Are the OCA and GOAA officials in charge of investigating sexual misconduct qualified? Are they doing a good job? Below is a roundup of some press on this topic, in one case including troubling criminal charges that have recently surfaced.

Fr. Alexey Karlgut (OCA)

According to OCANews.org, Fr. Alexey Karlgut, the OCAs investigator into allegations of abuse and misconduct, is not certified to handle such investigations:

One Metropolitan Council clergy member, who is clinically trained in handling allegations of abuse, said the OCA must send qualified teams to respond to such allegations as have been made in Alaska, to meet procedural norms. He stressed the need to respond promptly; since months had elapsed since the first allegations of misconduct had arisen in Alaska. The subsequent discussion confirmed that Fr. Alexey Karlgut, the OCAs investigator into such allegations of abuse and misconduct, is not certified to handle such investigations. Source

Commenting on the this information on OCANews.org article The Rest of the Story, Cappy Larson from Pokrov.org says:

This sentence below particularly jumped out at me, in light of the fact that I have spoken to victims who state that Karlgut contributed greatly to their re-victimization.

The subsequent discussion confirmed that Fr. Alexey Karlgut, the OCA?s investigator into such allegations of abuse and misconduct, is not certified to handle such investigations.

Pokrov has attempted to obtain the credientials from Karlgut with no success.

I believe that the fact that Karlgut is not qualified to conduct investigations of sexual abuse has far reaching implications.

Cappy Larson
www.pokrov.org

Bishop Savas and Fr. Michael Kontogiorgis (GOAA)
Outrage over the mishandling of the now-defrocked Nicholas Katinas abuse case caused some Greek bishops to call for the resignation of Greek Orthodox Archdiocese chancellor, Bishop Savas of Troas, who spoke contemptuously about other members of the Synod, to be reprimanded and removed from his position.

Members of the Synod recommended that the Archbishop remove Savas from the Chancery and assign him to the Office of Inter-Christian & Inter-Orthodox Relations to replace Bishop Demetrios of Xanthos, who retired this past December and has relocated to Florida. The Archbishop said he has been considering that option for the past three months. Source

More news and opinions on Bishop Savas and Fr. Michael Kontogiorgis handling of sexual abuse cases>here and here.

Nicholas Triantafillou (GOAA)

How were sexual abuse cases handled historically? Current legal charges against the Greek Archdiocese accusing Fr. Nicholas Triantafillou of illegally covering up charges of child molestation are very troubling. Triantafillou was formerly the Vicar General and the Chancellor for the Archdiocese in charge of investigating such charges.

Following the recent inclusion of the fifth plaintiff in the lawsuit, the complaint was updated. According to new information included in the charges, Rev. Nicholas Triantafillou, the current President of Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology, knew and concealed Katinas acts of child molestation ever since 1987, when the former served as the Archbishops Vicar General and the Chancellor of the Archdiocese. Source

These reports are very troubling, and bring up the following questions:

• Are these men qualified to interview children and other vulnerable victims of abuse?
• Do they follow legal requirements to report child sexual abuse to the authorities?
• Do they follow their respective jurisdictions sexual misconduct guidelines?
• Do they act pastorally and do the right thing showing sympathy and providing archdiocese sponsored professional counseling for abuse issues?
• Do they suspend clergy accused of misconduct pending investigation in order to ensure their communities are protected until and investigation has been conducted?
• Do they announce misconduct claims (once substantiated) to the affected communities and encourage other victims to come forward?
• Do they take steps to ensure clergy guilty of such misconduct never have a position of trust to have access to victims within the Orthodox Church ever again?

Sadly, first-hand reports OrthodoxReform.org has received from numerous victims and their family members paint a sad picture into the current state of affairs for the OCA and GOAA.