Difference between revisions of "Talk:Seraphim (Rose)"

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I'd like to weigh in on the article mentioning that Father Serafim was a homosexual in his youth before converting to Orthodoxy. First of all I'd like to question the sources. There is no mention of this in his biography from Platina. This is not what you think about when you remember Father Serafim! To my mind this is like revealing someone's confession! He overcame so much and is such a wonderful example for us! We who have great reverence for him are pretty upset! No one but God and one's father confessor has a right to information like that..and splashed all over the internet no less!
 
I'd like to weigh in on the article mentioning that Father Serafim was a homosexual in his youth before converting to Orthodoxy. First of all I'd like to question the sources. There is no mention of this in his biography from Platina. This is not what you think about when you remember Father Serafim! To my mind this is like revealing someone's confession! He overcame so much and is such a wonderful example for us! We who have great reverence for him are pretty upset! No one but God and one's father confessor has a right to information like that..and splashed all over the internet no less!
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: There is always a balance we have to strike between reporting significant historical facts and the good and useful traditions of hagiography (and of course the line is somewhat blurred since Fr. Seraphim is not canonized).  I don't think that the homosexuality passage is something which is ''required'' for this article. Its origins are from whatever source the [[Wikipedia:Seraphim Rose|Wikipedia article]] used (as this is an import).  My guess is that it's this article:  http://www.pomona.edu/Magazine/PCMSP01/saint.shtml
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: It's possible that the article draws on sections from the book of his letters published by his niece (who interestingly enough recently showed up on Wikipedia and added edits to the article there).
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: I would have no problem removing the passage.  It may be more difficult to get the folks over at Wikipedia to do so, though.  —[[User:ASDamick|{{User:ASDamick/sig}}]] 23:29, 29 Jun 2005 (EDT)

Revision as of 03:29, June 30, 2005

Category

Do you really think he ought to be in Category:American Saints? He's not been officially canonized by anyone and is still quite recent. —[[User:ASDamick|—Fr. Andrew talk contribs (THINK!)]] 13:36, 13 Jun 2005 (EDT)

"[H]e is (prematurely) celebrated by some Orthodox Christians as a saint" -- I think he can be considered to be in the category of "American Saints" whether or not he is officially recognized as a saint. As you say, he is recent, so the status of his canonization may change. I hardly think adding him to the orthodoxwiki category will effect his canonization. Apologies if I am mistaken. --magda 14:36, 13 Jun 2005 (EDT)

Yes, quite likely not!  :) I was just wondering. I can't remember where the initial bit about his being celebrated comes from, though, especially it being "in liturgy." I wonder who has the daring to celebrate someone liturgically whom their hierarchy has not yet openly glorified? —[[User:ASDamick|—Fr. Andrew talk contribs (THINK!)]] 14:45, 13 Jun 2005 (EDT)

I'd like to weigh in on the article mentioning that Father Serafim was a homosexual in his youth before converting to Orthodoxy. First of all I'd like to question the sources. There is no mention of this in his biography from Platina. This is not what you think about when you remember Father Serafim! To my mind this is like revealing someone's confession! He overcame so much and is such a wonderful example for us! We who have great reverence for him are pretty upset! No one but God and one's father confessor has a right to information like that..and splashed all over the internet no less!

There is always a balance we have to strike between reporting significant historical facts and the good and useful traditions of hagiography (and of course the line is somewhat blurred since Fr. Seraphim is not canonized). I don't think that the homosexuality passage is something which is required for this article. Its origins are from whatever source the Wikipedia article used (as this is an import). My guess is that it's this article: http://www.pomona.edu/Magazine/PCMSP01/saint.shtml
It's possible that the article draws on sections from the book of his letters published by his niece (who interestingly enough recently showed up on Wikipedia and added edits to the article there).
I would have no problem removing the passage. It may be more difficult to get the folks over at Wikipedia to do so, though. —[[User:ASDamick|—Fr. Andrew talk contribs (THINK!)]] 23:29, 29 Jun 2005 (EDT)