I will now read to you from Mother Galaktia.
"Elder, Mother Galaktia often emphasized that certain sins would bring great suffering upon humanity."
Yes, she spoke about these things often. Like Elder Ephraim of Arizona, whom she regarded as a great saint, she taught that sins against nature, whether committed within or outside marriage, as well as abortion and occult practices, would bring great hardships upon the world.
Modern theological thinking, however, attempts to justify the autonomy of sexual desire and separate it from the purpose God established for it. It refers to acts against nature simply as matters of personal choice.
Imagine how confused society has become.
As Saint Porphyrios told us, in our own time some theologians and clergy would embrace these practices, using clever arguments to claim that God has no place in what happens in the bedroom.
But because this represents a distortion of the Church's mission and of the path of salvation, God Himself will intervene.
These are very serious sins.
Mother Galaktia taught the same things.
I remember married friends who visited her telling me that she had the spiritual gift of recognizing those who had fallen into sins against nature. They said she could perceive the spiritual corruption associated with such sins.
On the other hand, those who lived faithfully within holy marriage and avoided adultery, fornication, and such practices were, according to her, spiritually fragrant.
She would kiss their hands and tell them, "You are pure. You shine."
She also possessed the gift of discerning these matters, much like Saint Ephraim of Katounakia.
Mother Galaktia strongly opposed abortion.
Using her own simple expression, she would say, "Do not use those killing devices to destroy your children," referring to intrauterine devices.
She was also opposed to deliberately avoiding children.
She did not approve of refusing parenthood.
"Are there really clergy who promote sins against nature and even abortions?"
Sadly, yes.
Abortion is presented here as a particularly grave sin, a deliberate act committed against a defenseless unborn child.
Father Georgios Metallinos also spoke strongly about this subject.
Saint Porphyrios once told us, with great sorrow, that an elderly clergyman, widely known in the media and especially influential among young people, would eventually turn his own passions into theology.
Instead of calling people to repentance, he would reinterpret immoral passions through psychological explanations and personal theories.
I love him and pray for his salvation.
May Christ even take years from my own life and grant them to him, so that he may recognize what is beneficial for his soul and sincerely repent.
There are, however, many faithful clergy who do not agree with these modern theological approaches.
The problem is that many are afraid to speak because of ridicule, criticism, or pressure, even from within Church leadership.
Some bishops, the speaker claims, silently tolerate abortion under exceptional circumstances.
If exceptions are invented in matters of sexual morality, then people will eventually attempt to justify even the most serious sins.
Faithful clergy often fear being labeled as fanatics, moralists, extremists, or homophobic.
Nevertheless, there are courageous pastors who continue to teach according to the Church's tradition with wisdom and love.
Saint Eumenios had the same position.
If he had taught differently, he would not be the saint we honor today.
There is a difference between sacrificial love for every sinner and uncompromising opposition to sin itself.
Near the end of his life, Saint Eumenios reportedly refused to receive a Romanian monk who wished to visit him concerning homosexuality.
The speaker says the saint perceived that the man was unrepentant and wanted to use the saint's reputation to suggest that holy people approved of such behavior in the name of love.
He even declined the refreshments the visitor had brought.
On another occasion, the speaker says, Saint Eumenios asked a young man to leave the sanctuary because he had engaged in acts the saint considered sinful within his marriage.
According to the speaker, such acts are forbidden even within marriage.
Therefore, we must love the person while hating the sin.
Love the person.
Hate the sin.
Both love and opposition to sin should be sincere and complete.
Mother Galaktia writes extensively about these subjects in her book.
She teaches that acts against nature are grave sins.
The speaker further claims that such acts committed within marriage can have harmful effects on children and urges parents to avoid them.
He concludes by saying that God blessed the natural union between husband and wife, not what he describes as immoral or unnatural acts.
He apologizes for speaking forcefully but explains that serious subjects require a strong voice.
Where correction is needed, he believes correction should be given.
Where love is needed, love should be shown.
He finishes with this message:
We hate the sin.
We love every human being, regardless of who they are.
Stay away from these sins, my brothers and sisters.
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