For the Health of Body and Soul: An Eastern Orthodox Introduction to Bioethics
Preface to "For the Life of the World" - Social Ethos Document
The task of producing a single statement of the social doctrine of the Orthodox Church is of its nature a complicated, not to say contentious, undertaking. The Orthodox Church operates within a vast variety of cultural and historical contexts, each with its own social and political concerns and traditions. The Church regards its social teaching as nothing other than a faithful transcription of the moral teachings of the gospel into the language of public ethics and policy, and insists that every Orthodox Christian is called to live in the world as a faithful disciple of Christ, called to fellowship with the whole communion of saints. More »
Roman Catholic, Orthodox Christians Affirm Sanctity of Life
WASHINGTON – Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christians joined in prayer and public gathering on the 43rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion, to express their long-standing belief that all life is sacred. More »
Assembly of Bishops Delegation Participates in March for Life
The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America sent a delegation to the annual March for Life, Thursday, Jan. 22 in Washington.. The date marks the 42nd anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion. More »
Reflections on “The March for Life”
On January 22 I had the honor of attending and marching with hundreds of thousands of citizens from across our nation at the annual “March for Life” in Washington. This annual event, virtually ignored by the major broadcast media and most news media apart from Fox News, is one of the largest, if not the largest annual protest march in our nation’s capital, and highlights the opposition to so-called abortion rights as well as, and more importantly, a right to life of the pre-born. More »
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made: The Science
This article by Andrea L. Kalfoglou, Ph.D describes various Biotechnologies that are in use and under development, including in vitro fertilization, reproductive genetic testing, stem cell research, therapeutic cloning of human embryos, and genetic modification. More »
For the Health of Body and Soul: An Eastern Orthodox Introduction to Bioethics
Everyone living today is sensitive to the fact that medical science is making enormous advances. Not only are illnesses being treated with remarkable computerized diagnostic machines, exotic technologies, and new drug therapies, but average people are now faced with an amazing array of alternatives each time a medically related problem arises. More »
The Stand of the Orthodox Church on Controversial Issues
Throughout its history, the Orthodox Church has dealt with controversial issues by a process which addresses the "mind of the Church." When an issue arises for which there is no clear-cut, widely and readily acknowledged tradition, and about which there is honest divergence of opinion as to what view genuinely expresses the teaching of the Church, a process begins which may eventually lead to the formulation of an official Church teaching. More »
Pastoral Guidelines: Church Positions Regarding the Sanctity of Human Life
A major and overarching concern of the Church arises with its commitment to the God-given sanctity of human life. Some of the developments of the biological manipulation of human life, though promising and amazing therapeutic achievements, may also be understood as undermining respect for the integrity of human existence. Others may be seen as providing new means of healing human illness. Discerning the difference is the challenge the Church faces in developing its teaching on these newly appearing issues. More »