More Western Misunderstandings of Orthodoxy

https://www.npr.org/2023/09/30/1201065400/ukraine-russian-orthodox-church-tensions

Whenever these questions are addressed by Western news outlets the stories are tainted by phony democratic and liberal assumptions that are imposed on the discussion of the Church. This is true even when the discussion deals with Protestants or Roman Catholics.

They cannot fathom that the legitimacy of an Orthodox body is determined by its hierarchy and tied to questions of tradition and succession – not social contract.

I would be curious to know if anyone pointed this out to the reporter – who then left it out of the story.

Or perhaps, many in Ukraine and Russia, and certainly in the West are confused about this as well. I admit there are fundamental problems especially for Orthodox, Catholics, and yes, even Protestants that want to wave the flag or be patriotic when (at the end of the day) the values that undergird the social and political order are fundamentally at odds with both the larger traditions of these Churches – and frankly the New Testament as well. The message is sure to be unpopular but if Church leaders (many of whom are admittedly just as confused) won't address this, they are ultimately facing their own defeat and working against themselves.

I found it interesting that no one seems concerned that Ukraine is wiretapping clergy and prosecuting what is basically thought crime?

If Kyiv doesn't like these 'less than loyal' citizens, then let the eastern sections secede. Declare neutrality (ending Kyiv's NATO proxy status) and end the war. But that's not in the cards and the nationalist transformation that began in earnest in 2014 has intensified – and yet Western reporting dances around it was we're seeing with this NPR story. Kyiv is actively suppressing whatever is deemed non-Ukrainian – whether it be Russian, Hungarian, or otherwise. These are ultra-nationalist moves and in another context the West would be screaming about it.

Instead, Western voices tacitly support the idea of banning the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine. Let us think back and ask – was there any suggestion of banning Islam in the United States after 9/11? Yes, there was but it was associated with the ultra-nationalist radical and often racist right. And so once again when it comes to international affairs, when it comes to the Empire – the American 'Left' is revealed to be located far over on the 'right' side of the register. The recent interview with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez confirmed this and this is in keeping with what we've seen with other so-called 'Leftist' and 'Socialist' politicians in the US. When pressed on this point, figures like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren support the war machine and reject internationalism. They're either none too bright or poseurs. I'm inclined to think they're outright frauds.

The US didn't have to arrest Orthodox officials during the Cold War – fearing their potential disloyalty. Instead Washington created new Americanized churches using fascist stooges that settled in the US after WWII.

Imagine if the US had started arrested any imam who did openly denounce 9/11? The road to arresting anyone who won't openly support the troops and US wars would be a short one – and for those who know American history, they will know it has happened before.

On a somewhat different note, Patriarch Kirill's disgusting promise of salvation for soldiers is as old as Pope Urban II's promise made in 1095 with the launch of the First Crusade. I think many conservative Protestants (supporting the West's line on Ukraine) would be greatly offended at this and yet how can they be? It would seem growing numbers of Protestants view Roman Catholicism as a legitimate church, and certainly think so in terms of the Middle Ages. Nowadays even the Crusades are defended by means of revisionist history. The older understanding of Rome and the Papacy as antichrist and the Crusades as an abomination are all but gone. Some defend the Crusades but you can't view them apart from the theology that undergirds them.

And as far as Western media goes - if NPR doesn't like Kirill's statement then take the issue up with the pope. I'd like to hear the Pope repudiate that evil past. The Catholic Church tries to pretend that it has moved on and can no longer be held accountable for its past crimes and heresies. And yet, it does so in a rather disingenuous way as it cannot formally repudiate these things without damaging its own witness and claims. So instead it side-steps and if the social climate is favourable, the media plays its part – as it is doing with the question of Orthodoxy in Ukraine.