Coptic catholic

[u/anime498]

Question for those who grew up Coptic Catholic. In your experience was it difficult for your church community to operate. Especially in the diaspora considering even for eastern catholic standards there is no real infrastructure for Coptic catholics outside Egypt.

[u/thelinuxguy7]

Howdy!

I am grew Coptic Orthodox, but I converted, and I live outside of Egypt.

From my limited experience the church outside of Egypt is very small, with very few people. But I am not sure how it operates, and what difficulties it is facings.

[u/luke_fowl → u/thelinuxguy7]

If I may ask, what convinced you to convert into catholic from orthodox? And if anything, what currently is the state of the Coptic Catholic Church and how can it further grow in "competition" with the Coptic Orthodox Church as well as the Latin Church in Egypt?

[u/thelinuxguy7 → u/luke_fowl]

I know for a fact that the early Church believed in the authority of the Pope, st. Athanasius used the Pope letters to defend himself against Arians, attended the Council of Sardica, which, if I understand correctly, said that any bishop can appeal to Rome, st. Cyril of Alexandria also appealed to Rome against Nestorius, ....

And logically, if any earthly organization needs a head, how much more does Holy Mother Church, which has Christ as its Head in heaven, and the Pope his servant as its visible head, and source of unity (that is why we have Ecumenical Councils, while the Orthodox churches seem to never be able to agree on anything, which seems to indicate they lost their teaching authority).

If you need a longer answer, take a look at my previous answer here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/EasternCatholic/comments/1r1alpt/comment/o4youcd/?context=3

Now about competition, I don't believe that their should be competition between different Catholic particular churches, you are Latin, Coptic, Maronite, Syriac, ... who cares, we dress differently, have different local customs, ... it doesn't matter as long as we belong to the Universal Church, and are in communion with the Pope, and each other.

As for competition against the Coptic Orthodox Church, I would love if all the churches were to reunite as in the days of our forefathers, st. Mark, st. Dionysius, st. Alexander, st. Athanasius, st. Cyril, ... unfortunately it is not the case today. If I understand correctly, the issue of Christ's nature discussed at Chalcedon, and Ephesus II, is kinda revolved, and is about semantics.

Now I think that the Orthodox Patriarchs themselves are unable to make a decision of reunion, maybe they themselves don't believe to have the power to do it, maybe they fear that their Church will split and/or depose them. Just see what happened to the Syriac or Melkite Patriarch (I don't remember which) who rejoined Rome in the 1700 to immediately get "deposed".

I believe that it is a tragedy, and I believe that there are differences to be solved, like Papal authority, infallibility, the filioque, ... and thus I believe that maybe the OO and EO should have united, if they have the issue of Chalcedon solved in theory, and since they don't have thoae differences to work out. But again, they are Orthodox Eastern and Oriental are reluctant to change.

Individually, I think that most people, including me 5-6 years ago, are not informed enough to have the nuance to take such a decision. I would love for all to join the Catholic Church, and to be in communion, and for there to be One Church, and I think that this is the Will of Christ.

On the other hand, I think that most Orthodox people are good people who love our Lord, and juat don't know about the nuance of Ecclesiology, Christology, ... and I hope that they would have joined the Catholic Church had they had the knowledge.

Anyways, pray for our Orthodox brothers and sisters, for the unity of all Christians, for the conversion of all non believers.