tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25230932.post9041524718124142306..comments2023-10-06T10:10:06.982-04:00Comments on La Russophobe: The Sunday Sin: Annals of a One Way Express Ticket to H-E-double hockey sticksLa Russophobehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05672264388217953086noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25230932.post-46228450226557405962007-10-28T14:58:00.000-04:002007-10-28T14:58:00.000-04:00I shall remain anonymous this time but take it tha...I shall remain anonymous this time but take it that I am one of your regular contributors. <BR/><BR/>Only this week an Orthodox priest in another part of the former USSR was telling me that his opinion is that many Orthodox church bishops have long histories with the KGB. He has many reasons for saying this but the main reason is quite straightforward - they were appointed in Soviet times and NO ONE could get those appointments unless they collaborated with the KGB and were held to be trustworthy by the KGB. <BR/><BR/>Remember, communism was not tolerant of religion nor happy to turned a blind eye to religious groups. Communist theory is explicit in its opposition to to any philosophy which teaches the brotherhood of man regardless of class (class war and the triumph of the proletariat over the capitalist class is a central tenet of Marxism-Leninism) and that we should forgive our enemies (the USSR and thrived on stoking up hatred of the Fascists (modern Russia is still doing this calling Oberona fascist)... and the kulaks....and the bourgoisie etc ). So the KGB would not let the church survive unless they could be sure it was totally hamstrung and they dominated it. <BR/><BR/>Sergiy is not the only priest to be treated this way but the victims usually don't want to talk about it publicly (at least about it until they have actually been kicked out of the church) because the church has the ability to cripple them financially by reducing their salary. And they do do this. It is one way the bishops can control "wayward" clergy.<BR/><BR/>Add that to the rumours of bishops using their position in the wild 90s to make a financial killing (for example allowing, for a fee, the use the anonymity of church freight to help third parties engaged in clandestine arms sales abroad) and you have a web of corruption and deceit which is totally contrary to the faith they are meant to stand for - as these poor godly persecuted priests know only too well.<BR/><BR/>And just like the KGB/Kremlin at present, the Orthodox hierarchy will only appoint people who they approve of to succeed them, so the corruption can be perpetuated and the current clan can continue.<BR/><BR/>Look at what has happened to the Russian Orthodox Church abroad - a takeover under the guise of "reunification", encouraged by the KGB colonel in the Kremlin, and dutifully arranged by his lackeys in the Orthodox hierarchy. <BR/><BR/>All very murky. Sadly very typial of many things in the post-Soviet era.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com