www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Mount Athos' Special Status Under Scrutiny

There are several colleges like Hillsdale College in Michigan who completely refuse Federal governmental funds. Hillsdale got crosswise of the old DHEW back in the 1970s and decided no thanks. They even had an offer earlier in their history to become a campus of the University of Chicago but declined.

Since we homeschool I can appreciate many of Joe's points above. We also pay in as taxpayers but get nothing back except the "satisfaction" of being forced to prop up a failing education system.

Whenever our local homeschool groups try to use the public school facilities (because they supposedly "have" to let us as we pay taxes also) there are inevitably, without fail "scheduling conflicts" as the administration puts it. Looking at this thread and thinking about this issue it is probably for the best not to get involved at all.

Back on topic, I wonder if anything was explained directly to the Athos council at all or if the Greek government just took whatever dole was given in their name. The monks themselves likely had little or no knowledge of what was being given, taken, etc. nor the ramifications of such actions. They are monks for heaven's sakes, not EU/UN negotiators, international law attorneys, etc.

I'll be blunt.

The European Union can, and very well may, go to hell.

In Christ,
Andrew

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Andrew J. Rubis:

"The European Union can, and very well may, go to hell."

Funny, a lot of people in the world would say the same about the United States...

Christian

So where do I sign up???

Slava Isusu Christu
Glenn
paratrooper, sinner

Glenn, pack up your gear and ship out on the first landing craft to Daphne. But you won't need a gun, just your chotki.

Andrew, I echo your sentiments exactly, and I think it's only a matter of time before we begin to see what a threat the EU poses to religious and civil liberties as well as national sovereignty.

I think what makes the EU's direction so sickening is that it is so atheistic.

I would understand why a majority Hindu nation might restrict its minority Muslim population. Or a majority Jewish one restrict its minority Muslim one. And of course, we have plenty of examples of majority Christian nations suppressing their Jewish/Muslim/other minorities.

But why would an ostensibly Christian majority EU want to suppress what is in effect a member of its own body?

I imagine that what the monastics stand for, piety, humility, poverty, and that "death to the world" approach (in popular parlance) is what an atheistic, arrogant, wealthy, and worldly EU just can't bear to have in sight.


And dear brother, Christian, I don't think that my own beloved USA is too far behind the EU in these directions. We in the USA can also go to hell if we choose to.

In Christ,
Andrew

I find it interesting that the individual states have ceded so much of thier autonomy to the EU that this would even become an issue. I personally feel that the cultural differences between the members states will eventually cause the EU as a whole to limit itself to certain economic policies.

Still, the United Europe is, IMHO, undergoing some growing pains and will eventually find a level-headed approach to such matters. Imagine, if you will, if the U.S. was born today.

Would not we, without 200 years of jurispurdence be feeling our way through such issues as well? I submit that we would. In fact, we still struggle with the balance of our country's predominant Anglo-Saxon Protestant roots and the idea of separation between Church and State. So how can we expect a union of cultures that ranges from Scandinavia to the Greek Islands to find its way in, what, three or four decades?

The EU will find its balance, but give it some time. Cooler heads will prevail.

Now, having said this, I think it's downright silly and trivial for the EU to even touch the subject of Mount Athos, not to mention destroying a vital part of a cultural gem that is supposedly to be afforded protection.

Maybe someone in the bureaucracy is trying to score some political points for a humanist agenda. I dunno.

But I would take issue with condemning the entire concept of the EU based upon this incident.

Yours,

halychanyn

The EU is EVIL because it promotes the idea of one world government, is Anti-Christian, Pro-Abortion and Pro-Homosexual. And yes, I see my beloved USA heading in that same direction.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Lawrence:

"The EU is EVIL because it promotes the idea of one world government, is Anti-Christian, Pro-Abortion and Pro-Homosexual. And yes, I see my beloved USA heading in that same direction."

And we all know who's behind it, don't we??

The FREE MASONS!!! Also known as the Evil Empire!

Armed and dangerous..... ! Who is on your new avatar?

Glenn

Nonesense... it's the ZHIDS! :p

Okay, get your Red Hot Conspiracy Theories here!!!!

Glenn, that is St. Leonid Feoderov as a rassophor monk. Same as the old avatar, just an earlier picture. He was accepted by Sts. Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky and Protohegumen Klemtiy Sheptytsky to enter the monastic life and took the name Father Leontios upon his profession.

Brian

I didn't suggest that the EU is part of a secret conspiracy. They're rather open concerning where they stand on the issues, and that's precisely what's so frightening. Apparently millions of people are willing to sell their souls for the false promises of a better economic future.