How has the Coptic Church kept itself pure from child abuse by its clergy? I have searched extensively for evidence of clergy abuse within the Coptic church and come up with nought. It gives me hope there is some purity that is real with priests bishops etc. I did however find plenty of infighting, egos & a ghastly event of a copt monk killing another monk. Overall the Coptic church is very clean imo. in that respect. Other Christian religions should take note of that... I will be gutted if find out I am mistaken... It will be the end of ever going near a church again. You read me... What is it that has retained and maintained purity in this area? I put it down to great oppression/suffering but there must be other answers. Ok nuff said.
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When you said , “ it will be the end of ever going near a church again”, were you being serious ? Do u base your commitment to your faith solely on human deeds? You should spiritually mature and base your faith in the teaching of Christ and the fathers of the church rather than seeing which Church has more scandals .... search for truth , not tabloid news and gossip and scandal
In response to your initial question, it is sufficient to say that the Coptic church has kept its purity through God's grace.
More Importantly, why would you ever oppose the will of God and attack the church which He gave us for our salvation?!
God bless
Looking for perfection from any organization or institution is a futile effort. I converted because of the basic decensey, love, patience and compassion of the man who married me and my wife.
I disagree with some of the church's ideals, ethnic differences and the thin line between culture and Orthodoxy that can be blurred. For the most part, the Coptic church is not that big into scandals. There are some; more recently with Monks being taken out of the social media world that you referenced, but nothing compared to the issues in the Roman Catholic church.
If you're looking to leave the Catholic church because of that you're looking in spite. Come to our church because of what is best about the people, where you feel you can grow spiritually, and finally, where you can build a foundation for a Christ-centered life. It's difficult to be Orthodox because it isn't sunshine and unicorns. Priests, Monks, Nuns, Bishops and even our Pope are human beings. With that comes some form of shortcomings, mistakes, sins and all that comes with the human experience.
Orthodoxy reveals the deep, dark side of humanity. It deals with anger, sadness, joy, pain, forgiveness and thankfulness in the most troubling of times. If you were to read and listen to the history of early Christianity, men and women who we venerate as Saints in the 21st century were by no means perfect.
To answer your question, having married Priests is a huge part of it. Cultural norms in Egyptian culture tend to not have men and women work closely together unless they're married, family or there is a big difference in age.
I am 36, and I would never pick up my Priest's daughter from the airport by myself because she's 35 and single. We are extremely close, too. I talk to her more than my own sister and it still would be inappropriate.
A Priest wouldn't be alone with a single woman unless it's someone helping him out when his wife is away, -- my wife cooks food for him, as do some other ladys in the church -- or is his family. My wife wouldn't stay at our Priest's home if his wife or kids aren't there. It's basic common sense and trust that has lead to less issues like in the Catholic church.
Finally, there is some sense of Priests being holy people, but there is also an understanding they are humans, men and are not perfect. That core belief is the major difference.
When I was young and in the Catholic church Priests were held to such a high standard no one would doubt them. They don't do that in the Coptic church.
Christianity is an Abrahamic religion. If you believe that religion is merely a, "Man-made concept" then why would you want to join any kind of organized church?
The clock you follow is man-made, the car you drive, the road you use, the language you speak, and the money you use only means something to us. Religion is a man-made concept because we're the only species on Earth who has the intelligence and self-awareness to feel complex emotions that led to the emergence of such beliefs. We didn't know how to understand and explain something, so we looked for answers.
I am glad you know so much information, and can go on and on with folks on here with tons of knowledge. But you're already looking at something with preconceived notions and a closed mind.
The world doesn't cater to you. Life, even in a general secular sense doesn't do what you what, when you want, and how you want. Get that through your head first, expand your knowledge a little more and look past yourself and your own issues.
You are complaining that there should be some clean slate of perfection from demanding it, but you aren't setting your own standards to such a level. You can't bash Christianity and talk so lightly about it while you are obviously trying to find some form of spirituality. Then you say how, "God is everywhere..."
The Coptic church isn't one hour of singing from Pastor Ron, and some donuts and coffee before each service. It's an organized and structured branch of Eastern Christianity, with a ton of obstaining from foods, prayer, long Liturgical rituals and most importantly it's not meant to be your take out snack when you want to eat it later. It's always a part of you.
The way you are already conceptualizing organized religion is not going to help you. If you don't like it, go join a leanient non-denominational church and be one of those, "Independent" Christians who believes a church is nothing but a building.
I am definitely going to listen to that though. I have an Ethiopian friend who is from Jamaica and she makes amazing ox tail and goat. She has pictures of Selassie in her restaurant.
Short
Caoineadh To Weep/Grieve/Lament Sung in sean nos (traditional Irish
style) Irish language/as Gaeilge. Bearla/English
Translation Verse 1 Is that the son nourished at Mary's breast "Alas
and woe to me" Or is that the son I carried three terms "Alas
and woe to me" Verse 2 Or is that the son born in the stable
"Alas and woe to me" My son my darling your nose and mouth
are cut "Alas and woe to me" Verse 3 Blunt nails were
driven through his feet and hands "Alas and woe to me" The
spear was put through his beautiful chest "Alas and woe to me”
Making fun of a Protestant Megachurch isn't exactly mocking other Christians. It's picking on the American consumer ideology of that particular brand of worship and the, "Prosperity Gospel" many of those churches teach.
But, now seeing that you are Irish and my oldest brother married an Irish woman, I can fully understand your vigor and temperament.
It's meant to be humor. It is not cultural stereotyping. Saying I am making sweeping statements by about skin color and race is absolutely ridiculous. You go on about the English and this and that, inferring your dislike for the actions of the past, yet I can't take a humble knock at you?
I have tried my best to give you basic advice, but as Pope Shenounda once said it's pointless to talk to people who can hear you but aren't listening.