We must support all efforts of the Church, movements in society and civil efforts to provide a spiritually and morally wholesome environment for our children and wage a vigorous struggle against all that pollutes and distorts their lives, whatever form it may take. One of the greatest abuses of children is the diabolical spread of drugs. Young people are systematically introduced to various drugs and made psychologically and physically dependent upon them. This fearsome addiction attacks their whole being, destroying their moral freedom and spiritual growth. It remains to be noted that the Orthodox Church utterly condemns those who physically do bodily harm to children.
Children are to be treated with love, concern, patience and understanding.
The tenderness of Jesus toward children is the source of our opposition to child abuse. Until his retirement, Fr. Stanley Samuel Harakas was the Archbishop Iakovos Professor of Orthodox Theology at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts. He is the author of many books.