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Y’all out here thinking that talking about the man’s actions makes the church look bad. His actions are of his own humanity and is not a reflection of the church, but the clergy and congregation’s inability to act or speak justly about it is the true reflection of our church.
The church has finally done something after many years. Were we waiting for more allegations? Were we waiting for him to disobey his defrocking? The second there is ONE allegation, he should have been isolated from the congregation and action should have been taken.
The fact that when sally spoke up, and it was already known that he had done such by the bishop, the idea that there was a miscommunication between the west and Egyptian diocese (when he was ordained a hegemon) is a problem in itself.
Too many people be out here defending priests on the sole base that he is a priest. PRIESTS ARE LIKE YOU AND ME. hell. THE POPE CONFESSES TOO! You think some sins can be impossible for clergymen? Most heresies in history came from bishops, many priests have been excommunicated
There is not a sin that a clergyman is immune to because they’re human. Yes, they represent Christ, but they’re not Christ. So they have the ability to commit any sin. ANY of them. Their weakness is the same as our weakness. Bring them down to earth and stop idolizing them.
I have witnessed first hand when sexual assault by a priest was treated as a false accusation by the council in Egypt, even though it destroyed the woman and hurt her family here in Canada. The priest still serves in that church. I guess the bishops are waiting for a —
—better allegation or more allegations in order to take any step. He was sent to Egypt for a few months, but he came right back. In my opinion, I don’t think it is simple for a woman in our culture to just randomly speak about assault as a vandetta and not as the honest truth.
When this man came back to serve, I would just stare at him giving the body of Christ and feel disgusted. He said my family and other families performed witchcraft (which I believe was a defence because we believed the woman and wanted Justice) which made him look hella guilty.
But we moved on. My family went to other churches. I became a practical atheist for a year and a bit afterwards because I just didn’t want anything to do with the church. Eventually I found my way back. Took me 4 years to trust a priest and confess. But this isn’t about me.
Point is, reading about Sally’s story has really hit my heart. And no it’s no reason to leave the church. But church politics gotta do better. Of course, it is difficult now that the church has expanded so widely around the world (God bless)
But who represented these women when the priest first went to Egypt? Why did it take almost 5 years for action to be taken? Why wasn’t his actions announced to ALL out of protection for the congregation? Of course there are factors I am unaware of and things I know nothing of.
This thread was written out of my own perspective, and I ask you don’t judge it as me writing a fact piece about the church. I pray that justice is brought and safety is accomplished across the entire Coptic Church. I pray we open our hearts and minds to victims.
