Prominent Orthodox Priest Sues Online Publisher and Gay Rights Activist for Libel

Thomas More Society attorneys help defender of traditional marriage hold defamers accountable   

July 27, 2021, Riverside, California

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An Orthodox Christian priest known for his out-spoken defense of the Orthodox Church’s view on marriage and abortion, has sued the editors of an online publication for defamation. Thomas More Society Special Counsel are representing Fr. Josiah Trenham, along with his wife, Orthodox Christian Ministries, and St. Andrew Orthodox Christian Church, in federal court. Trenham and his ministry are suing self-proclaimed gay rights activist Peter “Giacomo” Sanfilippo and other editors of the online publication Orthodoxy in Dialogue for outrageously false, malicious, and defamatory statements and accusations concerning the priest and his ministry.

The lawsuit details how Sanfilippo has repeatedly attacked Trenham via the online website Orthodoxy in Dialogue.

Charles LiMandri, Thomas More Society Special Counsel and partner at LiMandri & Jonna, LLP, reported, “Sanfilippo has unabashedly attacked Fr. Trenham in a multitude of reprehensible defamatory articles published on the website Orthodoxy in Dialogue, beginning in 2018.”

The lawsuit filed July 23, 2021, in United States District Court for the Central District of California, alleges that Sanfilippo has engaged in “conspiracy, intimidation, and coercion” in order to destroy the personal reputations of Trenham and those involved in ministry with him.

“We won’t allow internet trolls masquerading as media to destroy the character of a prominent religious leader because they are upset that a pastor upholds the teachings of the church,” declared LiMandri. “This outrageous behavior needs to stop, and we expect the court to rule in our clients’ favor.”

The complaint accuses Sanfilippo and three Orthodoxy in Dialogue colleagues of multiple instances of defamation, and includes claims of conspiracy, harassment, extortion, interference with prospective economic advantage, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Read the First Amended Complaint filed July 23, 2021, with the United States District Court for the Central District of California, in Father Josiah Trenham, et al. v. Peter J. Sanfilippo, et al. here [https://thomasmoresociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Complaint-Amend-07-23-21.pdf].

About the Thomas More Society

The Thomas More Society is a national not-for-profit law firm dedicated to restoring respect in law for life, family, and religious liberty. Headquartered in Chicago and with offices across the country, the Thomas More Society fosters support for these causes by providing high quality pro bono legal services from local trial courts all the way up to the United States Supreme Court. For more information, visit thomasmoresociety.org.

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7/28/2021

See also
Jihad Exposed in America Jihad Exposed in America
Fr. Josiah Trenham, Robert Spencer Jihad Exposed in America Jihad Exposed in America
Fr. Josiah Trenham, Robert Spencer
In this interview, Father Josiah Trenham sits down with Robert Spencer the Director of Jihad Watch and New York Times Bestselling author of fifteen books. Mr. Spencer is a key figure of the Counter-jihad movement in the United States. Gay Iconoclasm: Holding the Line against the Radical LGBT Agenda Gay Iconoclasm: Holding the Line against the Radical LGBT Agenda
Fr. Josiah Trenham Gay Iconoclasm: Holding the Line against the Radical LGBT Agenda Gay Iconoclasm: Holding the Line against the Radical LGBT Agenda
Fr. Josiah Trenham
Fr. Josiah Trenham, pastor of St. Andrew Orthodox Church in Riverside, CA, offered a talk at the World Congress of Families X on May 15th 2016, in Tbilisi Georgia with the blessing of His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II, in which he outlined the rise of the LGBT movement, and especially in his homestate of California, and how its beliefs, methods, and aspirations radically contradict the traditional wisdom of the world's philosophies and religions and seriously threatens the future of family and society. Saint John Chrysostom for the 21st Century Saint John Chrysostom for the 21st Century
Fr. Josiah Trenham Saint John Chrysostom for the 21st Century Saint John Chrysostom for the 21st Century
Fr. Josiah Trenham
The Supreme Importance of Churchmanship in an Age of Radical Individualism. Saint John taught that the κοινωνοία of the Church is a profound miracle. Whence is the origin of the Church? From where did our sacred community arise, brothers and sisters? It has no mere human foundation. The apostles did not simply gather together and come up with the idea of this organization, with certain goals, members, and dues. Not at all. The Church is the continuation of the miracle of the Nativity of Christ.
Comments
Athanasius Spine7/31/2021 9:44 pm
I would very much like to write Sanfilippo off as sincere, well-intentioned, but misguided. Unfortunately, there is just no possible way to dismiss his behavior as anything short of demonic and ideological possession. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood..." Fr. Josiah is a treasure to the Orthodox Church around the world, as he stands without compromise for the God-given Holy Apostolic Tradition. To our collective shame, sometimes he stands in the minority. Though he is bold in the face of persecution and does not fear personal loss or consequence, remaining unwilling to present the "Faith once for all delivered" in a watered-down or distortedly-PC package for broader consumption and man's approval, God has seen fit to elevate him and his ministry in scope and reach far beyond that which logic would suggest. Fr. Josiah takes a no-nonsense approach to helping people find salvation in Christ. THAT is his only motivation. As a former parishioner of his and a less-than-cooperative-and-enthusiastic target of his "tough love" during a most turbulent time in my life, all I can say is: AXIOS! AXIOS! AXIOS!
Fr Patrick B O'Grady7/30/2021 9:11 pm
May God in his great wisdom bring a timely end to this slander against Fr Josiah, in such a way that many seeking souls will find their way home in Christ’s holy Church!
Concetta Grener7/30/2021 7:04 pm
Orthodoxy in Dialogue has had a reputation for years, teaching AGAINST the teachings of Christ and His Church, promoting immorality (false teachings). We have been blessed by Father Josiah's videos and podcasts, teaching the Faith that was handed down to us by our Church fathers! May God protect Father Josiah and his dear family!
Alex7/30/2021 6:16 pm
It's so very unfortunate that all of the good priests have targets 'painted' onto their backs by the devil's servants. May our Lord God guide and protect Fr. Josiah down the road!
Centurion7/29/2021 9:49 pm
"Via multiple posts and articles full of hysteria, wild exaggerations, distortions, and innuendos Giacomo Sanfilippo (also known as Peter J. Sanfilippo), has been relentlessly defaming and attacking several Orthodox Christian priests, bishops, and seminary professors. Why? Because these men dare to publicly and fearlessly defend the Orthodox Church teaching on homosexual sin and warn the Church about many false teachers (like Sanfilippo) and deceitful venues that question, challenge, mock, deconstruct, contradict, and distort Church teaching, practices, and theology, especially regarding morality, human sexuality, and marriage. Since 2017 Sanfilippo has used his inappropriately named “Orthodoxy in Dialogue” website, his Facebook pages, and his Twitter accounts to maliciously condemn these good men and smear their reputations. Sanfilippo has launched an unholy personal vendetta against these priests and teachers and is fomenting rebellion inside the Holy Orthodox Church." – Fr. Ioannes Apiarius Giacomo Sanfilippo’s Unholy Vendetta Against Faithful Orthodox Priests and Teachers https://www.orthodoxytoday.org/blog/2020/02/giacomo-sanfilippos-unholy-vendetta-against-faithful-orthodox-priests-and-teachers/
Flavian-Calinic Stuparu7/29/2021 8:29 pm
Dear brothers in Christ and right followers of His teachings! Don't get fooled, these handful of people are paid by the devil to introduce this heresy to the Church. Open no door for them, or else they will cunningly make you fall hard in the end. The glorification of concupiscence and all its fruits is the most accursed heresy or our times and we must stay strong (hopefully, this cancer will be condemned by a future Ecumenical Synod!). Keep the fasts, pray incessantly (have a praying state all the time), stay away from all temptations, and run away from lust with all your powers. And to those of you who think you can be Orthodox and at the same time embracing this heresy, may advice for you is: shut your eyes in front of lustful images and open them for helping the elderly or the afflicted; see for instance how a disabled person is enduring pain instead of pleasuring himself with lustful glances and thoughts. Think of the martyrs who chose death in order to preserve their chastity. Think about St. Paul's words who begs us with all his heart: "Flee sexual immorality!" (1 Corinthians). There is no more time for frivolity, brother, don't get fooled, take the Cross, overcome pain with God's love and comfort that He pours greatly in time of affliction; understand God's will by praying and reading the Gospels, the Psalms, the Book of Job, the Epistles and the rest of the Scripture, the life of the Saints, the Church Fathers. Do not try to avoid pain with rotten pleasures, keep your soul luminous and ready for the Kingdom of God!
Flavian-Calinic Stuparu7/29/2021 7:30 pm
Dear brothers in Christ and right followers of His teachings! Don't get fooled, these handful of people are paid by the devil to introduce this heresy to the Church. Open no door for them, or else they will cunningly make you fall hard in the end. The glorification of concupiscence and all its fruits is the most accursed heresy or our times and we must stay strong (hopefully, this cancer will be condemned by a future Ecumenical Synod!). Keep the fasts, pray incessantly (have a praying state all the time), stay away from all temptations, and run from lust with all your powers. And to those of you who think you can be Orthodox and at the same time embracing this heresy, may advice for you is: shut your eyes in front of lustful images and open them for helping the elderly or the afflicted; see for instance how a disabled person is enduring pain instead of pleasuring himself with lustful glances and thoughts. Think of the martyrs who chose death in order to preserve their chastity. Think about St. Paul's who begs us with all his heart: Flee sexual immorality! There is no more time for frivolity, brother, don't get fooled, take the Cross, overcome pain with God's love and comfort that He pours greatly in time of affliction, not with rotten pleasures, keep your soul ready for the Kingdom of God!
Alexei7/29/2021 7:28 pm
Mariko, Turning the cheek is referring to what occurs to YOU personally. They are many instances where a saint will be accused of a sin and he will say, "Yes, I am a sinner". The answer is different when the attack's are on/against the Church and against the Father Son and the Holy Spirit. The saint will say "No", and defend the Church and not turn the other "cheek". You have to separate the personal and the Orthodox Church. That is a difference that we must remember. Admit that we are sinners and admit that we sin. But we will defend our Church and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Tom and Maureen Wolenski7/29/2021 6:15 pm
Father, Our prayers go out to you and yours. May our Lord give you and all of us strength. Tom and Maureen
Peter7/29/2021 4:23 pm
Good, hopefully Fr. Josiah knocks that’s sodomite Orthodoxy in Diologue back to the stone ages
Antiochene Son7/29/2021 2:17 pm
@Mariko Hishamunda: Peter Sanfilippo is an openly gay defrocked priest -- so he has no excuses where it comes to not knowing what the Church teaches -- with an axe to grind. Fr. Josiah has tried to peaceably entreat him to stop bearing false witness and slandering on numerous occasions (did you even read the complaint?). Fr. Josiah has gone above and beyond the Biblical instructions on reconciliation, to no avail. Now we have reached the point of "treat him as an unbeliever," and that means suing him in the civil courts that we are provided in our society for that purpose.
Tyxikos Gatpopoulos7/29/2021 9:08 am
I am an American born Orthodox priest living in Greece for 45 years I am horrified at what is happening all over the western world concerning the LGBT movement.Thank God for people who are not afraid to stand up for what is right
Pavel Holder7/29/2021 6:32 am
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on your servant Fr. Trenham. Fight for him in Your wisdom and will.
Mariko Hishamunda7/29/2021 1:31 am
Ah yes, turning that other cheek...
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