Greek Orthodox Synod: Send Katinas to Spiritual Court, Orthodox Reform [Dallas], May 19, 2007

Greek Orthodox Synod: Send Katinas to Spiritual Court

Orthodox Reform [Dallas]
May 19, 2007

http://orthodoxreform.org/cases/fr-nicholas-katinas/synod-speaks-out/

A new front page article in The National Herald reports on the increasing support of the Bishops to follow canon law and depose Fr. Katinas, who was suspended nearly a year ago over allegations of sexually molesting an altar boy. Since this initial charge, other allegations have been made and a lawsuit has been filed.

The Holy Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has recommended that Rev. Nicholas Katinas, former longtime pastor of Holy Trinity Church in Dallas, should be sent before Spiritual Court for alleged sexual misconduct with minors.

Metropolitan Evangelos had strong words to say on this subject:

When asked how he would have dealt with the issue if Father Katinas were a priest serving the Metropolis of New Jersey, Evangelos said, "First of all, respecting the Canon Law of the Church and the civil laws of our land, I would have proceeded very differently in following the proper process. I would have notified the authorities, and without any doubt, I would have already sent him to Spiritual Court to be defrocked."

Evangelos also said he believes that a special meeting of the Synod is necessary to discuss the issue.

Several other bishop weighed in with their opinions on this topic.

Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco said:

"These pedophilia incidents are a terrible phenomena because it impacts our faith and the life of the Church. We should be very careful, and we should have respect, care and empathy for the victims," he said.

Gerasimos called the lawsuit "a terrible development," and emphasized that the Holy Eparchial Synod should confront the whole issue head-on."

In response to the question why the Archbishop has so far refused to send Father Katinas to Spiritual Court for defrocking, Gerasimos said, "There was a discussion within the Holy Synod about it, and the Archbishop expressed his thoughts."

Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago said:

"It is a terrible incident, and the Church, as the mother of forgiveness and mercy, will confront it properly."

Metropolitan Methodios of Boston said:

"Lewdness against minors and innocent children is too shameful even to talk about."

Commenting on the lawsuit, Methodios said, "I hope it will not go through because I'm afraid it's going to do a lot of harm to the Archdiocese."

Asked what he thinks should be done, Methodios said, "I have absolute confidence in the judgment of Archbishop Demetrios, and I hope that his advisors will advise him correctly."

When asked why the Archbishop refuses to convene the Spiritual Court, Methodios said, "As I said, I have confidence in the Archbishop, and the decision is in his hands," adding that "the matter is in the jurisdiction of the Direct Archdiocesan District of New York, and according to proper order, the Father Katinas issue should go first to the Spiritual Court of the New York District, and then it would come to the Holy Eparchial Synod for the final decision."

When asked if he advises the Archbishop to convene the Spiritual Court of the Archdiocesan district, Methodios said, "I gave my opinion to the Archbishop, as well as to the other brother hierarchs at the Synod's meeting," but declined to disclose what he said to the Archbishop.

Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey said:

"This whole issue has made me sick, and I can't hide my surprise and great disappointment for the things that Father Katinas has been accused of," Evangelos said. "The faithful of the Church, as well as the clergy, have been scandalized, and the office of the holy priesthood has been completely embarrassed."

Evangelos also said, "Many things could have been avoided if the issue was placed on its correct and proper path from the very beginning, and I mean that, as a Church, we should have taken all possible precautions in order to avoid further bad publicity before the American public, as well as within our own Greek American community."

When asked what he thinks should be done from this point forward, Evangelos said, "I wish and pray for God to illumine all of us in order to make the proper Orthodox decisions, based on the ecclesiastical as well as the civil law."

Asked why he thinks the Archbishop is refusing to send Father Katinas to Spiritual Court, Evangelos said, "I don't know. You should probably ask him. He is the immediate superior of Father Katinas, since Father Katinas belongs to the Direct Archdiocesan District."

When asked how he would have dealt with the issue if Father Katinas were a priest serving the Metropolis of New Jersey, Evangelos said, "First of all, respecting the Canon Law of the Church and the civil laws of our land, I would have proceeded very differently in following the proper process. I would have notified the authorities, and without any doubt, I would have already sent him to Spiritual Court to be defrocked."

Evangelos also said he believes that a special meeting of the Synod is necessary to discuss the issue.

Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta had a different perspective:

"I did not know Fr. Katinas. I had seen him two or three times at the Theological School. I knew his son, Father James Katinas better because he was the Dean of Admissions at the School. What has happened is very unpleasant, especially as it concerns a prominent priest," he said.

Speaking about the lawsuit, Alexios said, "People today are not concerned about ethics, but mostly about their financial gain. If they cared about ethos, they should have been concerned a long time ago. It is clearly a matter of money."

When the Herald reminded Alexios that the alleged victims were minors, he said, "Yes, but today they are 35-year-old adults. Why did they think of this today, and not at the age of 18 or 25?"

Asked if the Church should show compassion towards the victims, Alexios said, "Of course, the Church's concerns are not only material, but also spiritual. The Church should demonstrate love, care and concern toward the victims, but they must also show respect for the Church."

But Metropolitan Alexios also said he believes Father "should have been defrocked from the beginning." Asked weather a special Synod should be convened, Metropolitan Alexios said, "I will answer you with a question. Was a special Synod convened in other cases with even heavier accusations? I was not present at the Synod last October, and I do not know what was discussed about the issue."

Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit said:

"I don't have all the details, except for what has been made public. The understanding is that the man is guilty. I will not rush to say anything, but when we hold a Synod, I will express my position there."

Asked if a special Synod should be convened, Nicholas said, "He (Father Katinas) is a priest under the direct jurisdiction of the Archbishop, and if the Archbishop (who presides over the Eparchial Synod) wants to proceed, we all are going to go.""