An Orthodox Consistent Ethic of Life
For decades now I have often attended Vespers on Saturday and Feast day evenings at the local Orthodox Church. The pastor considers me an associate member of the parish, so I am on their e-mail list.
Ohio is part of the Midwestern Diocese of the Orthodox Church in America. The bishop is located in Chicago. Bishop Paul, who was trained as a social worker before becoming a priest, was chosen as its bishop a few years ago. He puts his social work background to good use in his weekly post on his website called Orthodox Family Life. I get it as part of the local parish's weekly e-mail.
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and that temple you are” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).
There is a depth to these words from Saint Paul that leads me to see that the Sanctity of Life is much more than what one believes regarding Roe vs. Wade. At Saints Peter and Saint Paul Church on Sunday night, in addition to prayers related to abortion, we prayed for those on death row, the elderly in institutional care, victims of gun violence in schools and neighborhoods, those overcome by various addictions, refugees seeking a home, victims of war, and those contemplating suicide.
It is important that we embrace a sanctity of life ethic that covers the entire span of life — from conception to death. Even in cases in which those in the military and law enforcement take the life of another while dutifully protecting citizens from danger, I would expect that any Orthodox Christian who serves in that capacity, who has taken a life, would go to Confession before going to Communion. We don’t justify the taking of a life, but we understand that, given the fallen nature of this world, the act of taking a life to protect another may be necessary. But this is not what we were made for. “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).
So, if we want to bring about an end to abortion, we must consider how we would respond to a mother who needs support because she chooses not to abort. This is a far more challenging question to address than merely stating that one is “against abortion.”
I was impressed that after quoting Saint Paul which could be used in a very sharp and devastating way against anyone who is pro-choice, he focuses not upon death and destruction but upon life long reverence for the living temples of God throughout the life span.
I was even more impressed that he summoned up the ancient Christian tradition that even when one committed manslaughter, accidentally or in self defense, or in public service that one should be purified by confession (and in the early church that mean public confession accompanied by a period of fasting from the Eucharist). That ancient attitude stands in the way of modern attempts to be against abortion but for war, and the death penalty.
I am not sure how other Orthodox bishops express themselves on this issues, but typically most of them do not stray far from tradition even if they may emphasize different aspects of it.