In a small parish it can still be a large amount compared to the donations. "Parishes are forever", at least until the bishop sells the land out from underneath them. Even in our beloved church things are not always 'fair'.
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The answer is simple if you want the priest that you should have for you parish. Start praying for the one you already have!
Stephanos Well said, Father. -- John
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Have you ever thought that a priest might want to get rid of his parishoners too? The street works both ways my dears. Stephanos I LOL !
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I think that if people want to be in the Catholic or Orthodox Church, they must be willing to accept bishops and priests and their authority.
-- John
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First of all, let me say this! I am not a Byzantine Priest,and not in a Bzantine Parish.
And as far as the particular Church that I am serving, they are far from leaving, actually they are flocking to the Church. (With over 12 Masses a weekend, all of which are overflowing out the door.)There are two daily masses with 200 to 400 people in attendance. They do this because they are getting the "authentic" teaching of the faith and not what someone "votes"on as the most popular thought or theology of the week. Which will blow away as soon as the other fad comes along.
Stephanos I
The Church is not an American institution.In America the majority might rule, but NOT in the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church! The turth rules as handed down to us by the Apostles. It is NOT a democracy, driven by the capitalistic market and public opinion poll. It is the Church of the living God, the Pillar and mainstay of truth. It is the voice of the living God. Jesus said, "He who listens to you, listens to me and he who refuses to listen to you refuses to listen to me!"
All power in heaven and on earth have been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations teaching them all things I have commanded you. And I will be with you until the end of the ages.
Last edited by Stephanos I; 02/15/08 04:09 PM.
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If the Priest is serving the faith properly and the parishioners want him out because of it, then perhaps it is they who should leave for another denomination that would suit them better rather than try to water down the faith.
Truth and faith should never be watered down to suit the parishioners..the Priest's job is our salvation, period...
I don't mean to be offensive, but we all come from different experiences, and our views are formed by them. These are my particular views.
I have never bought into the American mentality of 'we pay the priest's salary' so he has to do as we want. He is not OUR servant, he is God's servant, and will have to answer to Him in a more profound way, than to his parish board. It is unfortunate that the Greek Orthodox church and other Eastern churches don't have priest's salaries paid by a central Archdiocese.
In Christ,
Alice I am trying to be a little more vocal here, so I will jump in on this with my cent and a half....AMEN, Alice, to your first paragraph. I know of one parish (not Byzantine, but Roman) where the parishioners are leaving; some to other Catholic parishes (when I run into them I invite them to my parish) and some to the Protestants. There was a priest at this parish at one time who was a very eloquent speaker and a mesmerizing homilist. However some of his positions were 'watered down' so to speak. But people loved him. Then he left and his replacement, although from what I have heard a good priest, is not a carbon copy of the previous priest so no one likes him and they are leaving. Maybe when there is only a tiny remnant left will there begin to be true renewal in the Church.
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Good point Steve.
I was not making a statement about not taking care of the genuine spiritual and even finacial needs of God's people.
I work almost 24/7 at times for months on end I dont have a single day off and I contribute personally 4 times the amount I ask parishoners to contribute to the Church and on top of that I support one orphan and regularly contribute to the care of the poor. (Dont want to blow my trumpet but that is just reality.)
Stephanos I
Besides all of this I do it on a salary that is well under the standard of what is considered destitute poverty level. The migrant farm hands receive more capital per year than we do.
And when it comes time to retire guess what. I have to manage completely on the meager pension that is allowed. So guess its living on the US/Mex border in a trailer, a used one at that.None of the Church property is my personal possesion.
Last edited by Stephanos I; 02/15/08 04:31 PM.
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