Michael Dukakis: Press Reactions to the First Greek Orthodox Candidate [88]

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Prescott: May 16, 2023; I’m reading the Bible so I can teach the zombies about Heaven.

New York Times
Dukakis's Ties to Orthodox Church Stay Warm Despite Abortion Stance

Four years ago the Democratic Vice-Presidential nominee, a Roman Catholic, was chastised by several Catholic bishops for favoring abortion rights. This year the Democratic Presidential nominee, who is Greek Orthodox, takes the same position but has encountered only the warm embrace of his church. The Greek Orthodox Church shares the Catholic antipathy to abortion, but experts on the denomination say the opposition takes a different form and, in any event, the ethnic bond with Gov. Michael S. Dukakis is stronger than the religious tie that ensnared Geraldine A. Ferraro in 1984. ''Theologically, Greek Orthodoxy is much looser and more centered on mystery than the much more legalistic Roman Catholicism,'' said Charles Moskos, who is revising his 1980 book ''Greek Americans: Struggle and Success'' to include a chapter on Mr. Dukakis. �Our tolerance levels are greater,'' said Mr. Moskos, a professor of sociology at Northwestern University and himself a Greek-American, ''and Michael is still considered within the tolerance levels.''

�A Son of the Greek Church�. Archbishop Iakovos, head of the two-million-member Greek Orthodox Church in North and South America, calls Mr. Dukakis ''a son of the church'' and recently defended him against attacks from a small group of Orthodox conservatives and Republicans who have charged that Mr. Dukakis has ''excommunicated himself'' by favoring abortion rights and by marrying a non-Christian.

Under Orthodox church law, someone who marries outside the church cannot receive the sacraments of the church, including holy communion. Mr. Dukakis's wife, Kitty, is Jewish. ''He did not leave the church,'' the Archbishop said in an interview earlier this summer with the Associated Press. ''He is not excluded. He's not the only one who has married outside the church.'' Seventy percent of Greek Orthodox marriages are with those of other denominations, he said, and an increasing number are with Jews.

According to his campaign headquarters, Mr. Dukakis is a member of the Greek Orthodox Annunciation Cathedral in Boston. George Stephanopoulos, a campaign spokesman in Boston, said that Mr. Dukakis attends church on holidays and frequently on Sundays. The issue of his taking the sacraments, Mr. Stephanopoulos said, ''is between him and his priest.'' The spokesman added: ''The Governor considers himself a religious man and close to the church. Religion is not something he takes lightly.''

Archbishop Iakovos has known the Dukakis family since Michael Dukakis was growing up in Brookline, Mass.. remembers Mr. Dukakis as a Sunday school pupil with ''a very good head on his shoulders.'' Over the years, the Archbishop said he has encouraged the Governor's political career, sometimes praying with him. The Archbishop stopped short of endorsing Mr. Dukakis for President and, in a public show of bipartisanship, offered prayers at both the Democratic convention in Atlanta and at the Republican convention in New Orleans.

The Orthodox prelate's position contrasts strikingly with that of some Roman Catholic churchmen. Archbishop John F. Whealon of Hartford announced last month that he was ''unable in conscience to remain a registered Democrat'' because of the party's support for abortion rights. And in the heat of the 1984 Presidential campaign, John Cardinal O'Connor, the Archbishop of New York, said he did not see how a Catholic could vote for anyone who did not oppose abortion. He attacked Ms. Ferraro for ''giving the world to understand that Catholic teaching is divided'' on abortion. Among Orthodox Christians, there is also a small anti-abortion group, but even its organizers concede that it has not caught fire among the Greek Orthodox. Valerie Protopapas, the educational director of the Long Island-based Orthodox Christians for Life, said that other denominations, such as the Orthodox Church in America, have been more active. While a handful of Greek Orthodox priests have been involved, none of the 15 Greek bishops have participated, she said.

The strongest criticism of Mr. Dukakis within the Greek denomination came from James G. Jatras, the Washington representative of Orthodox Christians for Life and a foreign policy analyst for the Republican Policy Committee, which serves the Republican Party in the Senate. In a letter to The Greek American, a weekly newspaper published in Astoria, Queens, Mr. Jatras wrote that the euphoria about a Greek-American candidate had obscured the issue that Mr. Dukakis ''holds views incompatible with our Orthodox faith.'' ''Most of his supporters know little about how estranged he is from his roots, Mr. Jatras wrote. Archbishop Iakovos dismissed the attack and the attackers, saying, ''It came from small people.'' 'Happy to Have Him' The second in command at the Archdiocese, Bishop Isaiah, was similarly upbeat about Mr. Dukakis. While acknowledging that some of the candidate's positions had created ''some confusion'' in the church, he said, ''We are happy to have him there for the areas where we agree.''

When asked about the Dukakis's mixed-faith marriage, Bishop Isaiah saw a silver lining. ''I really hope that the fact that we are forced to face this problem, we will address it in a proper way for all our people,'' he said. ''And for this we will be able to thank Dukakis in the future.'' Mr. Moskos, the Northwestern sociologist and author, said the Greek Orthodox stance on Mr. Dukakis demonstrated the church's position ''as halfway between an ethnic church and a mainline church.'' ''Until it overcomes its ethnic inferiority complex,'' he said, ''it will always be a little more tolerant of its sons and daughters who don't adhere 100 percent to the canons of the church.''

Washington Post
DUKAKIS CALLED 'PAGAN' FOR VIEWS, JEWISH WIFE
By T.R. Reid
May 28, 1988

A Senate Republican leadership aide and a conservative political group are circulating a harsh "open letter" that says Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis is not really a Christian, calling him an "apostate" and a "pagan" who uses his membership in the Greek Orthodox Church "as just a convenient prop" for political purposes. The letter, distributed widely in the conservative and Greek-American communities and publicized in the conservative weekly Human Events and by columnists Rowland Evans and Robert Novak, said Dukakis is an "imposter" (sic) who "attacks our {Greek Orthodox} Church and attacks Christ." As evidence, the letter notes Dukakis' opposition to aid for the Nicaraguan contras, his pro-choice stand on abortion and his "marriage to a non-Christian." Dukakis' wife, Kitty, is Jewish.

The 10-page missive was written by James Jatras, who works for Sen. William L. Armstrong (R-Colo.) on the Senate Republican Policy Committee. Jatras said he distributed hundreds of copies of the letter to Greek-Orthodox prelates and other leaders of the Greek-American community. The Ad Hoc Committee in Defense of Life, a New York-based anti-abortion group, is also circulating the letter. A key figure in the Ad Hoc Committee is Joseph Sobran, a conservative columnist who has been accused by Jewish groups of anti-Semitism. Armstrong said through a spokesman that he is familiar with Jatras' letter. He noted that his aide wrote the letter "as a private citizen"; accordingly, the senator said he would have no comment and take no action.

But the attack on Dukakis, the likely Democratic presidential nominee, drew criticism from Republican National Chairman Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr., who said: "We do not believe that religion should be the basis for political attacks." The Greek Orthodox Church of North America issued a statement saying "Regretfully, recently attempts have been made to mix religion into the political life of this country . . . we will not be a party to the effort." Jatras said in an interview that� he hoped to offset the wide support for Dukakis, the son of Greek immigrants, in the U.S. Greek community. Among Americans of Greek descent, Jatras said, �There is a minority who would support Satan himself if his name ended in -akis."

"If Mr. Jatras thinks this will hurt Michael Dukakis among Greek Americans, he's completely wrong," said Fannie Petallides, publisher of Proini, the country's largest Greek-language newspaper. "They're just very proud of the fact that he is running for president. "This has been whispered about for years in our community, that Dukakis married a non-Christian," Petallides continued. "We all know about this� Archbishop Iakovos, the leader of the American branch of the faith, noted in a church newspaper this year, "We have a presidential candidate." Father Alex Karloutsos, the church's communications director, said that Dukakis lost the right to receive some sacraments in the church when he married a non-Christian, but that the marriage does not sever his membership. The letter calls Dukakis' decision to marry a Jew a "rebellion against the Church." And Jantras criticizes Dukakis for not baptizing his children in the church.

AP
Ethnic Excitement About Dukakis: �He�s Greek�
GEORGE ESPER
April 12, 1988

TROY, N.Y. (AP) _ From Jimmy�s Lunch, known all over Troy for its French toast, to Famous Lunch and Hot Dog Charlie�s, famous for their hot dogs, and even at St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church, you don�t have to ask twice about the presidential race. Wherever Greek-Americans have settled across the land, they have settled on Michael Dukakis, son of Greek immigrants, as their presidential candidate.

�I think it�s wonderful a Greek has come up this far� said Alexandra Matheos, a 62-year-old retired luncheonette owner, as she stood inside St. Basil�s after an Easter service. �It means a lot to all ethnics. When we were kids we never thought we�d live to see a Greek nominated.�

Dukakis� candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination has caused a surge of excitement among those who came to America from Greece, like Dukakis� parents, and among their first-generation children. About 25 percent of the $15 million Dukakis has raised in campaign contributions came from the Greek-American community, believed to number about 1 million.

�A lot about the Dukakis candidacy stimulates Greek-Americans,� says Elias Vlanton, information director of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association. �He invokes his Greek heritage and the values that Greeks hold dear - love of family, the need and importance of public service.� Among the people of Greek origin in Troy, a melting pot city of 56,000 overlooking the Hudson River, famous for its hot dogs and as the place where collars for Arrow shirts were once made, Dukakis looms as large as the local legend, Samuel Wilson.

Wilson, buried in Troy Cemetery, was a meatpacker and patriot who supplied American troops during the War of 1812 with barrels of beef stamped with the letters �U.S.� to identify them as property of the government. He became known as �Uncle Sam�; namesake of the patriotic symbol.

Leaving St. Basil�s the other day, Roula Aletrakis, 53-year-old native of Greece, was taken aback at the suggestion that she might vote for anyone other than Dukakis.

�Sure, yes, we�re Greek people,� she said when a visitor asked if she was voting for Dukakis.

I�ve always voted Republican, but this time I�m voting Democrat� said her husband, Tony, 66, a retired woodworker.

In New York�s primary on Tuesday, Greek-American voters are rallying to Dukakis just as they have in earlier primary states. Even Greek-Americans who are Republican assume that Dukakis will be the Democratic candidate and are ready to bolt the GOP for their kinsman in November.

�I�m Republican,� said Nick Zembekis, 50, a Greek native who works at Chris-Craft Industrial Products, Inc. �Sure I�m voting for Dukakis because I�m Greek, that�s why. That�s all. If I�m not Greek I don�t vote for Dukakis.�

Sitting on a stool next to Zembekis in the Famous Lunch, his friend, John Oureilidis, a 40-year-old bowling equipment supplier, backed him up.

�Dukakis all the way,� said Oureilidis. �I believe the things he says, plus he�s Greek. He talks sense. Nobody talks about poor people like he does. I believe he can do it. He�s our boy so we have to vote for him.�

Occasionally, there is a dissenter like Nikolaos Adamou, 37, a native of Greece and an economics teacher at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, who is a supporter of Jesse Jackson.

�Jackson is going to protect American interests more effectively in Third World countries,� he said. �I like Dukakis. He�s Greek. Nothing personally.�

Just the same, there is an outpouring of pride in Dukakis, especialy among older Greek-Americans.

�I think they�ve been very supportive and very important to the campaign� says Paul Brountas, Dukakis� national campaign chairman and a Greek-American himself whose ties to the Massachusetts governor go back to their college days.

�The thing you have to remember is that in the early stages of his campaign there were two principal sources of contributions. One was a very strong base of support in Massachusetts. The second point was the Greek support.�

The Rev. Emmanuel Mantzouris, pastor of St. Basil�s, which has about 250 Greek-Americans in its congregation, said, �I think a lot of Greeks are very politically oriented. Just knowing he�s Greek draws their attention, somebody being Greek in the limelight.�