Changes

One of the most emotional, moral, and politically charged issues the United States (and the world at large) has dealt with over the last 35 years or so has been that of homosexuality and the rights of those citizens who have openly identified themselves as homosexual or gay. Regardless of whose statistics one believes there is no denying the fact that the gay and lesbian population is a significant group in the U.S. This article will acknowledge the Orthodox Church's teaching on this topic with a special view and emphasis on the writings of Frs. Stanley S. Harakas |Stanley Harakas]] and Thomas Hopko. It includes some views from a social [[ethics]] perspective as well as suggesting some pastoral actions to be taken by, say, a [[priest]] or by fellow Orthodox Christians. The basic premise for doing so is that although the Church's position on homosexuality has not changed and may be restated, the Church's ultimate concern has always been for the ''people'' who are engaged in this activity or have identified themselves as homosexuals. In short, the Church's concern is ''not'' the ''sin'' but the ''sinner''.