Greek Orthodox response to DOMA decision

From Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver

On June 26, 2013 the United States Supreme Court ruled on two same-sex marriage cases. The Court knew it was making history since both decisions affect the civil administration of one of the most-basic human institutions.

Our Greek Orthodox Church exists in these United States, at local and national levels, as the Body of Christ. We are grateful for the freedoms afforded us to freely practice as well asto articulate and represent the ancient, Apostolic Christian faith.

Our Greek Orthodox faithful exist individually as citizens of this land, and we must likewise be grateful for the personal liberties we enjoy. We are obligated by our ancient, Apostolic Christian faith to respect the properly-legislated civil laws and the duly-adjudicated legal decisions of our local and national governments.

These simple realities are clear to us. It is our Lord Himself Who commands that we “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21). We are to respect civil authority and to abide by the laws of our land.

It is the Apostle Paul who expands this command of the Savior and who prescribes our proper and healthy relationship with civil authority in saying, “I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet

and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Timothy 2:1-3).

As citizens we enjoy the privilege in this American nation to freely voice our opinions, informed by our Orthodox Christian conscience. We also enjoy the freedom to live our lives in accordance with our Orthodox Christian conscience, without interference from those in civil authority. These are our rights; they are protected by the Constitution and by the laws enacted in accordance therewith.

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