www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Episcopal Church selects openly lesbian bishop

Bob,

Thanks for offering this reminder. It's so tempting to want to bash those whose values are abhorrent to us, and we forget so easily that charity is the most exalted of all Christian values ...

That was not "snarky" or did you mean snide remark.
It was just stating a fact it was an observation that's all!
Stephanos I

Father Stephanos, with all due respect, this is not a statement of fact unless you yourself claim to be Christ the Judge. It is not an "observation" either. It is a mean-spirited comment--and that is as charitable as one can be in the face of this set of words strung together.

Consider this my warning as a moderator that this sort of comment is not tolerated on this forum. If you wish to make disparaging remarks about others, please take them to another internet venue. There are plenty of hate-filled fora out there. This is not one. If you wish to continue in this vein, please know that I will recommend to the administrators that your future posts go into full moderation before they are shown the light of public display.

BOB
Moderator

Let us not be so priggish as not to speak the truth when it is plainly before us. Father Stephanos has merely stated the obvious, and his comments are positively mild as compared to what Anglicans and Episcopalians are saying among themselves. Before condemning Father Stephanos, you should consider what words the Fathers of the Church would use to describe the behavior of the Episcopal church. There are times when I wonder whether the more forceful among them--Cyril of Alexandria, Jerome, Augustine and even Chrysostom--would be allowed to post on this forum. More than once I have been tempted to take one of their broadsides, convert it to modern English and post it as my own, just to see how many people take offense. There are times to remember that Jesus himself said He did not come to bring peace but a sword, and that He had some rather unpleasant things to say about those who did not agree with his own teachings.

OK Judge!
PS Who is going to monitor the moderators?
Stuart my sentiments exactly. I have noticed on more than one occasion this moderator's over reaction to post. Maybe we the people of this forum should as for another moderator.

There is a famous sermon of Jonathan Edwards titled "Sinners in the hands of an angry God". Anyone who thinks we are judgemental should try reading it - while comfortably seated.

Fr. Serge

Bless Father! I studied it in several of my classes while pursuing my degree in Theology. It is quite an interesting piece of work.

Dear Father:

With all respect that is due to you perhaps you need to step back and calmly look at your remarks. I can tell you that as an Ex Anglican<Church of Ireland> I found your remarks to be rather uncharitable. As Bob said, there are many in the Anglican Church who are in agony over what is happening. Snide remarks from you certainly will not help these people find there way and many who might consider switching to the Catholic Church will be put off by remarks such as you have made and they will find a new church home else where or no where.

I don't see why you think Bob is being bull headed when all he is asking for is that we all behave in a civil manner including myself, I tend to get a little out of line at times.

Respectfully:
Einar AKA Converted Viking

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

The problem with moderating is that depending on the way one reads the post of another, one can *assume* that the attitude is one way or the other. Because this is a medium of communication where we don't see each other, misunderstandings often occur.

The other problem is that what one moderator sees as uncharitable may seem okay to another...another common human condition: differing perception.

One thing that I have come to see through the many years I have been moderating here is the personalities of different posters. They are all unique, and through the years you get to 'feel' the soul of certain posters, so you overlook what others may find offensive because you know that person's soul and their unique personality. That is one thing I believe this medium allows more so than face to face communication; or atleast, or maybe perhaps because I am a woman, that is how I have come to feel about it.

Just some thoughts,
Alice

I monitor the moderators, but overall I prefer them to moderator with an excess of charity towards those who disagree with us. And I agree with the mods that some of the posts here are embarrassing to people calling themselves Christian. This thread is now closed.