"Sheep do not judge the shepherd": Priest defends convicted abuser in shocking sermon

After the conviction of Alexis Rosentool, a Russian Orthodox leader told followers, "To judge clergy means to judge Christ Himself"

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A high-ranking priest in Australia told his congregation that it was wrong for them to condemn a fellow priest who was recently found guilty of sexual abuse, downplaying the seriousness of the crimes.

“Sheep do not judge their shepherd,” he told them.

It follows a wild years-long legal battle that was only made public in recent weeks.

The story involves Alexis Rosentool, a priest working in the Australian and New Zealand Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ANZ ROCOR). In 2022, he was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting two men in the 1980s and doing the same to a child “two decades later.”

Alexis Rosentool in 2018 (screenshot via YouTube)

Adding another twist to this story, shortly after he was arrested, a right-wing Russian propagandist on YouTube began talking about those charged on his popular YouTube channel despite an order forbidding anyone from mentioning the priest’s name in association with his alleged crimes. The authorities in Australia did this to prevent the YouTuber “from tainting a jury pool with his enormous social media following.” That YouTuber defied the suppression order and was himself sentenced to 10 months in jail. Once he was paroled, he feared a long sentence for other alleged crimes, and so he’s been hiding in the Russian consulate in Australia ever since he was released.

Anyway. About two weeks ago, after a criminal trial, Rosentool was found guilty of those heinous crimes. That meant the suppression order was lifted and people could legally talk about what happened. Archbishop George Schaefer of the ANZ RICOR sent out a press release announcing the verdict and apologizing to the survivors.

To the survivors and their families, we offer our deepest, most sincere apology. No words can adequately express our sorrow for the harm caused, nor can they undo the impact done. We specifically apologise for:

… the abuse and profound trauma caused;

… any action or inaction to respond appropriately and mitigate the abuse or trauma caused; and

… the breach of trust and faith this represents to you and the entire community.

He also announced how the church would take steps to prevent these kinds of crimes from occurring in the future. As far as responses to abuse go, it’s not bad.

But last Sunday, Archpriest Boris Ignatievsky of the church where Rosentool once worked told his congregation not to let this matter divide them. A lot of people were supporting Rosentool and saw this as an unfair attack on their former priest. Others were shocked by the verdict and furious at a man they once trusted.

Ignatievsky told them they had no business criticizing Rosentool.

(The video below is sped up at 2x for the sake of your sanity.)

[Rough translation from Russian] This story of non-condemnation reminds me of that which we are all facing now. A great temptation to judge our close ones—and even the clergy.

This week, a document was published from our diocese in which Archbishop George informed the flock about the conclusion of the trial of Archimandrite Alexis Rosentool. Many of you have already read this document. I will not go into details. Unfortunately, this sad event has already divided our diocese into those who are in support and those who are against. And this in itself is a negative development. But the worst thing is that both sides have fallen into the temptation to sin by judging. Be careful. In the words of our church, condemnation is a form of pride and, therefore, is one of the greatest sins.

To judge a priest is not your business. The sheep do not judge the shepherd regardless of who [he] may be. To judge a priest means to judge Christ himself. With all your strength, protect yourself from this. Do not present your ears to hear bad things about others, but be forgiving. Have mercy on people and you will live. Brothers and sisters, listen to the voice of the church. We are its members, and our dark judging eye will be a dark mark on our holy church. Let us not be participants of such evil.

[In English] To judge clergy is not for us. Sheep do not judge the shepherd. Be respective of who he is. To judge clergy means to judge Christ Himself. So be very, very careful. Brothers and sisters, let us listen to the voice of the church, as we are its members, so that our dark judgmental eye does not leave a dark stain on our one true holy church. God forbid that we should participate in such sinful acts.

Amen.

Here’s another thought: Condemn away. Rosentool hasn’t just been accused of these crimes. He’s now been convicted of them. The church didn’t prevent those actions from happening over the course of decades and they don’t deserve forgiveness now—and Rosentool absolutely doesn’t deserve the benefit of the doubt at this point.

The idea that a religious leader—or any leader—ought to be immune from condemnation is absurd. To make that argument using the cloak of religion makes it even worse. Protecting predators because they’re priests is what the Catholic Church and Mormon Church and Jehovah’s Witnesses have been doing for decades, and they’re finally, rightfully being called out on it. To hear someone make that exact argument today is appalling.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald (paywalled), Ignatievsky insisted he was referring to “other clergy” who were wrapped up in this issue—the ones who allegedly supported or facilitated or covered up for Rosentool.

The Herald also notes that, following the abuse (but before the arrest), Rosentool set up shop in a different part of Australia. He launched the “Holy Transfiguration Monastery of Bombala,” and registered it as a legal charity, complete with a governing document listed on the official website listing registered Australian charities.

But after his conviction, his church replaced that governing document with a new one. Why the change? The Herald got a copy of the older version, and let’s just say it didn’t age well.

… in the files of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, there are traces of the original governing document from 2007, signed by Rosentool among other church figures.

“Fear the abbot as your lord and love him as your father,” Rosentool’s document says of himself.

“When you are abused, be quiet. Offend no one and when you are offended, bear it patiently. Put no hope in vain plans and dreams, but be firm in Christ.”

The document denounces the evils of women’s company and orders them to remain silent unless spoken to by Rosentool.

“As from poison flee conversation with women, if you hope to keep yourself in such talk is concealed the ruinous venom of the serpent,” the document instructs.

I was able to obtain a copy of the same document—talk about going down a rabbit hole—and it lists a number of rules (affectionately titled “The Rule”—singular) that all members of the monastery must follow. It very clearly gives men like Rosentool permission to behave badly without consequences.

Among other things, it urges members to “receive the counsel of your elder as salvation itself.” It tells them they cannot be friends with anyone outside the religious community.

Women are considered a vice: “The gaze of a woman is like a poisoned arrow, wounding the soul unto death… It is better to jump into a raging fire than to draw near to a young woman… Especially when you are young, avoid discourse with women if you hope to curb your bodily lusts… The beautiful face is more destructive than thunder and lightning.”

Predictably cultish behavior all around. No wonder they wanted to erase that document from the internet in light of what happened. (The updated document is more like a boring set of by-laws governing the church, with no reference to any rules affecting members of the community.)

When you believe silence in the face of abuse is the moral path, even if it allows the abuse to continue, your religion is the problem. Especially when the abuser is a religious leader.

Somehow, the religious leaders who remain in that church are spreading those same harmful beliefs among the people still in the fold.

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