
Orthodox Christians for Life (OC Life) is a non-profit religious and educational organization serving the Orthodox Christian Church. OC Life was founded in early 1986 by the Rev. Edward Pehanich an Orthodox priest of the American Carpatho-Russian Diocese, the late Rev. Deacon John Protopapas of the Orthodox Church in America, and his wife, Matuska Valerie Protopapas, a prolific writer on sanctity of life issues. It functions in cooperation with the hierarchy, clergy, and laity of the Orthodox Church regardless of jurisdiction or geographical location and supports the doctrines and canons of the Church. OCLife is primarily a religious-educational organization and does not organize marches, demonstrations, or sit-ins; however, we do participate in such Pro-Life events as a group, or as individuals, providing they are peaceful and do not conflict with Church doctrine. We condemn all forms of violence in any effort to resolve sanctity of human life issues. Our Goals To present and support the position of the Orthodox Church on matters of the sanctity of innocent human life to all peoples, Orthodox Christian and non-Orthodox alike. This includes not only abortion, but also physician assisted suicide, euthanasia, infanticide (pediatric euthanasia), suicide, and child abuse. |