Pokrov
December 10, 2008
http://pokrov.org/display.asp?ds=Article&id=855
SYOSSET, NY [OCA Communications] — On Wednesday, December 10, 2008, the Orthodox Church in America issued the following statement.
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"The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, a New York religious corporation (the 'OCA'), has concluded an investigation into the allegations made by Paul Sidebottom regarding actions by Archimandrite Isidore (Brittain) which took place in Kodiak, Alaska on May 16 – 17, 2007. While the OCA does not admit liability for any of the matters involved in Mr. Sidebottom's allegations of sexual harassment, those allegations have been found to be credible by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ('EEOC') in its investigation of Mr. Sidebottom's allegations, and the Holy Synod recognizes that the consequences of the protracted investigation have been a source of much distress to Mr. Sidebottom. The Holy Synod regrets any adverse impact these circumstances have had on Mr. Sidebottom. The Holy Synod also regrets that Mr. Sidebottom was discharged from his position at St. Herman's Seminary by the now-retired Bishop of Alaska, Nikolai, in retaliation for filing the complaint with the OCA, as found by the EEOC in its investigation of Mr. Sidebottom's allegations. In bringing this unfortunate case to a conclusion, the Holy Synod prays that the parties hurt and affected will partake of the merciful love, healing and peace that Our Lord Jesus Christ grants to all. The Holy Synod willingly embraces its Christian duty to facilitate healing, forgiveness and reconciliation, and it prays that these and other steps taken will, by God's grace, lead to that end."
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