Orthodox Priest Says Post-DADT Military Entered “New Dark Age”

Jim Burroway

September 23rd, 2011

Orthodox priest Alexander F.C. Webster, a retired Army Reserve chaplain, wrote this op-ed in Stars and Stripes::

On Sept. 20, 2011, a date that will live in infamy, the U.S. armed forces were deliberately and successfully attacked by advocates of the scourge of homosexuality. The elimination of the last vestige of moral restraint on sexual perversion in the U.S. military, commonly known as the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, ushers in a new Orwellian era in which the military leadership of our nation will proclaim the unnatural as natural, the unhealthy as healthy and the immoral as moral.

…As an Orthodox priest who still loves all of the troops I served as a chaplain for a quarter of a century, I pray that God the Holy Trinity will preserve and protect the U.S. armed forces — especially in this new Dark Age.

Anti-gay activists, still classy and keeping their heads about them…

Scott

September 23rd, 2011

Cool. I’ve never been called a scourge before.

Robert

September 23rd, 2011

Beware people who wrap themselves in unusual clothes and symbols compared to the general population. They are using costume aids trying to add validity to ideas thaw would not fly if said by the average person.

Christopher

September 23rd, 2011

As a citizen of Canada, I find this man insulting to me and all other world militaries that are not only gay-positive, but US allies.

Xenophobia, thy name is America, quickly on its way to being Margaret Atwood’s Republic of Gillead as found in her novel “The Handmaid’s Tale”.

All religion and no common sense.

How you have let these people usurp good government and determine social policy baffles us all.

Terry T

September 23rd, 2011

And I would pray that all Bigots have the karma they make with every hateful bigoted statement descend on them as soon as possible. FC Webster, the real DARK AGES were cause BY your religion.

iDavid

September 23rd, 2011

To the dim witted priest, your “God” promotes the bigotry you serve, why would you pray for it to protect anything? If “it” we’re real, gays would b struck by lightening in site. God is a mask: think Wizard of Oz.

Think, you tarnished sheepman.

codyj

September 23rd, 2011

just yet another ‘fundie’ who thinks HE IS RIGHT, his BLACK BOOK is RIGHT,and any one who as much as ‘questions’ his views, is goin to hell…hmmm -age and senility go hand in hand…and i whole heartedly AGREE with CHRISTOPHER from Canada…he said it best

PC

September 23rd, 2011

Why do people even listen to religious leaders anymore? They are so consistently wrong – much worse than weather forecasters. It’s just mind boggling sometimes.

Timothy (TRiG)

September 23rd, 2011

And I thought military chaplains were specially trained to support everyone, not just those who share their religion? I understand this windbag is retired, but you’d think he’d remember some of the things he’d learned.

TRiG.

Richard Rush

September 23rd, 2011

That guy is so much more than a priest.
Is Drama-Queen a recognized title in the Catholic Church?

CPT_Doom

September 23rd, 2011

So all sexual activity by straight troops, no matter how kinky, is ok? Somehow I doubt that was his point.

Kate

September 23rd, 2011

Othodox what? Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox are valid “Orthodox” denominations of the Catholic Church. Unless those sneaky heretic Protestants done come up wif they own “Orthodox”, the only other “Orthodox” religious group I’m aware of is Jewish. What flavor of “Orthodox” bullshit is he selling?

Jim Burroway

September 23rd, 2011

All Orthodox Christians are part of the Orthodox Church (and are emphatically not a part of the Roman Catholic Church). Russian, Greek, etc. are simply nationalities of Christian Orthodoxy, each with their own national hierarchies, but all are nominally under the Archbishop of Constantinople. Specifically, Webster is a member of the Orthodox Church of America.

Hunter

September 24th, 2011

It’s at the point where my only reaction to stuff like this is “Yawn.”

And so what else is new?

Darina

September 24th, 2011

Kate, the Orthodox Church is the traditional church here in Bulgaria (we used to be in the sphere of influence of Byzantium), and it is not the same as the Catholic Church. The two churches split up as early as 1054: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East%E2%80%93West_Schism

Ben In Oakland

September 24th, 2011

“And when he had made a SCOURGE of small cords, he drove them all out of the Temple.”

from Jesus and the Moneylenders.

It’s almost enough to make me wish I believed in the second coming, just so I could grab some popcorn and watch The Founder separate the sheep from the goats.

Or in this case, ” Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

TomTallis

September 24th, 2011

A new “dark age?” One would think that a priest would desperately want to return to one…

Jerry

September 25th, 2011

the Dark Ages began when that fool Constantine made this crazy fantasy cult the state religion. The world has spent 1600 years working to get the yoke off our necks.

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