The Path of Truth

by Father Bernard Newman

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On Palm Sunday last, at the April lecture of ONE Institute's Spring Series, the Right Reverend Archimandrite Bernard, Abbott of St. George Monastery (Las Vegas, Nevada Diocese of the American Eastern Orthodox Church) gave an address, "The Path of Truth." He had previously spoken for ONE Institute at its 1959 Midwinter sessions on the topic, "Must Christians Live With Guilt?"

In presenting this religious viewpoint ONE continues its strictly nonsectarian policy, which has over the years opened the columns of its publications and its meetings to representatives of several Christian and non-Christian denominations.

It should be said, however, that the American Eastern Orthodox Church has several features of doctrine and practice that are of special interest. A Church publication describes it as "derived from the Orthodox Christians of Saint Thomas, the doubting Apostle, who brought the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ to India..."

From this historical background of Christian Orthodoxy, through the "Coming to America [of] The Most Reverend Antony Devan . . . [there] was left here in America the heritage of Saint Thomas." The church was incorporated in 1943. "All the clergy are Monastic Priests, at present, and those at St. George Monastery are self-supporting... The Priests and Monks of Saint George Monastery in Las Vegas devote quite an amount of time to vocational guidance of boys and young men."

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Members and Friends of ONE have visited and stayed at St. George Monastery from time to time and found the Fathers sympathetic and understanding of ONE's aims and goals as well as entirely ready to welcome to the services or into the priesthood without prejudice or proscription any truly sincere homophile. Visitors there have commented on the fact that the Priests and Monks are, as stated above, "self-supporting," i.e., no collections are ever taken at Divine Liturgy or other religious services.

The notable success of the Fathers in the "vocational guidance of boys and young men," has prompted ONE recently to adopt the following resolutions, (1) "That religious counselling work as a part of ONE's Social Service Division be expanded." and (2) "That ONE accept the proposal of the American Eastern Orthodox Church for so participating in ONE's Social Service Division, and that an invitation be extended to other selected clergymen that they also may participate."

The following selections from Abbott Bernard's talk are illustrative of the religious approach of the American Eastern Orthodox Church:

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