Orthodoxy facing ethical questions

This article by Radu Preda examines the relationship of contemporary Orthodoxy to ethical and social questions, in the context of the preparation for the Pan-Orthodox Council. Adopting a socio-theological approach, the author analyzes the structural tensions running through world Orthodoxy: ethnic atomization, politicization of inter-Orthodox relations, difficulties of conciliar reception, and a persistent gap with regard to modernity. He shows that the Orthodox Churches, particularly in post-communist Eastern Europe, struggle to translate their spiritual values into public ethics, which undermines their social credibility. The article reviews the major socio-theological issues that the Council should address: the relationship to secularization, the place of Orthodoxy in the European Union, the legacy of communism, and ecological and bioethical challenges. Its principal contribution lies in demonstrating that the ethical engagement of the Church in society is not a concession to modernity, but a constitutive requirement of evangelical witness.