Orthodox Christians for Life
Orthodox Christians for Life (OCLife) is a non-profit religious educational Pro-Life organization consisting of members primarily from the Eastern Orthodox Church which is recognized as a fourth major faith in the United States. OCLife was founded in early 1986 by Rev. Edward Pehanich an Orthodox priest of the American Carpatho-Russian jurisdiction and John Protopapas, now a Deacon of the Orthodox Church in America.
It functions in cooperation with the hierarchy, clergy, and laity of the Orthodox Church regardless of jurisdiction or geographical location; and supports the doctrines and canons of the Church. The organization consists of over 800 members (including seven chapters) in the United States, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Australia as of February 1998. It is also open to interested non-Orthodox Christians on an affiliate basis.
Orthodox Christians for Life is primarily a religious-educational organization and does not organize marches, demonstrations, or sit-ins; however, we do participate in such Pro-Life events as a group, or as individuals, providing they are peaceful and do not conflict with Church doctrine. We condemn all forms of violence in any effort to resolve sanctity of human life issues.
OUR VISION
To present and support the position of the Orthodox Church on matters of the sanctity of innocent human life to all peoples, Orthodox Christian and non-Orthodox alike. This includes not only abortion, but also euthanasia, infanticide (pediatric euthanasia), suicide, and child abuse.
To initiate and encourage education and energize action on all issues of sanctity of human life in all Orthodox parishes regardless of jurisdiction.
To act as a clearing house for information relating to sanctity of life issues for the Orthodox Christian community.
To aid and assist all those who wish to establish sanctity of life programs or Pro-Life groups on a parish, diocesan, or archdiocesan level and to have representatives available to work with those who wish to establish such programs.
To reiterate and underscore traditional Christian values such as the sanctity of marriage, the blessing of children, the holiness of chastity (both in and out of marriage), the honoring of parents, the love of ones neighbor, and of course, the sanctity of all innocent human life regardless of age or condition of health.
To work in a cooperative spirit with all Pro-Life organizations, regardless of religious affiliation, providing they espouse a complimentary sanctity of life ethic. In this area we serve as a unique witness to the teachings of the Early Christian Church.
To present the Orthodox position on these issues to the secular culture.
Examples of our activities include the coordination and creation of an Amicus Brief submitted to the United States Supreme Court (February 23, 1989) on behalf of the Orthodox Church. The document supported the State of Missouri (Webster Case) in its effort to overturn Roe v. Wade. Since 1986 we have coordinated the Orthodox Christian presence in the annual January 22 March for Life in Washington, DC.
The years 1989 and 1990 saw four Orthodox bishops participating in the March for Life: Bishop Herman (OCA), Bishop Nathaniel (OCA), Bishop Nicholas (Carpatho-Russian), and Bishop Maximos (Greek Archdiocese); also in 1996 there were over 400 bishops, clergy, and lay from various parts of the United States participating.
A yearly subscription to our newsletter, Rachels Children is $5.00 per year; a suggested minimum membership contribution is $10.00 per year and includes the newsletter. Recognition pins are available for $6.00. All donations and membership funds made out to: Orthodox Christians for Life (in U.S. Dollars). Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery. If you are interested in Orthodox Christians for Life write to:OCLife, P.O. Box 805, Melville, NY 11747 or Phone (516) 271-4408.
Rachel's Children Newsletter
ORTHODOX PRO-LIFE
HANDBOOK
Volume 6
Volume 12 issue 1
ABORTION AND
OIKONOMIA: THE
HARD CASES
Volume 13 issue 1
Volume 7 issues 1 and 2
Volume 8 issues 1 and 2
Volume 14 issue 1
Volume 15 issue 1
Volume 9 issue 1 and 2
Volume 10 issue 3
Volume 11 issue 1
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