Forum Name: Assyrian Forums - Religion
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#0, Apology From The Holy See
Posted by Mary C. on Oct-14-1999 at 01:43 PM

The English newspaper,The Daily Telegraph published one year ago an article that the Vatican was preparing a document which would have been very important since in it The Holy See was expected to offer an apology for several acts which occured especially during the Crusades. Some examples were mentioned such as the burning of the Domenican missionary Girolambo Savonarola in 1498,the Philosopher Giordano Bruno in 1600 and others.Also this important document was to strongly condemn the bad treatment which the Jews of Europe suffered during the War at the hands of(christians).This document is supposed to be prepared before the year 2000,and its importance must be taken into consideration especially because it's coming at the end of the twentieth century,thus,perhaps the Vatican is looking forward towards a new era. However,one can't help but to wonder whether the special committee of Church historians which was chosen by the Pope John Paul II,will take into consideration the suffering of thousands of believers of the Ancient"Assyrian"Church of The East.Those people who opened their hearts and homes for the missionaries from Europe and some of those missionaries instead of building bridges of peace and christian brotherly love,they came to interfere,split,and put divisions among the believers of the same church,turning it into several churches and sowing the seeds of hatred among its children rendering them into enemies instead of planting the seeds of love.Will the Vatican Church historians document these "missionary" travels as an act which merits an apology,and perhaps while they are busy apologizing for what happened during the Crusades,they can put down an apology for what happened in the name of christianity against their fellow christians of the East,not only in the Near East but as far as China and India. We have been suffering over many generations at the hands of many people near and far,perhaps an apology like this can in a way even if it is symbolic,give some peace to the souls of those who perished,and may be we can get some justice. The Assyrians do not have foreign international organizations or governments to support their plight but they have faith in The Lord,Almighty, who is the judge of all and history which is the witness to all,and the Assyrians will continue to depend on themselves and the support of those who believe in true justice,as they are entering the third millennium defending and preserving their existence and just cause.

#1, RE: Apology From The Holy See
Posted by Roe on Jun-27-2001 at 09:19 AM

In response to message #0

While the church of Rome is apologizing, They can apologize for the butchery of 50 plus million Christians who followed Christ and not the papicy. Rest assured the Roman Church is not done with it's heresy, even to this day.

#2, RE: Apology From The Holy See
Posted by BeitMaroun on Nov-30-2001 at 08:32 AM

In response to message #1

Roe:

I am a Catholic, Maronite-rite, and I feel what you are targeting is missing the mark. Like so many Protestants, you are assuming that everything "Catholic" is wrong, and in that YOU are wrong. I will say this, however: I am disappointed in the Pope for a number of things he's been doing, such as visiting mosques, and to be honest it is a slap in the face to many Christians, be they Protestant, Catholic, or Orthodox, that have suffered under that demonic religion. While thousands of Maronites, Chaldeans and other Eastern-rite Catholics are murdered and persecuted by Muslim fanatics, our own Holy Father worships in their mosques - what is wrong with this picture?? My point is this - it isn't Catholic beliefs that are wrong, but rather a lot of post-Vatican II policies that have done more harm than good in the Church. I mean, really, in just a little less than 70 years we've had a change in attitude from Pope Pius XI, who called Islam a "tool of Satan", to John Paul II now saying the Muslims are "brothers." So, my friends, do not target the Catholic Church as a whole for this please, for the HISTORIC Catholic Church would not have tolerated such nonsense, although what has been said about the missionaries wreaking havoc on the Eastern Christians is a valid point - before you Protestants say "Aha!" though, you're doing the same with your "cookie-cutter" Evangelicalism that is as dangerous to the Eastern Christians as Catholic missions were some time ago. It's a case of the proverbial "pot calling the kettle black" when you criticize Catholic missionaries for fragmenting the Christians and yet you are introducing crap like "christian" rock music and other garbage into those cultures in the name of "evangelism".