Ex-Con Priest May be Ministering: Critics Press Antiochians on Status

Rev Charles M Abdelahad, convicted perp priest scumbag still allowed to minister by Saliba. This is the sort of thing that Fathausen, Freddie M-G, Dreher, Reardon, Mattingly, et al all support… the clergy are our “superiors”, after all, in their eyes. Keep an eagle-eye peeled for this convicted shitbird… Saliba may move him around (he’ll rely on the “Black Wall of Silence” amongst the clergy to hide this turkey’s movements). Remember how the OCA “buried” Vinny Peterson’s arrest for DUI… Saliba’s trying to do the same here (for a far more serious offence).

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The Rev Charles M Abdelahad, who took a voluntary leave of absence as pastor of St George Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral last year after being charged with sexually assaulting a female parishioner, may have returned to his ministerial duties. Officials with the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests said yesterday that parishioners of St George’s told them that they have seen Rev Abdelahad working with choir members and taking part in worship services at Antiochian churches in Dedham and Norwood. David O’Regan, an official with the Worcester chapter of SNAP said at a Worcester Trial Court press conference said, “Why take the risk? That’s the question that Orthodox Church officials and members must ask themselves about Fr Abdelahad. Why let him be around vulnerable adults in a church setting, given his conviction on charges of assault and battery?”

Rev Abdelahad was sentenced to serve 90 days of a 2-year jail term at the Worcester County Jail and House of Correction after being convicted in May of abusing a 45-year-old woman during counselling sessions held over a three-year period at the Anna Street church. He was specifically found guilty of one count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (a shod foot) and one count of assault and battery for biting her. Eight other charges were dismissed. Rev Abdelahad was scheduled to remain incarcerated until 28 August, but was released fifteen days earlier because of good behaviour. Mr O’Regan said the priest was spotted at St George Antiochian Church in Norwood and St John of Damascus Orthodox Church in Dedham.

O’Regan said that Rev Abdelahad… wearing clerical garb… was seen singing with the choirs and taking part in worship service in an area around the altar that is restricted to priests, noting, “We think he and church officials are testing the waters. The next thing he’ll be doing is giving homilies and distributing Communion”. He said SNAP objects to the priest’s return to ministry because the victim “deserves some peace of mind” and out of concern about other women in the churches who may be around Rev Abdelahad.

Mr O’Regan went on to say, “For this convicted violent criminal to have any title or position or appearance of power and legitimacy is problematic”. He said offenders take advantage of any role they are given to get close to other victims, stating,
“They use any position or title they have to prove to doubters that they’ve been ‘cleared’ or ‘rehabilitated.’ After conviction, they often take ‘baby steps’ to win back power and prestige, and sometimes end up in even more exalted positions than they already had”.

SNAP called on church officials to deny the convicted priest any role in church life. Church officials did not return a phone call seeking comment. The events surrounding Rev Abdelahad caused a rift at the local church between supporters and opponents.

25 September 2012

Bronislaus B Kush

Telegram & Gazette (Worcester MA)

http://www.telegram.com/article/20120925/NEWS/109259859/1101/RSS01&source=rss

Editor’s Note:

Attend to THIS:

The events surrounding Rev Abdelahad caused a rift at the local church between supporters and opponents.

This means that this scumbag has supporters after he physically assaulted a parishioner! He was convicted in a court of law! He was sent to the slam! Yet, some idiots support this POS mofo. I’ll bet you that if there’s any converts in the parish, they support this trashy criminal… they’re all hyperclericalistic and kiss up to all clergy.

This moron served NINETY DAYS of a two-year sentence? That doesn’t sound right… that smells to high heaven (it’s a classic “Cook County Special”, isn’t it? Dick Daley would be proud). The fix was in somewhere… Saliba had some rich Arab spread some “oil” on the waters, no doubt, and he used some of his political clout (Saliba’s the most accomplished political log-roller amongst the Orthodox hierarchy here… it’s why he’s stayed on top so long).

Keep an eye out for this jabronie… Saliba’s probably going to move him around. Keep that picture posted and handy… he may show up at a friendly neighbourhood Antiochian parish near you…

BMD

7 July 2012. It’s the Lazy Hazy Days of Summer… Not Much Church News at either the Centre or Here…

There’s not much for the minstrel to tell you… everybody’s out at the dacha, dontcha know…

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Well, kids, this is the slowest time of year for any kind of Church news. However, some items are going to follow this paragraph. EVERYBODY’S out at the dacha (or its Western equivalent). HH is at Peredelkino, soaking up the rays. There’s not going to be much major news until autumn, not only on the Church front, but on the political one as well. The period between Victoria Day/Memorial Day and Labour Day (or Victory Day and the Day of Knowledge, to use a Russian reference) is always the slowest period for this website, as not much happens in the dog days of summer… of course, there are exceptions like the South Ossetia War in ’08, but the general rule holds.

It’s especially difficult to post domestic Church news, as so many of my contacts are away from home on holiday or at camp, making stories difficult to vet. However, one of the interesting things “out there” is that his own bishop turned in Ruark, the priest nicked out in CA for alleged nasty doings with kids. It’s NOT confirmed… but if true, it’s an interesting nugget. As Philip Saliba has the best intel net in all of American Orthodoxy, it might mean that he’s gotten wind of what’s coming down with Storheim, and he wanted to act before anything stuck to him (after all, Saliba’s political instincts are nonpareil). Yes, I’m well aware that Cappy and Mel at Pokrov had the goods on Ruark previously. Unfortunately, the bishops ignore them, and try to hide the doings of clerical pervs, just as their RC counterparts do. However, Joseph did move, move quickly, and (reputedly) maybe blew the whistle on his own priest. That’s news, in anyone’s book. Now, the question is, “What about Storheim?” That’s still up in the air… but the fact that the Crown offered a plea doesn’t speak well for the OCA.

Fathausen’s infatuation with the so-called ACNA (Anglican Church of North America) isn’t only in violation of the Mother Church’s break with Anglican groups, it’s also unwise because the ACNA is virulently opposed to Rowan Williams, and SVS just creams its jeans over Williams. In short, JP just opened up another wound that he needn’t have done. When one adds this in with Dickie Wood’s defiance of JP’s orders to go to Manton, it’s a pretty little kettle boiling away. That’s the last thing that JP needs… to have SVS join his opponents. In any case, the fight between Anglicans isn’t ours and it’d be best if we kept out of it entirely. In fact, it opens up the avenue that JP’s really an Episcopalian who never fully converted; a waffler who’s still contaminated with the Branch Theory (declared a heresy by the Church, the opinion on it was written by HH when he was still a Metropolitan). By the way, one of the odd practises at Manton is having a communal silent “Jesus Prayer” for 20 minutes at the beginning of Vigil. That skates rather close to the heresy of Imyaslavie, and they should stop it.

As for the OCA Diocese of the South, I received the following:

The Assembly scheduled for July in the Diocese of the South was cancelled… Bishop Nikon said Fr Gerasim wasn’t properly vetted and will be questioned by the Holy Synod of Bishops this fall.

There’s no other info out there on this except for the official handouts. Wonder what this means vis-à-vis Maymon and his status? Perspirin’ minds wanna know…

One of the things that won’t die is JP claiming that he worked for the MP Publications Department and that he was a novice at Valaam. Both are bald-faced lies. Firstly, I remember getting mailings from Platina in the early ‘90s begging for money for Russky Palomnik. There was no mention of it being tied in with the MP; it was a completely autogenetic project of Podmoshensky (GP). In any case, JP spent about a year in Russia. Where did he get the money to do so? He didn’t get any from GP… he was always broke. The MP didn’t have any money back then… they were pulling all sorts of scams to keep the Church alive (hey, that happens sometimes). JP was in his early thirties, and he just gallivanted off to Russia… most normal people are too busy with work to spare more than a few weeks, to be frank. As for Valaam, all my Russian contacts are unanimous… he wasn’t a novice there, he was a guest.

Peter Gillquist is dead. He never did amount to much, did he? Here’s an exchange between a friend and me (I’m in italics):

Peter Gillquist died. He of “bringing all the Protestant sectarians into the Antiochian Archdiocese” fame. I’m expecting much weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth from certain konvertsy circles. The tributes should be on the morbid side. Certain folks just can’t light a candle for someone, say a prayer, or ask for a Pannikhida to be served. They have to wallow in their grief. You know exactly what I’m talking about.

I met him… greasy self-important SOB. Nevertheless, you say a prayer and hope that they do well at the judgement.

I met him, too, and I agree with your assessment. He was like a used car salesman.

I got this on Storheim:

The Winnipeg Court dismissed the Bishop’s pretrial motion yesterday. Not sure what the motion was but probably to dismiss the charges for whatever reason. I’m trying to find out more.

That’s it on Seraphim… it means that it’s still chugging through the system.

Got this (and it’s all that I have) from an MP source on the Blunder. It would explain why he’s in HH’s doghouse:

In Dublin, he “concelebrated” with the Catholics at the Eucharistic Congress; it caused quite a scandal.

Interfax has mostly been dry… just the Pussy Riot trial dragging on interminably and the usual appointments and housekeeping. I won’t waste your time with that. Trust me, nothing major is up until September or October. Until then, keep an eye on your parish’s resources and don’t let anyone sweet-talk you into signing them over to JP or the bishop. JP’s out of ready cash, and I hear that he’s using Perich to raise it. Do have a care… otherwise, enjoy the summer… that’s why God gives it to us.

Barbara-Marie Drezhlo

Saturday 7 July 2012

Albany NY

Cops Nicked Konvertsy Priest in Fairfield CA: Molested Teens, Took Nude Pictures of Them

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On Thursday night, cops arrested a Fairfield CA clergyman from St Timothy Orthodox Church on multiple counts of child molestation in Suisun City. The clergy of the Diocese of Los Angeles contacted Fairfield Police Department‘s Major Crime Unit and reported that one of their pastors had committed possible molestations. The alleged molester is Robert Ruark, 65, from Suisun, also known as Fr Silas. He coordinated the acolyte programme for boys eight years old and older. According to Fairfield Police, Ruark had photographed the alleged victims naked and most of the incidents happened at the church when the pastor was alone with the victims. The incidents involving the five alleged victims go back to 1994 and they are now between 20 and 24 years old. According to detectives, the alleged victims had been targeted as young as age 13. The cops took Ruark to the Solano County Jail. The Fairfield Police Department is still trying to identify victims of Ruark and asks that anyone with information that may help identify victims, or if they themselves are victims of Ruark, please contact the Fairfield Police Department Investigations Bureau at (707) 428-7600, or the 24-hour Tip Line at (707) 428-7345.

29 June 2012

Fox 40 KTXL Sacramento CA

http://www.fox40.com/news/headlines/ktxl-cops-fairfield-pastor-robert-ruark-from-st-timothy-orthodox-molested-teens-20120629,0,3606974.story

Editor’s Note:

St Timothy parish is part of the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. Ruark is an Angliochian convert… this skulduggery doesn’t surprise me. However, it does pleasantly surprise me to find out that the AOCANA turned the scum-bucket in. Perhaps, it’s a ripple effect from the Storheim affair. Bishop Joseph al-Zehlaoui isn’t going to let anything harm his chances of succeeding Saliba; ergo, he saw to it that the sleazeball got the drop. It looks like the good guys won this one, kids. However, it’s never good to find this shit out… it’s ammunition for the anti-clericalists and it means that some kids are scarred for life. The SOB deserves nine grammes of lead at dawn… God willing, he’ll get his when he goes to the slam (unfortunately, that probably won’t happen… the prison authorities put molesters in Punk City as a matter of course, and that will preserve his rotten hide).

BMD

Syrian Christians Afraid of Possible Islamist Rule

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Christians living in conflict-torn Syria are afraid that they’d fall victim of religious extremism if Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s régime collapses and Islamists come to power. A Christian from Damascus, who identified himself as Jorge, told RIA-Novosti, “I’m afraid that we’d suffer bad times”. He believed that a full-fledged civil war would break out in Syria if Assad’s enemies and their western supporters continue efforts to topple the president, saying, “If the régime falls…, Islamists would take power. Islamists wrongly believe that we support the current régime, and for that reason, they’d complicate Christians’ life. Sunni Muslims predominate in Syria, and some think that if President Assad’s régime, which represents the interests of the Alawi minority, falls, they’d live better. However, personally, I think that they’re wrong. Syria’s a secular state and its people, including Muslims, wouldn’t like it if a new power started thrusting orthodox Islamic notions of moral behaviour on them”. In Jorge’s opinion, extremist forces rather than liberals would come to power in Syria.

Another Syrian, an engineer from Homs, said (on conditions of anonymity) that he’s sure that if Assad’s régime falls, Christians would be “expelled from the country in a single day”. At present, the situation in Homs is quite complicated; almost all of the local Christians have fled. Militants and their families have occupied their homes, and they’ve looted their shops. Refugees are temporarily living in other regions of the country. Jorge said Islamists are trying to prove that if there’s régime change, Christians wouldn’t come under attack, saying, “They do it to appease them [the Christians], to attract them, thus, loosening their support of the régime”.

Muslim leaders put messages on social networks saying that Christians and Muslims lived together in Syria for centuries; they also tried to distance themselves from the damage inflicted on Christian homes and churches in Homs. The engineer from Homs said that government forces could have “pushed out” Islamist militants from Homs if they’d continued shelling the city for at least three more days. “However, then, they adopted [UN and Arab League Ambassador] Kofi Annan’s plan and enforced a ceasefire. Nevertheless, this didn’t bring anything good to us. Militants continue to occupy our homes”. He said that the majority of Christians don’t consider emigration a possibility, saying, “This is our homeland. Christians lived in Syria long before the Muslims came. Why should we move away?” Christians make up about 10 percent of Syria’s 23 million people. Approximately 50 percent of Syrian Christians belong to the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch and all the East.

14 May 2012

RIA-Novosti

http://en.rian.ru/society/20120514/173444270.html

Editor’s Note:

The American aggression in the Middle East after the accession to power of GWB drove many Christians from their traditional homelands. Unfortunately, the Americans (both neocon Republicans and interventionist Democrats) support either the Zionists in Israel or the Islamists, along with a contradictory policy of propping up the KSA and the Gulf state kleptocracies (it’s not the first such seeming contradiction in history, is it?). Because of the ferment that arose from this American meddling, all too many Middle Eastern Christians have fled… which has led to an interesting situation in the Orthodox diaspora in the West.

The recent refugees are on a collision course with the konvertsy in the AOCANA… the latter are kneejerk radical rightwingers (reliable neocon nutters, to be sure), and the former (quite obviously) don’t care for those whose policies led to their exile. It’ll lead to an interesting situation for Philip Saliba, no? It’s a three-way Donnybrook, old-line Arab-American stalwarts, unhinged rightwing Anglo-Saxon konvertsy, and new Arab refugees. The power brokers are the Arab-Americans… quo vadis, neighbourhood Toledo (remember Klinger and his Hungarian Hot Dogs?)? Only the Good Lord knows…

BMD