www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Sincere apologies for Fr. Ambrose Mooney

Dear members,

I would just like to take this opportunity to tell you it was NOT Fr Ambrose Mooney at all who wrote the articles against one of our Bishops. He was only quoting them. I can assure you its NOT the point of view of the Coptic Church that only Copts are saved. Indeed there is a tape that shows a bishop condemning those who attack the Church sacraments - but he was referring to Protestants. How could he be referring to Catholics if the Catholics have the same sacraments as us?

I misunderstood his text in the previous thread and I understood (incorrectly) that he wrote them.

I hate to have accused someone openly, and then apologise privately. That's just awfully wrong.

So, given that I said that openly, allow me to apologise and correct this openly. My sincere apologies to you, Fr Ambrose!

Secondly, I think we do not know ANYTHING about his life to make any sort of accusations, which I also apologise for.

Thirdly, we are Miaphysites. So anyone calling me Monophysite is going to wind me up the wrong way. (Hint!)

I hope we can move onto sincere and full unity in the future. This war of words is pointless, fruitless and destructive.

God bless
Thanos

It is very decent of you to makes this apology, Thanos. Thank you and God bless you.

-oOo-
While I understand your unease over the Miaphysite vs. Monophysite terminology, and especially in view of your having successfully convinced the Roman Church that you in fact hold the same biophysite Christology as they do –yet this conversation has not occurred with the Orthodox and our Churches see you, as they have done for a millennium and a half, as Monophysites. Myself, being a very insignificant monk, should adhere to the teaching of my bishops.

However, we are aware that in the modern Coptic Church, this term now produces distress and so most of us will avoid it (using it only in appropriate historical contexts.)

Here is something from a Coptic Catholic bishop which seems to indicate the opposite...


Catholic Bishop in Egypt Notes Hopes for Strengthened Ties With Copts

http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/ca...s-hopes-for-strengthened-ties-with-copts

[Please note I am not expressing any opinion of mine. This is from a Catholic bishop from a reputable Catholic news agency.]

Its very decent of your to accept my apology. Maybe its my poor English, but it was a reading error on my part that caused this confusion.

No... i totally understand where you are coming from with the Monophysite thing. But can you see it from our point of view? We believe in TWO natures in the person of Christ, from the beginning. I am SURE that common sense will prevail and this will get ironed out.

We need a new council to address this issue - where we don't look at history, but we look at where we are today. If we live in the past, we'll never move forward (as humans or even Churches).

Its best for each Church to put behind the accusations that happened in the past and just start afresh with a Common Declaration of Christology.

Yes, it does cause us distress because:
a) We love the Greek & Russian Churches and wish to be seen as one with them
b) Being called monophysites makes us like Muslims who deny the Divine nature of Christ also. That's OK. We love our muslims brothers, but because we are persecuted by them (extremist groups) BECAUSE we believe Christ is Divine, then it hurts us knowing that our own Orthodox EO brothers do not accept us because of our faith that we are even being persecuted for holding.

Out of all the Churches in the world, it is the poor Copts who are paying a high price for believing in the bi-Nature of Christ (God in the Flesh!).

Again, my sincere apologies to you for any misunderstanding. I even ought to thank you for drawing the problems of my Church to me. I was definitely ignorant about these issues before I came here.

God bless Fr.

Well, as person who speaks Arabic, allow me to summarise what our Bishop said in the recording you posted:

* He said that Protestants accuse us of worshipping icons, idols (in the Eucharist etc). Catholics do not do this. Protestants accuse Catholics the same thing.

* Accepting the baptism of Catholics, for me, is clearly a step towards unity, NOT salvation. As i mentioned, we obviously do not accept Catholic marriages either - does it mean that a couple who marry in the Catholic Church are living in sin because they didn't get married in our Church? lol. .no. Never.

Anyway, I will be fair and say that perhaps this particular way of phrasing your opinion (c/f our Metropolitan) was lacking some charity. We are not to judge who is saved or who isn't. Having said that, our Church is currently suffering a lot due to the protestant / evangelical movement in our Church. Its not only a matter of taking Copts away from the orthodox faith.. its taking them from the Eucharist which is an essential part of our Spiritual life.

Its an essential element in the life for Catholics also, so I cannot say that his argument refers to catholics who are suffering the same as us with protestantism.

I just wish to say that the tape (the only proof I have of any of this) is referring to Protestants who attack our Church and lead others away from the Eucharist. That's what he was saying. I still feel no one has the right to judge who is saved and who is not saved. Period!