www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Reflection on Administrator's comment on Papal Audience thread

The really dynamic aspect of this Forum is that people who participate in it really do believe in what they believe to the point of getting emotional about things. That is why there are, from time to time, some "dust-ups" in which members may say things that are untoward or else downright un-Christian.

The now closed thread, Papal Audience, is an example of this. A cooler head may currently perceive that there was anger on both sides of a line that was drawn somewhere during the thread and things were said that shouldn't have been said.

Name-calling of any kind is always unacceptable, especially when dealing with hierarchs. At the same time, the debate itself should not be discouraged because of perceived offenses simply due to the fact that critical comments (understood as reasoned and civilized) are being made. Any comment, for example, about the UGCC or any debate ensuing from such should never, I believe, be taken by me or anyone as a direct attack on the UGCC.

The Administrator, who has always been a very erudite and fair person who reflects the best of Christian values, stepped into that thread with a number of good points. I've had an opportunity to reflect on them and want to share my thoughts here.

The proemial point of the Administrator is that we may always express our belief that someone, anyone, is "mistaken." We can then present evidence to support our belief and, all things being equal, a debate can be had with the usual back and forth that has always made this Forum the gem that it is.

Although the Administrator's comment was addressed to one participant in particular, it was really addressed to everyone participating in the debate, including myself.

I reacted, as I am wont to do, in an emotional way (my only defense is my mixed Slavic and Roumanian backgrounds - not a very good one at that). My reaction was based on my belief that the very debate itself was being prevented by the Global Moderator - and I was wrong. It was also based on my perception, made by another participant, that not only was the debate, as such, offensive to Orthodox Christians, it was symptomatic of a number of other debates/comments on the Forum that kept Orthodox Christians away from full participation in the Forum.

The grounds of those assumptions, whether correct or not, did not make for a good atmosphere and the Administrator was more than correct when he stepped in, as our First Among Equals, to lay down the laws of Christian discourse.

Come to think of it, the Administrator did not forbid at all any debate about any topic (he himself has, in recent days, introduced threads about similar debatable topics). So my earlier frustration and even indignation (would you believe) was simply wrong.

For this, I apologise to the Administrator, to the Global Moderator, to Alice and to Pavloosh whom I probably provoked by my comment to his earlier post (although I'm not sure if I did or wanted to do that).

I also apologise to our Orthodox Christian brothers and sisters here for having given offense or somehow created the impression that here are anti-Orthodox views at work and that they therefore need to guard against an attack on them simply because they express their views as Orthodox Christians with their own ecclesial and also political views.

Yes, I have my own biases and, as one brother-poster once said of me, "have my own agenda."

I'm UGCC and love my Church and the people who belong to it, all of them. I also love my own Orthodox people, whatever their jurisdiction. And yes, I do take a position in the current struggle in Ukraine. I'm not an American in the sense that cultural identity is something, as I perceive it, that is subsumed as an "ethnic identity." Citizenship and cultural identity are clean different things for me. That is where I'm coming from.

I've a great deal to learn still about internet discourse, as anyone can see.

Prayers for and love to you all from your sinful colleague!

Alex

For what it is worth, I have never viewed this as a site that is "anti Orthodox." Are there posts or posters that might be viewed as such? Perhaps, but most are simply pointing out criticisms or an apologetic critique rather than polemic. By the same token there are probably more posts critical of certain actions or practices within the Catholic community.

Unlike another Orthodox oriented forum some of us also follow, this forum has a smaller and, in my view a more focused readership and more activist moderation. The exception being that on that site rather freewheeling criticism of various actions/factions within Orthodoxy is permitted within certain limitations. Ironically all most all contentious discussions about the Ukrainian situation there are shuttled to their private boards where there is no civility and a place where I refuse to visit.

Anyway, I know that passions are running high and I hope that neither Alex nor Pavloosh stop participating here as their exiting would be a true loss to this forum.

What all faithful Christians in Russia and Ukraine need most from us in and outside of Europe are our fervent prayers and suplication for peace and wise and prudent leadership, something which is lacking on all sides.(That is not meant to impugn or malign all, for we know that there are good men and women in positions of spiritual and secular influence, but sadly not all are irenic or well intentioned.) As always in the affairs of men the innocent and powerless suffer the most.

May the Theotokas protect the faithful Christians of Ukraine and Russia as she did in the Church at Blachernae. As we know the Feast commemorating this intercession, the Pokrov, is revered by Ukrainian and Russian faithful - Orthodox and Greek Catholic alike.

From the Tropar of Pokrov, we pray, "Beholding your pure image we fervently cry to you: “Encompass us beneath the precious veil of your protection; deliver us from every form of evil by entreating Christ, your Son and our God that He may save our souls.”

And from the venerable and beloved Paraklis/Paraclesis to the Mother of God, let us pray the Kondak, the "Zastupnice":

"O gentle protectress of Christians, unfailing advocate before the Creator, do not despise the prayerful voice of sinners, but in your goodness, hasten to assist us who trustfully cry out to you: "Inspire us to prayer and hasten to hear our supplications. Intercede always, O Mother of God, in behalf of those who honor you."