2 September 2013. Some GOOD NEWS on the Church Front

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Most of you are aware that I’m a strong advocate of uniting the OCA, ROCOR, MP/USA, and MP/Canada parishes into one united Russian Orthodox Church in the USA (and united Russian Orthodox Churches in Canada and Alaska). In many ways, Orthodox clergy and people are acting as though that’s been accomplished… that’s a good thing. In Orthodoxy, we usually don’t act until the people have made something “a fact”. Yesterday, at Jordanville, two sources (one OCA, one ROCOR) told me that an OCA priest served at the liturgy. Another source told me that it was Fr Dan Ressetar of Harrisburg PA. None of these sources were related to Fr Dan; none were associated with his parish in Pennsylvania (this is so the “wrong” people aren’t bothered by the plug-uglies out there). This is GOOD NEWS… it means that the healthy elements in Russian Orthodoxy here in the American Diaspora are cooperating. We need MORE of this. God willing, the day of unity isn’t far off (it isn’t, in historical terms,  but I’d love to see it in my lifetime). It’s the “one thing needful” that I pray for daily…

BMD

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2 September 2013. Video. Celebrate Labour on Labour Day

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In this Labour Day message, Robert Reich, the former Secretary of Labour and subject of the upcoming documentary Inequality for All, breaks down what it’ll take for workers to get a fair share in this economy… including big profitable corporations like McDonald’s and Walmart ponying up and finally paying fair wages. McDonald’s and Walmart… pay your employees decent wages! Your typical employee is now earning 8.25 to 8.80 USD (275-293 Roubles. 8.60-9.20 CAD. 9-9.60 AUD. 6.25-6.75 Euros. 5.25-5.60 UK Pounds) an hour. Most are adults, responsible for bringing in half their family’s income. You can easily afford to pay them 15 USD (500 Roubles. 15.60 CAD. 16.40 AUD. 11.40 Euros. 9.60 UK Pounds) an hour without causing layoffs or requiring price hikes. Your shareholders and executives are doing spectacularly well.

28 August 2013

Nick Berning

Move On

http://front.moveon.org/how-workers-can-get-a-fair-shake-a-labor-day-message-from-robert-reich/#.UiTwUBttiyo

Editor’s Note:

We have to end the charade of voodoo economics brought by Margaret “Milk Snatcher” Thatcher and Slobberin’ Ronnie (and reinforced by Shrub Bush). We produce the wealth… we deserve our fair share. If that’s “Red”… so be it, I’m proud to be a Red! Those who didn’t work to produce the wealth, shouldn’t take the lion’s share… and I’m not alone in thinking that way.

BMD

2 September 2013. A POSSIBLE Reason for Christopher Calin’s Outburst Against the Rodina

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I have it from several sources that Mr Calin is upset over the gay issue in Russia. There are unconfirmed and unverified rumours that “gay marriages” have occurred in the parish that he serves. That’d explain the latest outburst… but I warn my readers that although these reports come from several sources (some quite reputable), they’re NOT independently confirmed. It’d be well for the Church to investigate them, especially, in light of past events (the “Lone Ranger” stories from Greenwich Village and the Iliff affair) that happened in the New York metro area. It’s also common “street word” that Calin’s parish is full of homosexuals, more so than the average. Again, I’m not saying that it IS so, I’m saying that it COULD be so, and that the Church would do well to dig into this. We have a duty to find out the truth, and to do something to put things right, if we must. There’ve been a lot of things “out there” since the times of Feodosy Lazor. It’s time to clean up the mess, I’d say. Our first duty is to sort out the facts… to find out who’s been naughty and who’s been nice. It’s long overdue. We owe it to the memory of Eric Iliff (and to his parents John and Monica), indeed, we owe it to all those hurt by the First Families apparat… shall we have the guts to do it? That remains to be seen…

BMD

2 September 2013. An Update on Fr Alexander Atty’s Health

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Many of us know Fr Alexander Atty, the former dean at St T’s… and know that he’s stricken with cancer. So far, his condition hasn’t worsened… it hasn’t improved, either, but it hasn’t deteriorated. At first, he moved closer to Hershey Medical Center for treatment, so, he didn’t serve much at all during the last few months. Over a month ago, he moved back to his home area. As reports have it, his health is frail, but he’s not unwell. Keep Fr Alexander in your prayers, light a candle for him at liturgy, and ask your priest to mention him during the Proskomidi. It’s what Christians do…

BMD