by Fr. Demetrios Carellas | 3/19/2010
“And He said to them, ‘This kind can come forth by nothing, except by prayer and fasting.’” (Mark 9:29)
Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ said those words to His disciples, when they asked Him why they were unable to expel the demonic spirit from the man’s son. I firmly believe that we have a similar situation today in our Nation. It is the goal of the party in power to have signed into law by March 22, 2010 a national health care bill, which would permit the use of taxpayers’ dollars to fund abortion on demand. While there are many other things in this health care bill that should cause us much concern (in addition to the fact that the majority of the people in Congress have not even fully read the bill!), the ‘keystone’ of this Bill’s foundation is to – in essence – make the killing of pre-born children a part of the very fabric of our Society. As one person stated, if this becomes law, then the pro-abortion movement, will have finally acquired its “Holy Grail”: using tax dollars to pay for abortions.
As a Greek Orthodox priest, I am compelled – in the Holy Name of our Lord Jesus – to rebuke and renounce this Bill as being demonic. Although there might be some good things within the Bill, they are totally negated by the presence of this ungodly attempt to make every working American culpable to the blood of these precious little ones, who are being slaughtered by the thousands – for PROFIT – everyday of the year! Would you drink a glass of the most expensive bottled water, if you knew that a drop of deadly poison had been placed in it? Of course not! You would dispose of the entire contents, and get a new bottle that contained no deadly additive.
In like manner, the entire health care bill must be scrapped; and the process of health care reform must start over with a fresh “bottle” — untainted by the deadly “poison” of government funded abortions.
In the past few weeks, I am sure that – like me – you have received daily requests, from several well-meaning groups, to call, fax, and/or write your Congressional Representatives; and tell them to vote no against the health care bill. While this is a noble effort, I do not believe that it will be successful in ‘casting out this demon.’ No, my dear brothers and Sisters in Christ, “this kind can come forth by nothing, except prayer and fasting.” I believe that you and I must pray and fast, so that the Lord Himself will stop this satanic bill from becoming a satanic
Law.
The Orthodox Church is in a period of fasting, in preparation for our Lord’s awesome Passion and glorious Resurrection. Therefore, we are not eating meat, dairy products or fish at the present time. If you are not Orthodox, I encourage you to join with us in observing this fast. Those who are healthy may wish to – in addition – eliminate at least one meal a day as well. However, fasting without prayer has no power. Therefore, we must get on our knees everyday; and beg our Lord to cast out this demonic bill, which the evil one is using to destroy our Nation!
At the 9th hour of the day (3 PM), our Lord “gave up His spirit.” God willing, I hope to be in prayer – on my knees, if at all possible – at 3 PM everyday, until our Lord delivers us from this evil. Of course, I will continue offering the prayer at Noon (the Rachel’s Prayer at Noon Revolution, which I sent to you a month ago), for our Lord Jesus to remove forever the legalization of these murders. However, I feel this 9th hour prayer demands my immediate response — hopefully, only for a very short time. Below is a prayer that I pray was given to me, in spite of my filth and unworthiness, by the Holy Spirit. You are welcome to use it, or simply offer your personal, heart-centered entreaty.
When the people of Nineveh were told by Prophet Jonah that God was preparing to destroy their city, they all immediately prayed and fasted; and God spared them. Is it not time for us to imitate them, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ?
With much love and prayers for all of you in Christ Jesus,
+Fr. Demetrios
A 9th Hour Prayer to our Lord Jesus, for Deliverance
O my All-Merciful Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, our Nation’s leaders are seeking to pass into law a bill that would make us all accomplices in the murders of Thy pre-born children. Thou art our only hope! Please deliver us from this “messenger of Satan”! I come to Thee at the hour, in which Thou didst give up Thy spirit; and thereby destroy death and open the gates of Paradise.
Bending the knee of my heart before Thee, I beg Thee, O my Jesus, overlook the filth and evil so prevalent within Thy sinful slave; and do not permit this bill to pass. And grant that this victory be but the forerunner to an even greater victory: the obliteration forever of the law that legalized the murders of these tiny living ikons of Thee! O my Life-Giver and my Redeemer, O my Most-Sweet Lord Jesus, glory be to Thee! Amen.
I agree with Fr Demetri’s assessment, but I have something that bothers me greatly. He is and has been courageous in proclaiming the Christian view about life for many years. May God bless him, and cause his ministry, and our, to be fruitful.
The extreme disquiet in my soul about this issue and, as he says, a “Greek” priest, is that his patriarch is not courageous about the Christian view of life. He has made ridiculous, and in my opinion, morally reprehensible statements about abortion. There is a quote somewhere – “a couple has many reasons to go toward abortion”, and “the Orthodox Church stays out of the bedroom” (paraphrasements).
I think the demon is also present in the politics of the Ecumenical throne. The “wishy-washyness” is for political reasons, I am sure. He hobnobs with huge abortion people, such as Hillary Clinton, and does not say anything embarrassing to her in public (contrast this with the famous speech of Mother Teresa at a prayer breakfast!)
I do not question Fr Dimitri’s faith and practice. I esteem his zeal.
I do question the faith and practice of the ecumenical patriarch, and feel his horrible leadership in this area has contributed to making this “demon” flourish.
May God deliver the Greek church from the captivity of politics and false ecumenism.
Priest Seraphim Holland
http://www.orthodox.net/redeemingthetime
Unfortunately, any Greek witness for the anti-abortion position is negated by the support which His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew seems to offer for the pro-choice position. He teaches that the choice for abortion must be left to the decision of the couple. It would be wonderful if someone petitioned His All-Holiness for a statement on abortion and the moral teaching of the Church and if he removed the confusion which his reported words have brought to the faithful..
1. “Orthodox Patriarchs ‘Wink’ at Abortion”
Rev Dr Edward Pehanich, priest of the Ecumenical Throne
Founder of Orthodox Christians for Life
http://web.archive.org/web/20040407123705/http://www.oclife.org/vnine.pdf
2. “A Not So Pro-life Patriarch . . .”
http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2009/10/27/a-not-so-pro-life-patriarch/
3. “A patriarch who ‘generally speaking, respects human life’ ”
John Couretas, American Orthodox Institute
http://tinyurl.com/ygusmzg
4. “Constantinople’s Moral Oversight”
Andrew F. Estocin on Orthodoxy in the Public Square
http://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=12-02-014-v
Evlogeite.
Bravo to Fr. Demetrios.
Prayer and Fasting for the Patriarch would help cure him, ourselves, and heal our churches.
Gregory Yodis
gsy.paramount@gmail.com
thank you very much, father, for your bold speaking of the truth. Tragically, today we are in a demoralizing state of affairs, in that we must speak the truth to our own brethern –even our own leaders– before we can begin to convince the world. Again, thank you for speaking out!
Father Demetrios,
It is very refreshing specially during this time of Great Lent to see and hear from a Priest that is far more concerned about offending Christ than offending the Heirarchs which equivicate on “single issue” politics. Pray that our Bishops’ eyes will be opened to see that there is a battle for the faithful’s souls and rather than being on the front lines they are at cocktail parties.
It is the icon in this article that is demonic. Where do you get off denouncing this healthcare measure as demonic — and posing as a prophet — Father Carellas? For shame!
Oh, and by the way, who are you all to presume to teach the Ecumenical Patriarch??? You should ALL be ashamed of yourselves for being the Pharisees that you are during this sacred season!
Wow, a priest calls an icon “demonic” simply because he is too uninformed and ignorant to bother to find out its origin and purpose. That is an actual Orthodox Christian icon blessed by the Orthodox Church in Australia many years ago.
The Icon explained
http://www.orthodoxchristian.info/pages/abortion3.html
Dear Father Anastasios,
It’s not a matter of presuming to teach the Ecumenical Patriarch. It’s a matter of His All-Holiness being a clear spiritual father for his spiritual children. HJis words on abortion have caused confusion and are used to justify abortion as a legitimate choice. What father refuses to clarify when he says something that causes confusion and distress to his children…especially when it appears to be the exact opposite of what he supposedly believes?
Okay, I won’t call it demonic. The icon is moronic. Just because some ignorant iconographer paints an icon and some misguided priest blesses it doesn’t give it legitimacy. Enjoy the black and white world that you live in. Better yet, read his Sunday of Orthodoxy encyclical: http://www.patriarchate.org/documents/sunday-orthodoxy-2010.
The icon in question was specially commissioned by a Bishop of the Ecumenical Throne, Joseph (Harkiolakis.) It was created under his instructions in Australia and has been promoted throughout Australia by Archbishop Stylianos of Sydney and the other Australian Greek bishops.
I guess in the world that Fr. Anastasios lives in wholesale murder of innocent unborn children (some even in the 9th month of the mother’s pregnancy) is not as clear cut and “black and white” as the entire Moral Tradition of the entire Orthodox Church and all her saints since Christ.
Fr. Anastasios,
Just because a man is a priest or a patriarch does not mean such a man is holy. Church history is full of such men, Arius, Nestorius, etc. Though I am not accusing any cleric of anything, I am sure you wil agree that there is a difference in honoring the office itself and the one who possesses it.
Very sad to see the day when Orthodox priests argue a very clear issue as abortion, because one bishop misguided of this subject. “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men” (Matt 15:8). Truly we’re in the last days.
To Fr. Demetrios, I encourage you to continue speaking up and be courageous. All the devil wants to good people to be silent.
For the rest of us, I share with Jeremiah his puzzling question: “You are always righteous, O LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?” (Jeremiah 12:1)
Magdy Baiady
“And it was the fifth fallen angel (demon), named Kasdeja, who showed the children of men… the smitings of the child in the womb, that is might pass away.” [Enoch 69:12]
I am shocked, Fr. Anastasios! Yes, shocked that one who supposedly is an Orthodox Christian Priest would post comments such as yours, especially during Great Lent.
One of the 10 Commandments is that “thou shalt not kill.” In the New Testament we are warned that “no murderer shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” May God forgive me if I have misunderstood you, but it seems that you have put political correctness ahead of God’s Holy Word. Why do you throw out a red herring about the icon?
Abortion is fundamental. Only persons who have not been aborted can feed the hungry, house the homeless, etc. Only persons who hae not been aborted can be fed and housed. We must especially protect and fight for the most vulnerable of all, the unborn. Our Lord created and knows each precious child in the womb.
When Fr. Demetrios stands up to evil, he follows the examples of the Prophet Elias, St. John the Baptist, St. John Chrysostom and many other Prophets, Saints and Martyrs. May God grant him many years!
In Christ,
I was concerned when I started this thread with the first comment that people would consider me to be a naysayer, and be offended, but I am gratified to see that so many others have responded in kind and understood what I said.
This Fr A does not count – he is well known for bizarre comments. I would be more interested in seeing Fr Demetrios’ comments to this thread. I would like to see the Archons actually be Christians and not political people and flatterers, and press the Ecumenical Patriarch to change his ways.
We must consider evil to begin with ourselves. Fr Demetrios is handicapped by a church that has 1 1/2 feet in the world and 1/2 a foot in the church. When the bishops teach as bishops and live as bishops, and are true, moral shepherds for their flock – then we will see moral change in the people.