OCA Chancery
Syosset, New York
To the Venerable Hierarchs, Reverend Clergy, Monastics, and Faithful of the Orthodox Church in America
Dearly beloved,
Our American society stands polarized over the issue of abortion. It has become a moral issue used for political leverage in the public arena. The Orthodox Church, however, continues to speak out against terminating life in the mother’s womb. Orthodox Christians have always viewed the willful abortion of unborn children as a heinous act of evil. Abortion is an act of murder for which those involved will answer to God.
Orthodox Christians must not turn a blind eye to this moral and political issue. Orthodox Christians are to contribute to legislative processes regarding this issue. But Orthodox Christians must not respond to this issue merely as a moral or political one. Simply pointing out the deficiencies of present legislation regarding abortion or bemoaning the moral decay of our times is not enough. It is not sufficient simply to legislate morality. The Church must strive in “truth and love” to appeal to the human conscience, the very core of human existence, which ultimately transcends all political and ideological platforms. We must seek not only to change human laws, but also to convert human hearts. Preaching the “Good News” of the Gospel of Christ, we must strive to heal a divided community.
By appealing to the human conscience, to the very core of human existence, the Church, through her pastors and faithful, is called to bring all to the understanding that life is a gift from God which is to be nurtured and revered. Care for life in the womb must extend to all aspects of human existence and development. This compels the Church, and therefore all of our parishes, to be centers of prayer and learning—to be centers where the human conscience is in harmony with the Divine Will. This compels us to offer the compassion and forgiveness of Christ to all who repent for the neglect and abuse of human life.
With a prophetic voice the Church is to continue proclaiming to Her faithful and to all the world that human life, beginning at conception, is created by God to develop and participate in Divine Life. With a prophetic voice the Church must continue its mission to call a divided and scattered people into the unity of the Triune and Tripersonal God—the very source and goal of all life.
With love in Christ,
+ THEODOSIUS
Archbishop of Washington
Metropolitan of All America and Canada