Religious Confessions
http://www.kommersant.com/page.asp?id=637662
// Patriarch criticized priests for their love for money
Yesterday, there was an annual gathering of spiritual leaders of Moscow under the chairmanship of Patriarch Alexi II.
The leader of the Russian Orthodox Christian Church harshly criticized the capital’s priests. “Some of the pastors demonstrate an inability to confront the influence of the sin,” Alexi II started. “If material rewards and church hierarchy positions are becoming the main goal in life, then the church is started to be seen as place for enrichment and moneymaking.”
“I already reminded that putting price labels to perform holy mysteries and prayers is not acceptable. That is why we have to constantly tell to financial organizations all this is a sacrifice,” Alexei II warned. “The Orthodox Church exists for voluntary donations of parishioners. And there should not be any kind of tariffs.”
Also, the Patriarch said that relations between pastor and parishioner should not be built like relationship of a boss and employee. Alexi II demanded “to keep all Moscow churches open for all day, to have a priest on duty and service personnel distributing candles. Then, any person can come to church at any time and pray.”
by Pavel Korobov