E-Mail Letter from John Saltas to Metropolitan Isaiah
From: John Saltas
Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2010 2:53 PM
To: metropolis@denver.goarch.org
Subject: Your letter to the HCF
Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2010 2:53 PM
To: metropolis@denver.goarch.org
Subject: Your letter to the HCF
Dear Metropolitan Isaiah:
I have just finished reading your letter to the Salt Lake City Greek Orthodox Community regarding certain actions and accusations against the Hellenic Community Foundation of Salt Lake City.
In a few brief words, I will only state the obvious: The letter is extremely inflammatory, may not be based entirely on relevant facts, does not consider any input from the HCF, and seriously damages the good names and good reputations of a number of my friends. They have not committed "robbery" as the letter claims; rather, they each have a legacy of being tremendous stewards, reliable donors and deeply faithful members of our local parish. I cannot believe that such a stigma has been cast on them.
I must also question, given numerous examples over the past several years, exactly who are the "lovers of self, lovers of money ... lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:1-4)" as the letter implies these persons are. The HCF funds in question have not disappeared, nor were they "stolen."
Conversely, not only are those funds safe and fully intended to be used for the exact same purpose as set forth by the original wishes of the Skedros family, they have grown in value. Ironically, then, the risk to our community is not the loss of those funds, but the potential for monetary damages rewarded to every person named in this letter, and to Mr. Nick Bapis due to the damaging nature of the words contained in this and other recent letters from our Ecumenical leaders and endorsed or signed by our parish council.
Should such damages occur, will it be the diocese, our local priests or our parish members who pay that sum?
I am not advising you nor those persons named. However, I may be the only person in this parish, who, due to the nature of my livelihood as a newspaper publisher, carries a libel insurance policy. As one who understands the nature of libel law, I hope all involved fully understand that the path they have chosen and the consequences thereof.
One can interpret this as a sign of the end times. I prefer to see it as an opportunity to get our community back on track spiritually, financially and emotionally. Our spiritual leaders always talk about healing. It's time to lay down the rhetoric and turn those words to positive actions. These letters only make it worse.
Respectfully,
John Saltas
I have just finished reading your letter to the Salt Lake City Greek Orthodox Community regarding certain actions and accusations against the Hellenic Community Foundation of Salt Lake City.
In a few brief words, I will only state the obvious: The letter is extremely inflammatory, may not be based entirely on relevant facts, does not consider any input from the HCF, and seriously damages the good names and good reputations of a number of my friends. They have not committed "robbery" as the letter claims; rather, they each have a legacy of being tremendous stewards, reliable donors and deeply faithful members of our local parish. I cannot believe that such a stigma has been cast on them.
I must also question, given numerous examples over the past several years, exactly who are the "lovers of self, lovers of money ... lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:1-4)" as the letter implies these persons are. The HCF funds in question have not disappeared, nor were they "stolen."
Conversely, not only are those funds safe and fully intended to be used for the exact same purpose as set forth by the original wishes of the Skedros family, they have grown in value. Ironically, then, the risk to our community is not the loss of those funds, but the potential for monetary damages rewarded to every person named in this letter, and to Mr. Nick Bapis due to the damaging nature of the words contained in this and other recent letters from our Ecumenical leaders and endorsed or signed by our parish council.
Should such damages occur, will it be the diocese, our local priests or our parish members who pay that sum?
I am not advising you nor those persons named. However, I may be the only person in this parish, who, due to the nature of my livelihood as a newspaper publisher, carries a libel insurance policy. As one who understands the nature of libel law, I hope all involved fully understand that the path they have chosen and the consequences thereof.
One can interpret this as a sign of the end times. I prefer to see it as an opportunity to get our community back on track spiritually, financially and emotionally. Our spiritual leaders always talk about healing. It's time to lay down the rhetoric and turn those words to positive actions. These letters only make it worse.
Respectfully,
John Saltas
1 comment:
Mr Saltas:
Thanks again for your letter. As for who will pay, it is always the (λαός) people who pay; that's you and me. Just look at the situation down in Dallas with the defrocked (or was he self-defrocked?) priest Katinas who defiled all of those youngsters. And our Hierarch still hasn't said anything that I am aware of in the form of an apology. Yes, we will pay, no one else. As Mr Jim Kastanis said, "we'll be here long after the priests and hierarchs come and go"! I'm sure your question was rhetorical anyway!
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