[machpamb]

While these considerations are fine, they are not totally in line with the topic that we're discussing here. We aren't trying to figure out whether an Orthodox layman should attend a non-Orthodox church, nor are we trying to figure out whether an Orthodox bishop or spiritual father should-- under specific circumstances-- advise a person to attend a non-Orthodox church. Rather, we're trying to figure out the degree of obedience that an Orthodox layman owes his bishop or spiritual father. Assume as a matter of fact that a spiritual father has advised one of his spiritual children to attend a non-Orthodox church for some specific pastoral reason; should the spiritual child obey or not?