Baltimore archbishop demands greater accountability from religious order

National Catholic Reporter writer and analyst John Allen writes about and publishes a fascinating interview with the Archbishop of Baltimore, Edwin F. O'Brien, regarding the well-known and controversial Roman Catholic order, the "Legionaries of Christ." O'Brien was Archbishop for the Military Services of the United States from 1997-2007, when he was assigned to Baltimore.

For all of you who are concerned, have become weary of or have been effected by the continued secrecy, hypocrisy and self-righteousness of certain segments within the Roman Church, this is a "must-read." Already, the "Legionaries" were expelled from the St. Paul-Minneapolis archdiocese in late 2004.

I commend Archbishop O'Brien for taking the necessary steps to protect his people from possible unjust situations and to require accountability from those who operate within his archdiocese. The article, which begins below, speaks for itself.

Demanding what he calls greater “transparency and accountability” from the controversial religious order known as Legionaries of Christ and their associated lay movement, Regnum Christi, Archbishop Edwin O’Brien of Baltimore has directed both groups to disclose all activities within his archdiocese, and to refrain from one-on-one spiritual direction with anyone under 18.

The ban on counseling minors, O’Brien said in an interview with NCR on Wednesday, is related to concerns that the Legionaries and Regnum Christi practice “heavily persuasive methods on young people, especially high schoolers, regarding vocations.”

Both the Legionaries of Christ, a religious order of priests, and the lay-led Regnum Christi are typically seen as part of a galaxy of “new movements” within Catholicism. Both are known for missionary zeal, as well as staunch traditionalism in faith and practice.

In a June 11 interview on the margins of the spring meeting of the U.S. bishops in Orlando, Florida, O’Brien said he’s prepared to take the “next step” of barring the Legionaries and Regnum Christi from the archdiocese entirely if they do not comply.

CONTINUE READING . . .

Pentecost Message from Vladyka Mykhayil

Slava Isusu Khrystu!
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Gloria a Jesucristo!

Dear Faithful in Christ,

June 15, 2007

Today's holyday is always a special one for our people. It celebrates life and the continual gift of God's Spirit, the source of life. The color green which we use, signifies that we are alive and good, and full of the healthy presence of God within us.

God's Spirit brings excitement and today, we have much to be excited about. Our church, which we have shown others, not to be made of stone and wood, but of God's people themselves, celebrates its birthday. Our cathedral parish observes its annual patronal festival; and we remember and remind the world of 1020 years of Christian faith in our spiritual motherland, Ukraine. Indeed, these are things of which we are proud and excited.

The future is always right ahead of us and the past, just a short distance behind. Time passes quickly, but when we act in the Spirit of God, there is no separation of time - only the fullness of time.

As we gather today as the church, from throughout the greater New York City area, let us remember that God's Spirit is moving us onwards, with all of the gifts which that Spirit bestows - wisdom, knowledge, prudence, courage, understanding, justice, truth.

From our heart, we greet the worldwide Predstoyatel of our Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, His Beatitude, Vladyka Mefodiy, the Metropolitan of Kyiv & All Ukraine, asking for his fatherly blessing on this festive day.

We also extend our congratulations to Vladyka Roman of Vinnitsya, Vladyka Andriy of Ivano-Frankivsk and all of our bishops and priests in Ukraine. Our holiday best wishes are sent also to Archbishop Odon, together with our God-loving people in Latin America and all the clergy and faithful of our UAOC community, wherever they may be.

The words of the Amvon prayer for Pentecost speak of how the Lord sustained the disciples through the constant presence of the Spirit's many gifts. My prayer is that each of us, in our individual way, may light the world by using and promoting the gifts of the Spirit of God.

Your Brother and Servant in Christ,

+Mykhayil
Metropolitan of New York & America
Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church

My Easter Letter

At each important church season, I publish a "pastoral letter" of reflection to the people of our church. You can read my Paschal (Easter) message here.

I hope that it is of help to you all. I send my sincere paschal greetings for a blessed and joyful holiday time.

Let's remember that Pascha does not just last one day, but throughout the whole week, called "Bright Week," and in a lesser degree, for the 40 days until the feast of the Ascension. So enjoy this time of liberation and new beginnings.

Christ is Risen! Khrystos Voskres! Cristo ha Resucitado! Al Maseeh Qam!

UAOC AMERICA NEWS

Our website, uaoc.org has published some news surrounding the celebration of Orthodox Easter (Pascha). You may go to the news section, to see what's been posted.

Passion Week & Pascha Schedule

Greetings to all!

I know that I have not posted much on this blog lately. Having been in Great Lent and now, Passion Week, things have been pretty hectic.

If anyone is interested in my schedule for the holiday services, please see the following link:

PASSION WEEK & PASCHA SCHEDULE


My prayers are with all of you, our parishioners, friends, family and loved ones, as we celebrate the saving week of the Lord's Passion.

I look forward to posting more here in this blog, following the Paschal holydays.

Here are a few pictures from our services for the Sunday of Flowers (Palm Sunday). I hope you enjoy them.

Best Regards,

+Vladyka Mykhayil

E-Cards for Passion Week and the Easter Holidays

UAOC.ORG continues to provide great quality electronic greeting cards for Pascha and all holy day and religious occasions.

Don't forget to send your family and friends a holiday message with a Ukrainian and Orthodox theme. Select your category on the left side. Click here to send now . . .

Let us draw near with faith and love . . .

"Let us draw near with faith and love, that we may become partakers of life everlasting."

Last week, we discussed some of the initially noticeable liturgical characteristics of the season of Great Lent. Now, we will continue with reflections on the features of the second portion of the Lenten period.

As the time of Lent passes, so too, the intensity of the services. Already, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts has drawn our attention each Wednesday and Friday. With its tranquil and somber chants and texts, the service creates an atmosphere of reflection and quiet contemplation, conducive to the mood of Great Lent.

The Eucharistic portion of the Presanctified Liturgy contains prayers which beckon us to unity with the Lord, who is continually coming into the world around us. The quotation above is from the second part of the Cherubikon. The first part speaks of the "mystical sacrifice," Christ's Body & Blood, which the celebrant is about to bring to the altar for the communion of the faithful. After the silent procession with the consecrated gifts reaches to royal doors, the people, all on bended knees, conclude the hymn. It is only with "faith and with love that we may become partakers of everlasting life."

As we partake of the life-giving sacrament of Christ's presence, the communion hymn reminds us what a good thing it is to be in the presence of the living God. For those who have been fasting for three weeks now, the words become very real indeed. God-with-us and living in our midst is a good thing, which satisfies all human need and hunger: "Taste and see how good the Lord is. Alleluia."

After the third Lenten Sunday, the church calls us to accelerate our participation in worship. This Sunday itself is dedicated to the "Veneration of the Holy Cross" and is intended to give encouragement to the praying and fasting community, with the knowledge that Lent has run half its course and that the "sacred and solemn week of the Passion of Christ" will soon be upon us.

Following the fourth Sunday, during the fifth week, the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, with many prostrations (profound bows on the floor), is sung during Thursday matins. It reminds us of the need to pay attention to the purpose of Lent: to better conform ourselves to the image of Christ through sincere repentance. A prostration is made after each troparion of the canon, during the verse, "Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me."

The Presanctified Liturgy is celebrated that evening, so that the people may be spiritually refreshed by the Eucharist, after the strenuous multitude of prostrations. On the following Saturday, the Akafist Hymn to the Theotokos is sung, as we ask Mary to accompany us, as she did her son, Jesus, on the journey to Jerusalem. The origin of the use of the Akafist to Mary at this time is probably closely related to the proximity of the Feast of the Annunciation (March 25/April 7), the biblical event to which the service is primarily dedicated.

Soon, the 40 days of fasting will conclude with the sixth Friday and the following Saturday of Lazarus, which directly precede the Feast of the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday).

We observe the third Sunday of Lent and begin the fourth week knowing that time will pass quickly from this point forward. For us, we are nearing the Holy City and the solemn Passion Week is close at hand.

+Vladyka Mykhayil