PopeWatch: Doubling Down

I am sure our resident historian and blogmeister will correct me if I err. 😉

The Coptic Orthodox Church is one of several Oriental Orthodox Churches which did not accept the Council of Chalcedon primarily over miaphysitism which is the Christological doctrine that holds Jesus, the “Incarnate Word, is fully divine and fully human, in one ‘nature’ (physis).” The Chalcedonian position of the Roman Catholic Church is that Jesus is one “person” (Greek: ὑπόστασις) in two “natures” (Greek: φύσεις), a divine nature and a human nature (dyophysitism). There are other differences throughout history, but I think that is the main one resulting in a split between Oriental (Coptic) Orthodox Churches and the Latin Church of the West. Coptic Orthodox tradition claims that the Coptic Church was established by St. Mark, the Biblical apostle and evangelist, who went to Egypt during the middle of the 1st century (c. AD 42). Throughout history members of this Church have been persecuted by fanatical Muslims that overran the Middle East and North Africa from AD 700 or thereabouts and onwards.

I don’t have a problem with Coptic Orthodox Liturgy. In fact, since the times of Pope Saint JP II and Pope B XVI, there has been an extensive dialogue between Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Roman Catholic Church. Please drill down at the two sublinks at the web page linked below for a vast volume of information:

Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches
http://www.christianunity.va/content/unitacristiani/en/dialoghi/sezione-orientale/chiese-ortodosse-orientali/commissione-mista-internazionale-per-il-dialogo-teologico-tra-la.html

What I do have a problem with is the utter hypocrisy of that heretical Marxist Penoist Caudillo from Latin America (oh the irony!) occopying the Seat of St. Peter. Why is it OK for Anglicans and Coptic Orthodox to celebrate their liturgies in Roman Catholic cathedrals and churches, and NOT Latin Traditionalists? I simply don’t understand that.

“LQC, thanks for the religion lesson and the great question at the end”
Yes, my thank you too.

Agree 100%, Frank.

Francis decrees that Catholics attached to the Traditional Latin Mass are not to be permitted a place in parish churches— parishes many of them have supported for years, even decades. No, those Catholics must find a gym, a hotel, a basement for their Masses.

But non-Catholics want to use the Lateran? Sure! After all, in Francis’ church, “All Are Welcome”. (Insert eye roll here).

I realize it is my duty— and it should be my pleasure— to pray for Francis. I’m ashamed to say I don’t find it easy. At all.

This doesn’t bother me as much as the Anglican celebration. Because of the unbroken chain of priesthood in Orthodox Church etc…But the fact that the Orthodox want to celebrate Mass in the Catholic Church led by the Pope who they deny as the successor of Peter is…well, I don’t have the words. I guess you could say it’s kinda amusing…?

The Coptic Orthodox don’t treat the Coptic Catholics (an even smaller minority) very well in Egypt, even though both are a minority in a Muslim country. That’s just the reality of the relationship between the two.

Just hypocrisy all round.