Coptic Orthodox Church Decides to "suspend the theological dialogue with the Catholic Church" after Implementation of Fiducia Supplicans
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On March 7, 2024, at 11 AM, the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church, led by H.H. Pope Tawadros II, and with the attendance of 110 of the current 133 members, held the General Meeting at the LOGOS Center of the Papal Residence in St. Bishoy’s Monastery – Wadi El-Natrun, Egypt.
The main committees of the Holy Synod held their annual meetings over three days starting Monday at the Papal Residence in St. Mark’s Cathedral in Abbasiyya – Cairo, to discuss the reports submitted to them by their subcommittees. They issued recommendations that were presented to the members of the synod in the March 7th general session for approval.
The Church declared its belief on the issue of homosexuality through a statement issued by the Holy Synod (mentioned below). In the statement, the Church emphasized its rejection of same-sex relations, supporting her belief with many biblical verses that clearly declare the rejection of such relationships that are contrary to the human nature that God has created.
In one of their declarations they wrote concerning Catholics:
Orthodox Church Statement: The Belief of the Coptic Orthodox Church on the Issue of Homosexuality:
God created man distinct and unique, as the Holy Bible says of the creation of man, “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness’” (Genesis 1:26), meaning that God desired man from the beginning to be in His image of holiness, righteousness, and freedom, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth’” (Genesis 1:27, 28).
This is the Church’s belief, that God created man in holiness, male and female, and joined them in the bond of holy matrimony because He is a holy God; “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24).
God’s call to man to live in holiness continued [as witnessed through the Holy Scriptures:] 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, Hebrews 12:14, and 1 Thessalonians 4:7.
God gave man free will for the purpose of living according to His holy will, and to live according to God’s divine design for marriage: a male uniting with a female.
Whoever suffers from homosexual tendencies and controls themselves from sexual behaviors, the control is credited to them as a struggle. These who are struggling are left with the warfares of thought, sight, and attractions, just like heterosexuals. As for someone who falls into homosexual behaviors, they are like the heterosexuals who fall into the sin of adultery/fornication, needing true repentance. Both need continuous spiritual and psychological follow-up. These follow-ups have proven effective with unwanted homosexual tendencies. As for those who choose to reconcile with their homosexual tendencies, letting go of themselves to homosexual acts, rejecting spiritual and psychological treatment, and choosing of their own free will to break God’s commandment, their condition becomes worse than the one who lives in [struggle against] adultery/fornication. Therefore, they must be warned and cut off from communion until they repent.
The Church believes that the Holy Bible, is the good word of truth for all ages, and the Bible in both Testaments condemns, warns, and forbids sexual practices between two people of the same sex. For example, Saint Paul says: “For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise, also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting” (Romans 1:26-28). For additional references, see: 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Leviticus 18:22, and Leviticus 20:13.
Accordingly, the Coptic Orthodox Church rejects what is called sexual perversion in its general and comprehensive understanding, and all types of sexual practices outside the sacred framework of marriage. It categorically rejects invoking the idea of different cultures to justify same-sex relations within what is called “absolute human freedom,” which causes the destruction of humanity. The Church, while affirming its complete belief in [personal] human rights and freedom, also affirms that the freedom of the created is not absolute to the point of transgressing and breaking the laws of the Creator.
The Church also affirms its adherence to its pastoral role in helping its children who suffer from homosexual tendencies, as well as not rejecting them, but to provide support and assistance to them in order to reach psychological and spiritual healing, placing its trust in its Christ, the Holy One, who is able to heal, change, and develop in ways more than what we ask or envision.
Thursday 7th March 2024 AD, 28th Meshir 1740 AM
In 2017, a government owned newspaper Al Ahram estimated the percentage of Copts at 10 to 15% and the membership claimed by the Coptic Orthodox Church is in the range of 20 to 25 million. There are also significant numbers in the diaspora outside Africa in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, France, and Germany. The exact number of Egyptian born Coptic Orthodox Christians in the diaspora is hard to determine and is roughly estimated to be close to 1 million.
Sources: https://copticorthodox.church/en/2024/03/07/general-session-of-the-holy-synod-2024-in-logos/
https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_ddf_doc_20231218_fiducia-supplicans_en.html
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