Cisa News REPORT
CAIRO, March 20, 2012 (CISA) -Christians need to have equal rights in the new Egypt, according to the acting leader of Coptic Catholics, who refuses to be downbeat as the impact of Islamist success in recent elections sinks in.
CAIRO, March 20, 2012 (CISA) -Christians need to have equal rights in the new Egypt, according to the acting leader of Coptic Catholics, who refuses to be downbeat as the impact of Islamist success in recent elections sinks in.
Bishop Kyrillos William Samaan of Assiut, who is representing Cairo-based Patriarch Cardinal Antonios Naguib who is now gravely ill, said Christians of different Churches were setting up formal ecumenical structures to safeguard the place of the faithful in Egyptian society.
In an interview with Aid to the Church in Need, Bishop William recognised the threat to the Church posed by extremist groups and confirmed reports that many Christians were leaving Egypt. But he added: “The Christians are not afraid. They take to the streets and demand their rights. We have a mission even though we are few in number.”
The bishop, who has been standing in for Patriarch Naguib for the past month, went on to describe the role of Christians in helping to prepare Egypt’s new constitution as “indispensible”. He said: “The new constitution should be for all Egyptians, not just for one group.”
Church sources have confirmed that representatives of four Christian denominations are involved in the constitution commission.
Bishop William said the Church was hopeful in spite of the success of Islamist parties in parliamentary elections – in January and November – making specific reference to the Muslim Brotherhood, which was banned under the former regime of Hosni Mubarak. He said: “We have no problems with the victory of the Muslim Brotherhood in recent elections.”
The Muslim Brothers polled 37.5 percent in the elections for the lower house of the Egyptian Parliament but fell short of achieving 50 percent of the total seats available.
The ultra-Islamist Al Nour party of the Salafists achieved a shock 27.7 percent in the elections and commentators have said that this party is likely to gain influence as Muslim Brothers look to shore up support.
Bishop William underlined that many members of the Muslim Brotherhood were more moderate than the Salafis, whose Al Nour party has stated that Islamic Shari’a law should be integrated into Egypt’s new constitution, raising questions about the future rights of minorities, including Christians.
Bishop William asserted the importance of Christians in a country where the faithful are up to 15 percent of the total population – but admitted that many are leaving, mostly for economic reasons.
He said: “Christians are not strangers in this country. Many Muslims recognize that there were Christians in this country before Islam.”
The bishop highlighted increased ecumenical cooperation since the political upheavals began 15 months ago.
He said a council of all Churches was being set up, with meetings for clergy of different denominations, youth, women and other Christian groups – all intended to encourage solidarity and mutual support.
SOURCE : CISA
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