Met. Joseph doesn't seem to mind praying with heretics.

[All4Christ]

I hate to say this, but since when did anyone's feelings matter?

Do you think estranging yourself from family is a good way to help show people a witness of our faith and, God willing, be an instrument for God to use in drawing them closer to the Faith He handed down to us?

ETA: In response to the suggestion below that I am violating the canons - it is not a violation, as I am following the interpretation and application of the canon from our bishop. I do not interpret the canons myself as a layperson; that’s not my role or place to do so.

 

[dzheremi]

Coming from someone who in the past 12 months has gone through two or three different religions and at least three churches, I'm sure you'll understand why I don't take your rebuke seriously.

I think you have me confused with someone else. I was received into the Coptic Orthodox Church by the hand of Fr. Marcus Mansour of the Southern United States Diocese under HG Bishop Youssef in 2012, and have never been anywhere else in the last 7 years, nor do I intend to be.

So I don't know who or what you are talking about, but it isn't about me.

In more general terms, if you are going to quote a post, then it is good to answer the content of the post rather than making up lies about the poster and deciding based on those lies not to address anything they say.

 

[ArmyMatt]

I know you tend to be a more conservative priest, and I'm glad for that. Patriarch Kirill of the MP seems to think it's totally ok, but of course I strongly disagree.

Metropolitan Kirill believes Orthodox Christians can pray before pan-Christian shrines in non-Orthodox churches - News » Metropolitan Kirill believes Orthodox Christians can pray before pan-Christian shrines in non-Orthodox churches » - OrthodoxEurope.org

what's your point?

 

[ArmyMatt]

Father said that we can attend a service like that out of love and / or for the sake of peace in family, etc. For example, when my nephew and niece were dedicated, it would have been an extreme personal injury to them if I did not attend.

I did not partake of communion or do anything along those lines. I was, however, respectful and thankful that my family cares about the raising of my niece and nephew in the Christian faith in the best way they understand it. After all, my family raising me in the Christian Faith was part of the process of my journey to where I am today.

I also personally committed (on my own, not through the service) to try to teach them and raise them to follow God and His teachings. After all, our Christian witness is borne out of love and compassion, not out of judgment of the persons involved.

sure, I have non-Orthodox family. and while I have never participated in what I was since my conversion, I do use those times to share Orthodoxy, and bluntly but lovingly try to share the Truth that I know which they don't know.

 

[ArmyMatt]

I hate to say this, but since when did anyone's feelings matter?

since St Paul.

 

[Lukaris]

I did not know that as a layperson I should read canon laws. Our clergy in the Antiochian Church in America have traditionally allowed us to attend services for relatives in other Christian Churches & we should know where the boundaries are if we are properly catechized. Are we to not attend weddings, funerals etc. for family & friends?

What about economy? If economy can be applied to matters like cremation: The attitude of the Orthodox Church towards the cremation of the dead. : Orthodox Canada
What about those of us in multiple faith societies? America is not a monolithic “Orthodox” nation; our circumstances are complex. Many do not even know of Orthodoxy.
Personally I am a convert & 1st generation post Orthodox diaspora also with Protestant ancestry. My older sister was actually baptized EO but we never knew till she was in her 40s.

 

[JasonV]

Do you think estranging yourself from family is a good way to help show people a witness of our faith and, God willing, be an instrument for God to use in drawing them closer to the Faith He handed down to us?

If violating the canons of the church is necessary to be an instrument for God, then it is not God's instrument you have become. What better witness to the truth, than to follow it?

 

[JasonV]

since St Paul.

St Paul expressing feelings is quite different than trying to discover the truth by them. If feelings determined truth, you should talk to the Mormons. That's their gig.

 

[JasonV]

what's your point?

That "Patriarch" Kirill and the entire MP are graceless heretics. But I'm sure you know that since ROCOR already said so at least two dozen times.

 

[tampasteve]

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