www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News OCA SIC Report publicly released

It was released sometime this afternoon, the long awaited OCA Special Investigation Committee report on the financial improprieties in the Church.

A warning to all, do not download the report and appendixes without having a lot of reading time. The report is 35 pages long, and the appendixes another 69 pages.
OCAnews.org report on the release. [ocanews.org]

Official OCA News Release and report download links [oca.org]

We await the results of this - in prayer that what will follow will be pleasing to God and to His Church.

Fr. Serge

I read the report last night...I pray that the heirarchy, clergy and laity of the BCC read this and pray on it. I see alot of similarities between the BCC and the OCA (in regards to the heirarchy and their approach to things)...The laity and Clergy could learn alot since many are afraid to speak of such things and this all came to light because of the few who were not afraid to put all on the line and continue to speak about the underlying scandals and "force" this investigation.

Chris

In light of this report, His Eminence, Metropolitan Herman requested and was given immediate retirement as primate of the OCA effective immediately. Let's pray that healing may begin with the tenure of the soon to be elected primate of the Orthodox Church in America.

Official OCA Statement [oca.org]

Official OCA Statement regarding Retired Metropolitan Theodosius [oca.org]

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Finally! A big step in the right direction!

It is a sad commentary, but the OCA seems to have equal number of retired bishops versus diocesan hierarchs in the US according to their website directory. This is the second "retirement" this year. The current locum tenens is not in robust shape either, though they have just elected an auxiliary for him. Also the rumored impending departure of the Romanian Episcopate back to the Church of Romania will be a serious blow.

It will really be interesting what the time up to and including the November All-American Council does in turning things around for the OCA.

It looks like the locum tenens will be just that in name only until the election of a new primate. This was just released.

http://www.oca.org/news/1633

OCA: Metropolitan Herman Retires
SYOSSET, NY [OCA Communications] -- The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, meeting at the OCA Chancery in Oyster Bay Cove, NY, on Thursday, September 4, 2008, issued the following statement.

“On September 4, 2008, The Holy Synod of Bishops received a letter from His Beatitude, Metropolitan HERMAN. In this letter, His Beatitude asks for Retirement, effective immediately, 'in the best interests of The Orthodox Church in America, and taking into consideration the current condition of my health.'

“Effective this date, The Holy Synod of Bishops grants His Beatitude’s request to retire from the Office of Metropolitan of All America and Canada of the Orthodox Church in America.

“The Holy Synod of Bishops resolves that, in retirement, the title will be ‘Former Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada.’

“The Holy Synod of Bishops expresses to His Beatitude, Metropolitan HERMAN, their fraternal love and gratitude for his primatial service and archpastoral labors.

“The Holy Synod of Bishops resolves that His Eminence, DMITRI, Archbishop of Dallas and the South, be Locum tenens of The Orthodox Church in America. In liturgical commemorations, he is to be commemorated as ‘His Eminence, DMITRI, Locum tenens of The Orthodox Church in America.’”

If I recall correctly, Abp Seraphim was the popular choice for the office of metropolitan at the time the Holy Synod chose Metropolitan Herman.

BOB

Does the second statement mean that +Theodosius can't even go to another parish to "attend" a service? That would mean that if he knew someone who was being buried or married at another parish he couldn't even go to the funeral or wedding. Or am I wrong?

BOB

Bob,

That is correct, and in order to do as you have questioned would require permission from the authorities at the chancery. I am sure they will be working out a protocol for that eventuality.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Presumably this only applies to OCA churches - the OCA has no means of deciding who may and who may not attend a service in some other jurisdiction.

Fr. Serge

Father Serge:

Father bless!!

I think what they're saying is that they have put a discipline on one of their own retired bishops and they mean it to be severe.

Asking for your blessing and continued holy prayers,

BOB

Dear Bob,

I don't doubt that you are correct in your analysis. The trouble is that Theodosius is both retired and in bad health. That combination of circumstances impedes the possibility of imposing a discipline on Theodosius. There has been no spiritual court in his case, and probably cannot be.

Fr. Serge

Father Serge:

Father bless!!

You may be correct. I was under the impression that, retired or not, the man is still in monastic discipline no matter what his priestly or episcopal status might be. There was a precedent a few years ago where Metropolitan Herman suspended a retired bishop from all priestly and episcopal functions.

Asking for your blessing and contineud holy prayers,

BOB