[HotDolly]

Michael, you think that I'm over-thinking; I contest that the signers of this document aren't thinking enough. We are not mindful, watchful of our hearts as we should be. We are not working to keep ourselves unstained by the world if we waste our time chasing after the wind. At best these are momentary distractions from the real battle, at worst such activist occasions are a flattery... even idols.

Alice, in this forum concerned with the fathers, can you find one quote from such a pillar of the Church which supports such a public proclamation, particularly with heterodox? Certainly many of proclaimed the Gospel and many individuals have been martyred for not bowing to various corrupt kings or even women for refusing pagan marriages. But these are sacrifices, of a personal nature, not political movements. Did Saint Maximos the Confessor travel from town to town organizing opposition to Monothelitism? In fact he gave up political life and ended his days in exile.

Part of the attraction to Orthodoxy was reading saint after saint denouncing the pride and self-righteousness that comes from such social movements. I read again and again of the internal war against sin. That's the battlefield, our own hearts. Do I need to quote what we all already know? I am flummoxed by so many Orthodox that have had this wondrous treasure all their lives and would surrender even a speck of it for the dust that I knocked off my feet when I converted.

The only exception I can think is criticism of the government from the pulpit, as preaching and teaching the faithful. This isn't that. That I could support.