Heterodox priests

[Olympiada]

I am undertaking a new research project. I am wondering what the proper relation is of Orthodox women to heterodox priests. I do not think that I can canonically call a heterodox priest father, but I am not sure. Can anyone point me to the proper canons on this affair?
Thank you
Olympiada Kane

[Father Anthony]

Olympiada Kane wrote:

>I am undertaking a new research project. I am wondering
>what the proper relation is of Orthodox women to
>heterodox priests.

Relationship? The same as to every other person, "...love thy neighbor as thyself..."

>I do not think that I can canonically call a heterodox
>priest father, but I am not sure. Can anyone point me to
>the proper canons on this affair?

There is, of course, NO question of "canonically" here, since there exist NO canons which address such a matter. The canons are guides to Church life, not rules governing every aspect of it.

Anyway...the poster wore this question out on the "NormalOrthodox" Yahoo list, was chided by the moderator for it, promised to drop the subject, and now brings it here? It's a non-question.

Simply be polite and call them "Father" and be done with it. As was pointed out on the other forum, we refer to the Pope of Rome as "Pope" even though he's not an Orthodox Pope.

There's nothing un-Orthodox about having good manners.

Fr. Anthony

[M.C. Steenberg]

Dear all,

It is probably worth remembering that the canons are guides and rules of life within the Church. Canons do not exist to regulate life outside it.

INXC, Matthew

[Scott Pierson]

If a person feels they cant call a heterodox priest "father" in good conscious then I don’t see why it would be rude for them to refrain from doing so but that’s just my view. If I proclaimed myself ultra master high lord of the universe I wouldn’t expect people who doubt my claim to call me " Your universal most worshipful reverend excellence blah blah, etc ". I don’t think you should go out of your way to offend people but I know protestants who call my priest "pastor" because they dont call people "father" and it doesn’t hurt his feelings. Religion is a controversial topic so you would think a professional cleric would not be hypersensitive to things like that. If it hurts his feelings you might want to apologize though I guess and explain your reasons in friendly manner ( and he might want to consider a new job in an area that is less controversial then religion lol ). If you met a satanist who called himself "high priest" would common manners force you to call them "Your Reverence " or whatnot?

Personally I don’t have a problem with calling them "father" out of the common usage of the term but I wouldn’t think less of a person who didn’t.

BUT you should probably listen more to what Father Anthony said because I'm not the best person to take advice from . I just have trouble refraining from giving my opinion.

[Scott Pierson]

I removed this post .........

[Michael Astley]

I am still good friends with a number of Anglican priests. I do not consider that the Sacrament of Ordination exists outside of the Church and so I do not consider them to be priests in the true sense as properly understood within Orthodoxy. However, in their tradition, the term priest is the word that is applied to them and so I refer to them as such out of respect. As others have rightly pointed out, canons don't feature here and it's basic common courtesy. I don't see a problem.

[Peter Farrington]

I have regular contact with priest and bishops of the Anglican, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and 'independent' sector.

In all cases I address them as they wish to be addressed. This seems to me to be common courtesy. I would even address a women priest of the Anglican communion as she wished to be addressed.

In no cases would it indicate I believed them to be Orthodox priests or bishops.

In fact my own Metropolitan bishop prefers to be addressed as 'Your Grace' rather than as 'Your Eminence', therefore I address him as 'Your Grace', even though in conversation with others I would describe him as 'Your Eminence'.

I don't think it is a matter of my conscience, since I am not being asked to consider anyone Orthodox, but if they are an Anglican priest then I should address them as an Anglican priest.

It is clear from the Acts of Chalcedon, which I am studying, that everyone, even the heretic Theodoret, is addressed as 'most devout bishop' because this is the appropriate cultural form of address, even when they are shouting, 'Away with the heretic, most devout bishop Theodoret'.

Peter

[Olga]

A good point, Peter. Referring to bishop, even a heretical one, by his proper clerical title is analogous to referring to members of Parliament under the Westminster system as "the honourable ..." or, in the case of the Prime Minister, "the Right Honourable ...". Debate in the various Australian parliaments (state or federal) can degenerate at times into "robust exchanges" (bearpit is a common description), yet the members unfailingly refer to the targets of their tirades on the other side of the House as "the honourable member for (name of member's seat)".

[Demetrios Galanidis]

I do appreciate the input from our clergy on this "issue" as it seems to pop up on the various Orthodox internet fora periodically.
I can only add that to the extent that using a heteodox clergyman's title in addressing him is concerned, how would we like the heterodox to address our own beloved bishops, priests, monks, and deacons?

[Peter Farrington]

Good point Demetrios,

This is a real case of 'do unto others'. But I guess there are some limits. :-)

However within the mainstream historic Churches I see no reason not to be polite. Today I was with many Roman and Anglican priests and a Roman bishop and Roman nuns and I was happy to address all according to their normal forms.

Peter