What I mean by that is that the current thinking is a BIG GUILT TRIP - for lack of a better word - to shame Christian churches into feeling they MUST be caring for these insane people. It's the dark side of the culture which is mocking the Church that way. Our Church, and probably all the protestant denominations. Therefore, Orthodox are feeling "guilty" if they are not "being Christian" by reaching out to such -- freaks !
I view this as an attack on the Church by the Devil evilly employing contemporary thought, which is a wringing of hands : "we must take care of the deprived".
But what about the relatively normal people who are ignorant of the Church's existence ?
I am not any authority except as an opinionated observer. It seems to me that if there is 'missionary effort', it must be aimed at such people, to educate them, lead them along the path with kindness and consistency [ not drop them and make them feel disliked, as can happen in parishes ] so that they can join the Church rather than be miserable outside the Church, casting about, not knowing where to turn.
You know, independent of this, I was thinking the other day [ in missing the ability to attend services in fact ] that there is SUCH a comfort in knowing that one can go to Church at any time it is open or services are scheduled. What I am thinking is that one can feel consolation in this very predictability. One knows that a certain service will be served for whatever occasion it is, and so one knows what to expect. In the outside world of turmoil, there is nothing predictable !
Thus in tough times like these present ones, at least there is a place to go for consolation of the soul.
Thus, those living in Orthodox countries, or semi-Orthodox countries, at least know that they can go to the Church, light a candle, say their prayers, feel soothed by the beautiful chant or readings, feel uplifted in the presence of God and the Heavenly Queen and many Saints whose icons all look down at them as they pray.
So where do the "freaks" come into all this ? If they go into a Church, they will knowingly or unknowingly, trail in heavy demons, thus disrupting and causing chaos.
How many Priests have time for the 'counseling' and teaching to these people, whether homosexuals or this variant of deviant ? They are already pressed. They cannot make themselves available for anguished calls - or more likely, bids for attention and malicious wish to ruin that clergyman's day by incessant telephoning, or I guess these days by text message or email ? It's polluting for the poor clergyman, I think.
He isn't called to be the savior of every pervert out there !!
Just to perform the Sacraments and try to lead his flock into good conformity with the Church.
The gap between a sincere parishioner and one of these epic troublemakers is a massive one.
It might take the Priest months to figure out that the latter is only seeking to bait him, waste him time, maybe seek
attention or sympathy but without ANY wish to repent.
