Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

The day before yesterday, the Commissioners Authority of the Council of State delivered its

report regarding the appeal by Pope Shenouda against the decree of the administrative court that obligated him to

give permission for remarriage to Copts who divorce.

In the report, the authority requested that the Supreme

Administrative Court issue a final decree to overturn the previous ruling, and asserted that only Pope Shenouda has

the exclusive right to give permission for remarriage, since marriage in the Coptic Orthodox church is a divine

right that requires the approval of the head of the church and some special rites by the presiding priest. The

church therefore should not be obligated to perform it.

The report also affirmed the right of the head of

the Coptic Orthodox Church to ensure that the marriage contract was made in accordance with the rites and doctrines

of the church, especially for cases that contradict the doctrines of the church related to marriage, remarriage or

divorce, which can only be approved in cases of adultery.

Finally, the report ruled that the previous ruling

of the administrative court was illegal and contradicted the rules of the church. It also added that such a decree

could affect the doctrines and rites of the church by forcing it to perform rites that disagreed with its faith.

This contradicted article 46 of the constitution, which guarantees freedom of belief for everyone.