The Stewards' Position on the Rumors

Greek Orthodox Stewards of America - August 1, 1999

Editorial

The Stewards have received a number of e-mails and letters from individuals asking why more information has not been posted on the GOStewards website concerning His Eminence Archbishop Spyridon's status. The answer is a simple one. All the information that has appeared in the Greek and American press and on the internet is speculation and rumor fueled by "undisclosed" sources. For a while, the story changed what seemed like every day. For example, first Metropolitan X was going to replace Archbishop Spyridon and then Metropolitan Y was going to replace him. Rather than provide additional fuel for the rumor and speculation mill, the Stewards have decided to take a wait and see attitude. When something concrete is announced or happens, we will report and comment on it. Until that occurs, we see no positive benefit in perpetuating the type of stories that have circulated. Those engaging in this type of journalism and reporting make the National Enquirer look good.

The faithful should wait and see what transpires when Archbishop Spyridon travels to the Phanar in August. Hopefully, His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew and the Holy Synod will see the wisdom of retaining Archbishop Spyridon in his present assignment. They must realize that reassigning Archbishop Spyridon will not end the Ecumerical Patriarchate's problems in America. Rather, the reassignment of him only would be the end of the beginning of those problems, which would then move to the next phase. The problems only can be eliminated by dealing boldly and definitively with GOAL and its parent, the Orthodox Christian Laity. Make no mistake about it - those two organizations are a cancer that is destroying our Church. Until that cancer is extirpated, there will be no peace in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

George C. Rockas
Editor of Stewards Website

[ Greek Orthodox Stewards of America
www.gostewards.org/editorials/e99080101.htm
August 1, 1999 ]