NEW YORK (NY)
Ending Clergy Abuse (ECAGlobal.org) [Seattle WA]
September 24, 2025
The John Templeton Foundation is awarding its 2025 Prize tonight at Lincoln Center in New York City to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (Dimitrios Archontonis) for framing environmental harm as a ‘moral failing.’ Yet critics note the striking dissonance: while Bartholomew denounces ecological damage, he has remained silent on the moral catastrophe of clergy-perpetrated sexual abuse under his authority.
However, the Orthodox Survivors and Advocates, explained that the Patriarch’s silence on clergy-perpetrated sexual abuse in the Eastern churches makes this win painful for victims — especially those who have approached him directly about their experiences. Members of the group lamented that Patriarch Bartholomew has not similarly used his position to speak out on sexual abuse by Orthodox clergy.
Although seldom recognized as a major faith in the United States, Eastern Orthodoxy is the second-largest branch of Christianity, smaller only than the Catholic Church. It is one of the three main branches of Christianity, alongside Catholicism and Protestantism.
While the Eastern Orthodox share 1,000 years of history with the Catholic Church, unlike the Pope, the Patriarch’s authority to order reforms across the Orthodox world is limited. While the Ecumenical Patriarch is the “first among equals,” Orthodox jurisdictions have more autonomy than Roman Catholic dioceses. However, one step towards stopping abuse would be for Patriarch Bartholomew to lead by example, starting by being transparent about clergy-perpetrated sexual abuse in his own dioceses, as well concerning the appeals he receives from victims and their family members from across the Eastern Orthodox jurisdictions.
Advocates acknowledge that a 2020 document developed by a special commission of Orthodox scholars, appointed by Patriarch Bartholomew, gave a nod to the issue of sexual abuse in Orthodox communities. However, that report contained no concrete acknowledgement of clergy-perpetrated sexual abuse, and totally ignored the plight of those abused as adults, despite the fact that the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the States maintains that, “The clergyman’s authority carries with it an inherent and often unrecognized power. Its depth in this relationship is such that the victim, of whatever age, never truly acts freely.”
Many Orthodox faithful do not believe that problems with clergy abusing both children and adults exist in the Eastern churches. The faithful often cite the fact that – unlike Catholic priests — Orthodox clerics can marry, apparently unaware that most child sexual abuse is committed by men in relationships with adult women — such as a married clergyman. Prosopon Healing’s database demonstrates abuse does happen in Orthodoxy.
Together, advocates and survivors urge the Ecumenical Patriarch to finally speak out decisively on abuse, to implement a safe venue for reporting and independently investigating abuse in his own diocese, and to provide an example of transparent accountability for the Eastern jurisdictions under him.
Contacts:
Bojan Jovanović, General Secretary, Union of Christians of Croatia (jovanovicbojan711@gmail.com)
Katherine Archer, Executive Director, Prosopon Healing: (KatherineArcher@proton.me)
Hermina Nedelescu, Ph.D. Neuroscientist, Theologian, Co-Founder, Prosopon Healing (hermina.advocacy@proton.me)