Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, On Oaths

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, On Oaths

An interview with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew by the Journalistic Team of the School of Bakogiannis in Larissa, Greece, on November 30, 2014.

Text Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20151219063517/http://ekpmpakogianni.gr/?p=3404

Translation Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20150326052759/http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2015/01/interview-with-patriarch-bartholomew-on.html

 

Greek Text

English Translation

Ποια η γνώμη Σας σχετικά με το ζήτημα του πολιτικού όρκου του εκάστοτε αιρετού άρχοντα;   Λαμβανομένου ύπ’ όψη ότι ο όρκος απαγορεύεται από τον Κύριο στο Ευαγγέλιο, κατ’ αρχήν δε μπορούμε να υποστηρίξουμε την ανάγκη χρήσεως θρησκευτικού όρκου από τους κρατικούς λειτουργούς, ούτε καν του δικονομικού από τους πιστούς στα Δικαστήρια. Όπου υφίσταται σήμερα θρησκευτικός «όρκος» η Εκκλησία απλώς τον ανέχεται κατ’ άκραν οικονομίαν. Δεν είναι κατ’ ευδοκίαν της, άλλα κατά άκρα συγκατάβαση. Για τον πιστό ισχύει πάντα το «Ἐγώ δέ λέγω ὑμῖν μή ὁμόσαι ὅλως» (Ματθ. 5, 34).

What is your opinion on the issue of political oaths for each person elected?   Taking into view that the oath is forbidden by the Lord in the Gospel, in principle we cannot support the need for using a religious oath by government officials or even as a procedural by the faithful in the Courts. Where religious "vows" in the Church exist today they are merely tolerated with extreme oikonomia. It is not in its good pleasure, but a condescension for others. For the believer the "I say to you, do not swear an oath at all" (Matt. 5:34) always applies.

 

Pope Francis I – On Mt. 5:33-37– 12 February 2017

Pope Francis I – On Mt. 5:33-37– 12 February 2017

Source: https://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/angelus/2017/documents/papa-francesco_angelus_20170212.html

Jesus then tells his disciples not to swear, as swearing is a sign of the insecurity and duplicity with which human relationships unfold. God’s authority is exploited so as to guarantee our human narrative. Instead, we are called to establish among ourselves, in our families and in our communities, a climate of clarity and mutual trust, so that we can be considered sincere without resorting to greater tactics in order to be believed. Mistrust and mutual suspicion always threaten peace! –

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Gesù, poi, dice ai suoi discepoli di non giurare, in quanto il giuramento è segno dell’insicurezza e della doppiezza con cui si svolgono le relazioni umane. Si strumentalizza l’autorità di Dio per dare garanzia alle nostre vicende umane. Piuttosto siamo chiamati ad instaurare tra di noi, nelle nostre famiglie e nelle nostre comunità un clima di limpidezza e di fiducia reciproca, così che possiamo essere ritenuti sinceri senza ricorrere a interventi superiori per essere creduti. La diffidenza e il sospetto reciproco minacciano sempre la serenità!