June 23, 2026

This Code of Conduct works alongside our Privacy and Data Usage Policy; by participating in the commenting community, you also acknowledge and accept the terms of that policy.

Public Orthodoxy and Fordham University assume no liability for user-generated content. Views expressed in comments are solely those of the commenters.

1. Purpose of Commenting

1.1 Comments are intended for substantive engagement with the ideas and arguments presented on Public Orthodoxy — to inform, clarify, question, or critique in a manner that serves the site’s wider mission. General social media debate and partisan campaigning are out of place here.

2. Respectful Engagement

2.1 Treat all contributors—authors, editors, and fellow commenters—with dignity, even when you deeply disagree with them.

2.2 Critique ideas, arguments, and claims — not persons. Avoid ad hominem attacks, insults, or any language that demeans a person’s intelligence, character, faith, ethnicity, nationality, gender, or ecclesial affiliation.

3. Theological Sensitivity

3.1 Recognize that Public Orthodoxy hosts a diversity of Orthodox voices, as well as perspectives from other Christian and non-Christian traditions.

3.2 Engage theological and ecclesial disagreements with seriousness and humility, avoiding polemical or triumphalist language.

3.3 Do not anathematize, declare others heretical, or speculate about anyone’s salvation in the comments.

4. Identity and Names

4.1 Participants are encouraged to use their real names. Academic or ecclesial titles may be included where relevant.

4.2 Pseudonymous participation is permitted on request. Applicants should briefly state the reason: personal safety, professional vulnerability, or pastoral sensitivity.

4.3 Decisions about pseudonymous participation rest with Public Orthodoxy’s editors; conditions or limits may be applied, and misuse of pseudonymity (for example, to harass, defame, or misrepresent) may result in loss of commenting privileges.

5. Prohibited Content

5.1 The following content is prohibited. Violations may result in warnings, removal of comments, suspension, or permanent termination of commenting privileges:

5.2 Hate speech, harassment, or incitement to violence, including targeting individuals or groups on the basis of religion, race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristics.

5.3 Defamatory statements, personal accusations, or unverified allegations against individuals or institutions.

5.4 Obscene, sexually explicit, or degrading content; graphic descriptions of violence; or demeaning language and slurs.

5.5 Spam, self-promotion, commercial advertising, fundraising appeals, or external campaigns unrelated to the specific article.

5.6 Content that encourages illegal activity or seeks to dox, expose, or otherwise endanger another person.

5.7 Copyrighted material posted without authorization, which will be removed upon proper DMCA notice.

6. Relevance and Quality

6.1 Keep comments on-topic and directly related to the article or issue at hand.

6.2 Avoid repetitive posting, flooding a thread, or derailing a conversation into unrelated topics.

6.3 Strive for clarity and substance: brief, thoughtful comments are preferable to long, unfocused or combative exchanges.

6.4 Comments that are substantially generated by artificial intelligence tools must be disclosed as such. Undisclosed AI-generated content is grounds for removal.

7. Tone and Language

7.1 Write in a tone suitable for a public, academic-adjacent forum: firm but not hostile, candid but not crude.

7.2 Avoid excessive use of ALL CAPS, repeated punctuation (for example, “!!!!”), and other formats that mimic shouting or harassment.

7.3 Comments may be in English or in other languages at Public Orthodoxy’s discretion (for example, Greek, Russian, or Ukrainian); however, English remains the primary language of moderation and editorial review.

8. Privacy and Data

8.1 Do not post private or identifying information about others (such as personal contact details, addresses, or private correspondence) without explicit permission.

8.2 Public Orthodoxy collects minimal personal data necessary for platform operation, stored securely and used solely for moderation, security, and communication purposes as detailed in our Privacy Policy.

8.3 By participating in the commenting community, you consent to the storage, processing, and, where necessary, review of your comments and related account information for moderation and security purposes.

8.4 Comment data is retained for the duration of your account plus three years. Users may request deletion of their personal data in accordance with applicable privacy laws (GDPR for EU residents, CCPA for California residents). Such requests should be directed to nawood@fordham.edu.

9. Moderation and Discretion

9.1 Public Orthodoxy reserves the right to moderate all comments, including editing for length or clarity, delaying publication, or declining to publish a comment.

9.2 Moderators and editors may remove any comment that, in their judgment, violates this Code of Conduct or undermines the aims of the commenting community.

9.3 Repeated violations (two within a 12-month period) or serious violations may result in suspension of your commenting privileges for three months; a notification of such suspension will be sent to your registered email.

9.4 Serious violations include but are not limited to: direct threats, doxxing, hate speech, or systematic harassment. Such violations may result in immediate permanent revocation of commenting privileges.

9.5 Moderation decisions are not subject to public debate in the comment threads; limited inquiries may be directed through the site’s contact channels.

9.6 Users who believe moderation action was taken in error may submit one appeal within 7 days to nawood@fordham.edu. Commenting access remains suspended for the duration of the review.

10. Access Duration and Renewal

10.1 Access to the commenting system requires an annual subscription fee of $8.00 USD and is granted for a period of one year from the date of approval.

10.2 At the end of this period, participants who wish to continue commenting must renew their subscription, following whatever procedures Public Orthodoxy specifies at that time (including re-confirming agreement with this Code of Conduct and current policies).

10.3 Contributors who have published essays on Public Orthodoxy and/or participated in events organized by the Orthodox Christian Studies Center (OCSC) will be granted complimentary, automatic access to the commenting system, subject to this Code of Conduct.

10.4 Public Orthodoxy reserves the right not to renew access in cases of repeated or serious violations of this Code or other site policies.

11. Conflicts of Interest

11.1 If you have a direct professional, financial, or institutional connection to the subject of an article, disclose that connection when it is relevant to your comment.

11.2 Authors, editors, and institutional representatives should take particular care to avoid using the commenting platform for undisclosed promotion or advocacy of their own work or organizations.

12. Use of the Platform

12.1 Do not attempt to disrupt or interfere with the technical operation of the commenting system (for example, by using bots, automated posting scripts, or malicious code).

12.2 Each participant should use a single account, unless otherwise authorized by the site administrators for specific professional or editorial purposes.

12.3 Report technical issues or apparent abuse through the designated contact forms or email channels, rather than attempting to police other users directly in the thread.

13. Revisions to This Code

13.1 Public Orthodoxy may revise or update this Code of Conduct from time to time to reflect evolving community needs, legal requirements, or technical changes.

13.2 Continued use of the commenting platform after such updates constitutes acceptance of the revised Code; significant changes will be communicated through notices on the website or within the commenting interface where feasible.

14. Indemnification

14.1 Users agree to indemnify and hold harmless Public Orthodoxy, Fordham University, and their affiliates, officers, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising from their comments or violation of this Code of Conduct.

15. Acceptance and Enforcement

15.1 By enrolling in the Public Orthodoxy commenting system, you affirm that you have read and understood this Code of Conduct and agree to abide by it. Violation may result in removal of comments or loss of commenting privileges, including permanent termination of access.

15.2 This agreement constitutes the entire understanding between users and Public Orthodoxy regarding commenting privileges.

15.3 Any disputes arising from use of this platform shall be governed by New York State law and resolved in courts of competent jurisdiction in New York County.

15.4 If any provision of this Code is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.