|
top
The National Herald - June 10-16, 2017
ANALYSIS
An End and a Beginning in Chicago
By Theodore Kalmoukos
On June 2, Metropolitan Iakovos fell asleep in the Lord. He was 89. [...]
Metropolitan Iakovos’ departure – he served the Chicago Metropolis for 38 years – marks an end the
local Church of Chicago and a new beginning will soon be inaugurated.
It is widely known more or less what has gone on in the Metropolis, especially over last ten years.[...]
[ ... ]
The problems are known both to the Archdiocese and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the latter having the
last word on “the ecclesiastical affairs in America” and, of course, bearing the responsibility. I have the
impression that many times the Archdiocesan leadership here wants to act in certain situations involving
high ranking clerics, but there are factors from “above” preventing that.
For now, and based on my knowledge of the situation, Chicago is boiling, and in the case of an improper
hierarchical election, one worse than the former one, it would explode.
|
A repetition of Archbishop Spyridon’s term of only three years is not out of the question.
[ ... ]
As long as the metropolitans continue to receive their high salaries along with extra income from the
sacraments and Sacred Services, and priests also enjoy high salaries and “tips” from weddings,
baptisms and funerals, and also work on the side as businessmen and owners of real estate, any change
seems like an intangible dream. If the “almighty dollar” ceases to fill the coffers and the pockets, then the
big challenge will start, but it will be too late.
[ ... ]
[ The National Herald - June 10-16, 2017 - p. 11 ]
[ The National Herald - www.thenationalherald.com/[...]- June 5, 2017 ]
|