Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

We should not blame the Coptic Church in Egypt when it expressed

concern over the conversion of many Copts to Islam, as its main task is to maintain the welfare

of its followers. Such a phenomenon requires further investigation away from the naive

explanations that imply some form of enticement behind the conversion of many Copts to

Islam.



Further study into this situation reveals that the real causes may lie in the

inability of some Copts to re-marry after they have been divorced by a court ruling.



It is

not a matter of hatred of Christianity or love of Islam but rather a series of misunderstanding

between Copts and their church. When Pope Shenouda III was inaugurated in 1971, he issued a

decree forbidding re-marriage of Copts divorced by court and for any reason other than adultery,

according to the Bible.



The question then is, why did five Popes before him agree to

second marriage and for reasons other than adultery?



Dr. Nabīl Louqā

Bibāwī said former Popes found it clear in the Bible that Christian men of the cloth

can study cases for divorce and accordingly grant a divorce for reasons that are not related to

adultery.