One never ceases to be astonished by the huge discrepancy between one assessment of the number of Copts in Egypt and another: the figures range from 5.7 percent of the overall population (and therefore a little less than 5 million people), according to the official census taken in 1996, to the 15 percent or even Read more
It is noteworthy how often the word citizen appears in contemporary Christian literature referring to or coming out of the Middle East. The lineamenta for the Synod of Bishops’ meeting in Rome in 2010 used the word several times. On June 23, 2011, the Holy Synod of Antioch (Greek Orthodox Patriarchate) called upon governments to Read more
On 15 October 1970, Anwar El Sadat succeeded Gamal Abdel Nasser as President of Egypt. Viewed as a mediocre man, Sadat’s true qualities were not realized by Nasser’s old guard until it was too late. Having crushed his internal opponents in May 1971, Sadat faced the overwhelming challenge of trying to find a way out Read more
Coptic Christians in the Upper Egyptian city of Minya are managing to restrain their anger despite a wave of devastating attacks on their churches and institutions by enraged Islamists, news reports said. Tensions are still running high more than two weeks after the attacks in the city some 250 kilometres (155 miles) south of Cairo Read more
Churches and other Christian properties around Egypt had already been looted, so when Catholics in Berba were tipped off that their southern village could be next, they acted fast. They and other Christian leaders got on their phones and called their Muslim friends, neighbors and colleagues who all had the same message: “They were told, Read more
Islamists in Egypt burned down a Christian school, paraded three nuns on the streets like “prisoners of war,” and sexually abused two women last week as supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi attacked at least 58 churches, Christian institutions, homes and shops. The Islamists called for the reinstatement of Morsi, who is from the Muslim Read more
It was in England that I heard for the first time of a football player being charged with bringing the game into disrepute. I was amused. From an outsider’s perspective the whole aim of rugby was to bring the game into disrepute. And the spectators seemed to relish its most disreputable features. I can now Read more
Pope Francis called for peace and stability in Egypt, saying he continues to pray for the country which has been witnessing violent encounters between security and Muslim Brotherhood loyalists. In a Sunday service, the pope condemned religious extremism, stressing that faith and violence do not conform with each other. “We continue to pray for peace Read more
Though most Christians in Egypt celebrated the overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi, a Coptic Catholic bishop says the country’s new constitution is worse than the old one. “The provisions that in the old constitution seemed bad in the eyes of Christians are highlighted in the new text,” said Kamal Fahim Awad (Boutros) Hanna of Minya. Read more
Unpunished attacks on Coptic Orthodox and Catholics led many Christians in Egypt to join the demonstrations that led to President Mohammed Morsi being ousted by the armed forces. “Most of the Christians do not want the president,” said Father Rafic Greiche, the spokesman for the Greek Melkite Catholic Church in Egypt. “We have to be Read more