Weighing in on the New Pope

Weighing in on new pope

Q:

Some Protestant religious leaders have expressed concern over new Pope Benedict XVI's -- Joseph Ratzinger's -- conservatism. They cite examples including when Ratzinger, as the protector of the Catholic doctrine, said the Catholic Church was the only true church. Do you have concerns about the direction this pope will take during his tenure, and his more conservative stance?

A:

Give the man a break. What do we expect the Pope to expound? Of course he's going to uphold and defend Catholic doctrine; he's the head of the Roman Catholic Church. I think it shows a lot of character and courage on his part to proclaim beliefs that are not always popular, but certainly the foundation of his Faith.

Putting things in perspective (and rather simply to accommodate the confines of this column), Protestantism is a result of a protest against the Roman Catholic Church. The Protestant Reformation (16th century) was one of three major splits in the Church, first in 451 at Chalcedon then again in 1054.

Scripture teaches that the Church is the Body of Christ. The Creed of Nicea defines the Church as One, Holy, Universal and Apostolic. In theory, the Body cannot be split. In reality there exists a schism, although spiritually, it is still Holy, Sacred and One because all the factors are tied together through faith in Christ.

Rapprochement can only be achieved through two-way efforts on the part of all parties involved, i.e., Orthodox, Roman and Protestant communities. The saying, "It takes two to tango," might be refined for this discussion, "It takes two wings to fly with the angels." The spiritual and administrative unity of the Christian Church will be achieved when everyone extends a hand to one another in truth and love.

From all indications, Pope Benedict XVI has gotten off to a good start. His name selection indicates he's going to be a true pontiff - a bridge builder and working for peace and justice. Ours is not to judge (especially now), rather to pray that God give him and all Christians the strength to work for peace and unity in the world.

Fr. Vazken Movsesian
Armenian Church Youth Ministries

A Look at the legay of Pope John Paul II

Published April 8, 2005 IN THEORY A Look at the legay of Pope John Paul II What is your opinion of Pope John Paul II? What do you think he meant to this world? Q: What is your opinion of Pope John Paul II? What do you think he meant to this world? A: Pope John Paul II was a model of an exemplary life, one lived for others. His life was filled with the presence of God. I'm sure that in the years to come the search for "miracles" will begin so that the process of canonization might take place. I'd like to submit that some of the great miracles of our time were performed through this man. Among those miracles was the toppling of communism, the softening of hearts, the displacing of anger with respect and replacing hatred with love. I can't think of greater miracles than these. He forgave his would-be assassin and in so doing allowed us to see that humans can touch the divine realm. Pope John Paul II was able to express the most complex issues in simple and profound terms. In an attempt to do the same in reflection of his life, I offer this: Pope John Paul II practiced what so many clergy preach. FATHER VAZKEN MOVSESIAN St. Peter Armenian Church & Youth Ministries' Center

Shortage of clergy not easily solved

Published April 1, 2005 - Glendale News Press - Los Angeles Time IN THEORY Shortage of clergy not easily solved Q: There is reportedly a shortage of clergy in the Episcopal and Catholic churches, and the percentage of clergy 35 and younger is dropping. Why do you think this shortage has come about? Are you concerned? Has it affected you locally? What can be done about it? A: The Armenian Church also suffers a tremendous clergy shortage. However, unlike other churches, there is no need to speculate or guess at the reasons why. During the Armenian Genocide of 1915, the clergy were among the first to be slaughtered by the Turks. In fact, in a volume published in 1921, a scribe named Teotig documents the annihilation of over 1200 Armenian clergymen -- Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant -- detailing their suffering and ultimate martyrdom. The numbers tell the impact of the Genocide on the Church. In 1915, the ratio of clergy to souls was roughly one clergyman to 140 individuals. Today, in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the ratio is 1 to 25,000. It's alarming and paralyzing. The current Armenian Catholicos, Garegin II, has made it a top priority to recruit and educate young men for service in the church and his efforts have been greatly assisted by the fall of communism. Seminaries have opened in Armenia, producing scores of priests annually. Unfortunately, the situation in the United States is not as promising. There is only one seminary in the U.S. training Armenian priests -- in New York. Only a handful of students are enrolled. The greatest obstacle to improving these numbers is materialism. It has fostered a false sense of security that focuses on rewards for the self rather than understanding the value of service and reaching out to others. A good place to start at a solution is to replace the word "rights" with "responsibilities." A priest must understand his calling as a responsibility. Fr. Vazken Movsesian Armenian Church Youth Ministries

Life-or-death matter yields varied reactions

Published March 23, 2005 - Glendale News Press - Los Angeles Time

IN THEORY

Life-or-death matter yields varied reactions

Q:

Is it right to keep Terri Schiavo alive with feeding tubes, or should she have a "right to die" based on what her husband says was her wish not to be kept alive artificially? Do you believe Congress was justified in intervening to keep Schiavo alive?

A:

The Terri Schiavo case is much more than an issue of a right to life versus a right to die. With her, we see our perceptions, our values and our sensitivity being violated, abused and destroyed.

It has been a slow process of desensitization over the years, but we have arrived: Life is measured by a heartbeat rather than a spirit. And government, rather than God, is allowed to determine its span.

When we speak of life, we have to include the words "dignity" and "respect" in any discussion of the topic. It is vulgar and irreverent to plaster Schiavo's picture as a poster child for one cause or another. We are violating her dignity while at the same time denigrating the value of life everywhere. This is not an issue for the courts, legislature or the president. God gives us life, and when it's time, we need to bow out gracefully and with dignity.

At this Easter season, with the promise of resurrection, the message of the Christian Church is one of victory beyond the cross -- beyond our agonies and sufferings. It is a triumph of spirit over body.

I trust we all pray for Terri Schiavo, her husband and family. More importantly, let us pray for ourselves that we can see that life is much more than flesh and bone, that there is no life without spirit. Happy Easter.

Fr. Vazken Movsesian

St. Peter Armenian Church

Youth Ministries' Center

Published March 18, 2005 IN THEORY Televangelists' finances need more transparency Q: On March 6, NBC's "Dateline" aired a program that investigated the finances of popular televangelist and self-described faith healer Benny Hinn. The piece reported that Hinn's healings could not be documented and that the ministry -- which reportedly brings in millions of dollars -- lacks financial accountability. Should audited financial statements, salary information, fundraising appeals and board compositions of such ministries be made public -- at least to donors, who give millions? Further, do you believe in the "miracles" shown by Hinn and other televangelists? A: A ministry is accountable to God and to the people who support it. The final assessment is God's, while regular audits should be demanded by shareholders. After all, the faithful people who follow a ministry and subscribe to it have a vested interest in making sure ethical standards are upheld. If they don't, sadly, it's no one else's business. Certainly, we don't hear gasps when people blindly pump a slot machine or cash a paycheck on lottery tickets, despite the overwhelming odds against them. Likewise, if they want to dump their checks into some pie-in-the-sky idea, it's part of the freedom granted to them in this country. "Dateline" and the like have a bottom line: to sell copy. Lavish living and sticky fingers among the clergy have all the sensational elements that sell advertising space. That's why the killing of innocents on a battlefield in Iraq will find its place on page A20, while Benny Hinn's story is deemed front-page material. The standard for running an ethical Christian ministry is laid down by Jesus Christ. There was an accounting to his people. He had a few loaves and fishes, and he provided them with substance (Matthew 14). He spoke of treasures, which moth and rust could not consume (Matthew 6). As for miracles, he would demand that the healed individual be tested by the local board of skeptics, the priests (Matthew 8). Sounds like a pretty decent model for all Christian ministries. As for miracles, I certainly believe in them and find them in the simplest expressions: in the life around me, in the love that touches me. FATHER VAZKEN MOVSESIAN St. Peter Armenian Church Youth Ministries' Center

Pope's illness prompts cure-all questions

Published February 25, 2005 - Glendale News-Press IN THEORY Pope's illness prompts cure-all questions Vatican officials are touting the Pope's recent suffering as an example of a willingness to suffer in the face of health problems and a modern society that believes medicine must cure all. Monsignor Elio Sgreccia, the Vatican's chief bioethicist, reportedly said recently that medicine has become unmanageable because it can't fulfill the desires of consumers for perfect health. Do you think we've gotten carried away with a so-called "religion of health" -- too carried away with an idea that modern medicine must cure all? A: The "religion of health" is no different from any other religion. Its goal is to cheat death. And yes, there are those who are obsessed with it, to the point that they have unrealistic expectations of healthcare. But then again, there are those who fanatically follow traditional religion with expectations of avoiding an awful end. As people, we innately avoid suffering. After all, it is painful and ugly. One of the marks of an affluent society is the power money has to alleviate pain. That society conditions its members to believe in an illusion that with enough resources, the impossible becomes possible, namely that suffering can and should be avoided at all costs. Unfortunately, our priorities become skewed at that point. Our affluence fosters this illusion. As long as there's a profit to be made, things will not get better. Health will be marketed to the highest bidder. That's where I believe a healthy attitude toward religion and faith is our only hope. All major traditions speak of suffering as part of life; it is not to be avoided, rather it should be accepted as part of spiritual growth and enlightenment. With the failing health of his holiness Pope John Paul II, we remember him in our prayers, asking that God grant him the courage and strength to endure the sufferings he does. Even more, through our prayers we connect ourselves to the human equation, where suffering and pain are marginalized by our tremendous capacity to dream, hope and love. FATHER VAZKEN MOVSESIAN St. Peter Armenian Church & Youth Ministries' Center

Published February 18, 2005 - Glendale News-Press IN THEORY Ten tenets command law debate In March, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the constitutionality of displaying the Ten Commandments in courthouses in Kentucky and at the Texas State Capitol. Do you think copies of the Ten Commandments on such properties should be protected, or is displaying the Ten Commandments an unconstitutional state endorsement of religion? They can't go after the Ten Commandments, because then they'd have go after television, movies and free speech in general. After all, aren't we already being fed a steady diet of the top 10 anti-commandments? And the venue is much more intrusive than the lobby of a courthouse; it's being pumped right into our homes right over government-regulated/ sanctioned airwaves. After a couple of hours in front of prime-time network TV, does anyone really buy the idea that it's wrong to steal, to commit adultery, to covet a neighbor's wife or even to kill? And if anyone misses an episode on television, the message comes through loud and clear in news reports of the war, by radio signals picked up in our cars and the movie theater marquees where an R-rating guarantees box-office revenues and DVD sales for years to come. To me, the displaying of the Ten Commandments is just another way of saying, "equal time" to all that is being thrown at us. I'm not a fan of any mandatory teaching of religion, nor do I want the state to tell us which religion is preferable or correct. Especially as an Armenian priest, I'm sensitive to it; my history is filled with religious coercion by intolerant people and tribes. But in this case, we're talking about displaying a plaque. These have become the bases for our civil codes and laws. That these words appear in the Bible is inconsequential to the debate. A reading of the Declaration of Independence is in order for this discussion. We are a country founded on a revolt for free religious expression; however, there's no doubt that the higher principles, as idealistic as they may be, are there to inspire our imagination and to maximize the human potential. "We hold these truths to be self-evident," writes Jefferson, "that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." FATHER VAZKEN MOVSESIAN