Parintele Irineu investigat pentru comportament sexual neadecvat

Într-un comunicat de presa arhiepiscopul NATHANIEL, al  Bisericii Ortodoxe din America, anunta faptul ca parintele Irineu  este cercetat pentru comportament "sexual neadecvat".

"Cancelaria Episcopiei a fost notificată de către Biroul de Investigare și Revizuire a Acuzațiilor de Abatere Sexuală (ORSMA) a Bisericii Ortodoxe din America despre faptul că Preasfințitul Părinte Irineu  Episcop de Dearborn Heights și Episcop Vicar al Episcopiei Ortodoxe Române din America, este cercetat pentru acuzația de comportament sexual neadecvat.  Până la finalizarea investigațiilor, Preasfințitul Părinte Irineu beneficiază de prezumția de nevinovăție. În conformitate cu Metodele, Standardele și Procedurile (PSP) de prevenire a abaterilor sexuale ale ORSMA, Preasfințitul Părinte Irineu este deprivat de sarcinile sale oficiale și nu are binecuvântare să desfășoare activități liturgice în cuprinsul Eparhiei noastre sau în altă parte. Procesul de investigare este extrem de confidențial, de aceea, nimeni nu ar trebui să discute pe acestă temă. Datorită faptului că Preasfințitul Părinte Irineu a făcut cunoscută ancheta și altor persoane, Episcopia a hotărât să facă public acest demers de investigare. Să ne rugăm pentru Preasfințitul Părinte Episcop Irineu și pentru toți cei implicati în acest anchetă. "



Reguli si proceduri din  indrumatorul Bisericii Ortodoxe de America aprobat anul trecut de sinodul bisericii. 
.10 Sexual Harassment
:Sexual harassment is a type of sexual misconduct defined asunwelcome or unwanted advances, requests for sexual favors- by any means or media - or any other verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:(A) submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment or membership;
(B) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment or membership decisions affecting such individual; or
(C) such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work performance or ability to maintain membership or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment, in any environment or institution where the person desires to become or remain an employee or member.
Examples of sexual harassment may include, but are not limited to:

(A) Physical, unwelcome touching;
(B) Verbal conduct such as epithets, derogatory jokes or comments, slurs or unwanted sexual advances, invitations or comments   10
(C) Visual conduct such as derogatory and/or sexually oriented posters, photography, cartoons, drawings or gestures, texts via all forms of media;
(D) Threats and demands to submit to sexual requests as a condition of continued  employment, or to avoid some other adverse consequence, and offers of employment benefits in return for sexual favors;
(E) Inappropriate conduct or comments consistently targeted at only one gender, even if the content is not sexual;
(F) In the case of a person in a position of authority –whether it is actual, moral, emotional, legal or any form of ascendency of one person over another, any type of sexual activity or sexualized circumstances between him or her and one of his or her subordinates. While such activity may not explicitly be illegal, it is often against professional codes of ethics. Entering a sexual relationship with a subordinate, even when the contact is initiated by the latter, is unethical because of the subordinate's vulnerability.
(G) Retaliation for having reported or threatened to report sexual harassment.
(H) Some activities which are not strictly classified as erotic acts, e.g. mooning, streakingand , skinny dipping , are sometimes also categorized as sexual misconduct and can be part of a case of sexual harassment.
(I) The use or exhibiting of photographs, movies, videos or other imagery of a sexual or sexually suggestive nature that would reasonably be anticipated to cause
embarrassment, arousal or discomfort to others
11.

Sexual Misconduct:

Sexual Misconduct encompasses a range of behavior used to

obtain sexual gratification against another or at the expense of another or in a situation where the

perpetrator is in a position of authority – physical, psychological, emotional, or spiritual – over

the victim. Sexual Misconduct includes sexual harassment, sexual assault, and any conduct of a

sexual nature that is without consent, or has the effect of threatening, intimidating or using the

person against whom such conduct is directed.

In a pastoral or counseling relationship, all sexual relations between a Clergyman and/or

Lay Worker and the person with whom there is a pastoral/professional relationship are deemed to

be without consent.

In addition to the definition of Sexual Misconduct cited above, clergy sexual misconduct

comprises any behavior and/or action that is not in accordance with the teaching of the Church

on the matter of sexuality. It encompasses a range of inappropriately eroticized relationships that

can be of a romantic, sexualized, or sexual nature or behavior, breaching the boundaries of the

pastoral relationship.

Where Sexual Misconduct has occurred, the reasons, or claimed reasons for such

11

behavior is not relevant. Moreover, since Sexual Misconduct often occurs after a period of

“grooming the victim”, it is still Sexual Misconduct although physical sexual relations did not

occur if reasonable minds would conclude that sexual relations were the intended or probable

consequence of the Clergy or Lay Worker’s actions.

Sexual Misconduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:

(1)

Sexual relations and/or conduct by a Clergyman that violate the teachings and/or canons of

the Orthodox Church

(2)

Any sexual involvement or sexual contact by

a Clergyman or Lay Worker with another

person, who is not the Clergyman’s or Lay Worker’s spouse, and who is under the age of legal

consent, or who is legally incapable of giving consent.

(3)

Any unwelcome written, spoken, or physical sexual advance or conduct by a Clergyman or

Lay Worker;

(4)

Any direct or indirect request or suggestion for a sexual favor by a Clergyman, Lay Person

or Lay Worker where there is a Pastoral Relationship and/or an employment, mentor, and/or

colleague relationship between the persons involved;

(5)

Any use or exploitation by a Clergyman, Lay Person or Lay Worker of a supervisory

position or other position of authority in connection with such person’s sexual needs or

desires;

(6)

The attempted development of a sexual relationship within a Pastoral Relationship, whether

or not there is consent or apparent consent by both parties;

(7)

The initiation, continuation, or pursuit of a sexual relationship by a Clergyman, Lay Person

or Lay Worker with someone with whom he/she has a Pastoral Relationship, even if the

relationship is consensual; and/or

(8)

The use or exploitation by a Clergyman, Lay Person or Lay Worker of his/her position in

connection with his/her sexual needs or desires.

2.12.

SMPAC

: SMPAC means the Sexual Misconduct Policy Advisory Committee

established by the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America.

2.13.

Victim

: Victim means any person who is, or allegedly is, the victim of sexual

misconduct.