More Questions About Damascus Entourage

When commenting on the corrupting power of false information, the linguist Noam Chomsky noted, “There is a good reason why the propaganda system works. It recognizes that people will not support the actual policies. Therefore it is important to prevent any knowledge or understanding of them.” This entire sordid mess smells of a failed ‘propaganda’ machine run amuck. If Chomsky’s observation is correct, then the people will reject the now exposed ‘policies’ and turn out the policy makers – at least that’s how it would work in a sophisticated and civilized society. How it will play out in a Church steeped in Byzantine DNA is anyone’s guess – but the machine has now been exposed and that should cause decent people of good will to take notice and demand a reckoning.
Indicted criminals – regardless of their plea bargaining, reduced counts, etc. should have no place in the echelon of the Church – least of all on the Archdiocese Board of Trustees - Khalife and El Khoury must be dismissed. A felon bishop like Khoury who’s first hit on Google comes up as ‘sexual offender’ should be defrocked rather than retired with a stipend and commission to prepare a ‘priests guide’. His name should not appear on the pre convention annual report as an Auxiliary Bishop listed among the others.
Who’s going to bring all this to the floor at Palm Desert? Who’s going to speak sense and truth to power in California?
When the OCA went through its meltdown, they had a host of respected leaders, clergy and lay, with international credentials as Theologians, scholars, academics and educators who framed the questions and crafted the debate – the weight of their personalities, their articulate voice and the veracity of their cause won the day and that Church is now on the mend. Can we expect anything like it for the AOCA? Who are our heavyweights? We don’t have a Hopko or an Erickson or a St. Vlad’s faculty to rally around.
There may be an army of bewildered soldiers out there who feel betrayed and are justifiably angry at the folks bringing this all down on us, but who will channel that energy into something constructive that clears the air and brings credibility to the AOCA? We have a few short weeks for God fearing leaders driven with the desire to restore Christ’s Church to emerge and rally the troops – if not; it’s the same old same old.
Chomsky continued his treaties on corruption by noting that “conformity is the easy way, and the path to privilege and prestige; dissidence carries personal costs.” The conformists; the ‘old guard’ from the Damascus delegation and countless other clergy and ‘Trustees’ who make up the ‘good ol’boys' network have brought our Church to this sad and lamentable point – Palm Desert could be the only chance to turn this sorry outfit around if enough good people stand for decency and say ‘enough’.

(editor's note: Well said, but one minor historical correction. If the OCA had waited to rally around SVS, we would still have Herman as Metropolitan, and Bob as Chancellor. SVS, for all its many good qualities, choose not to participate in the events surrounding the OCA Scandal. At the time of the events they choose to remain " a pan-Orthodox institution" and out of the fray. I do not begrduge them their decision, but it would be incorrect to assert they were involved in any meaningful way until the events involving Bishop Nikolai came about. They did speak out then, granted. The one exception before that I make is retired Fr. Hopko, who did publish and courageously speak out, although once again, few rallied. No, the OCA went through its fire led not by its "leaders", but by countless courageous laymen & laywomen, many brave priests (and many more brave priest's wives), and one brave Archbishop. The vast majority of our "leaders" remained silent until the battle was fully underway, its inevitable outcome already determined. The AOCA should expect nothing different. It is not "leaders" who will solve this crisis - it is you. Each of you who decides , as Solzhentisyn said, " not to live the lie". Laity, clergy, bishops - all must stop living the lie, and bending consciences, actions and money to its will, rather than the way Christ told us to live: in truth, with openess, honesty and accountability towards each other. When that happened, the OCA changed. When it happens in the AOCA, it too will change. And even the "leaders" will not be able to stop it....)