Looking for info on the Greek Orthodox Church

[WhollyHeretic]

I was wondering if any one here has any experience with the Greek Orthodox Church. I know they are homophobic from what I've been able to glean online. But I'm having trouble finding any useful info on them.

The reason I'm looking is an email I got from my ex today. She is signing him up to be an alter boy at a Greek Orthodox Church. My son spends a little more than half his time with my wife and I and the rest with his mother. His mother doesn't even go to church but his grandmother does. I can't stop her from bringing him on her weekends but she also asked if could take him or meet up with her mother on the Sundays I have him. I shot back a pretty quick no on that part. Besides not wanting him to go I'm not taking time out of my Sunday to take my son to be indoctrinated with fairy tales and bigotry.

[Warpy]

1. You might try the religion and theology forum

for a more balanced view. Anybody you find here has probably gotten disgusted with them.

While I understand your not wanting to give up any of your limited time to the god squad, ask your son how he feels about it and let that be your guide. In any case, be careful. Visitation has been challenged over less than refusal to interrupt it for the other ex spouse's church.

[WhollyHeretic]

3. We have shared custody so I do not have to worry about not taking him to church.

He is with me a little more than half the time. I already told her yesterday that he would not be going on my weekends. He doesn't really care one way or another it's his grandmother that's pushing for this, his mother does not go to church at all(she's big into new age stuff). I thought about asking this in the religion and theology forum but it would end up a flame war. Plus anyone who is liberal and belongs to a bigoted church has to do some mental gymnastic to stay there so I would not get an honest assessment.

[salvorhardin]

2. Be careful

Like Warpy said, preventing religious upbringing is often grounds for denying custody. OTOH, you can use it as an opportunity to talk with your son about religion, and your beliefs (or lack thereof). Just don't denigrate religion or his mom's beliefs, let him make up his own mind and you should be good.

[WhollyHeretic]

4. Custody is not a concern. We have shared custoday and he spends more than half his time with me.

If she tried to take me to court he would ask to stay with me. His mother doesn't even go to church, she's a big woo-woo. It's his grandmother that takes him. I've just been trying to look up some of the church beliefs so I can talk to him about them. I talked with him about some of their views on homosexuality(he's actually pretty concerned about social justice and fairness for an 11 year old).

[TechBear_Seattle]

5. There are a number of Greek Orthodox here

As others have suggested, you should probably ask in the Religion/Theology forum. But basically, the Eastern Orthodox churches are theologically very similar to the Roman Catholic church: anti-gay, anti-divorce, anti-abortion. You might find the Wikipedia article on the Eastern Orthodox Church of interest.