Father ‘Abd al-Masīh Basīt,
priest of the Virgin Mary Church in Musturud and teacher of apologetics in Coptic institutions, is a
knowledgeable and respectful man. In this interview, he reveals his views which are in line with the
church.
Q: Some people believe you represent the undeclared opinion of the church, do you?
A: I am in charge of teaching some subjects in different Coptic institutions and one of them is the
apologetics. It is the duty of my position to respond to any new ideas or heresies.
Q: Regarding second
marriage, is the church content with the amendment of regulation 38 for Copts?
A: Actually, the media
deals with the issue of divorce in an improper way. Simply, there are marriage annulments and divorce and each
one has its own specific rules. Each annulment or divorce case brought before the Clerical Council has its own
procedures. I confirm that 99 percent of cases are solved by the council. Regarding regulation 38, it is a
temporary status and we are awaiting the issuance of a unified personal status law for all Christian
denominations which will solve many problems.
Q: What do you think about the idea of a uniform law for
both Christians and Muslims?
A: I think it won’t be absolutely uniform. It will consider both
Sharī‘ah and the Gospel.
Q: How does the church regard the organ transplant law?
A: The church does not reject this law.
Q: Do you accept organ transplants from a Christian
to a Muslim? Would you agree to give your organs to a Muslim after you die?
A: Certainly. It is better
to give your organs to someone else rather than let them decay in dust.
Q: Jehovah’s Witnesses reject
the idea, don’t they?
A: Yes, they do just as they reject many other things like blood
transfusion.
Q: But they are a Christian denomination.
A: Not true. The church refuses to
call them Christians because they are schismatic and heterodox.
Q: What do you think of Christian-
Christian dialogue?
A: Thanks to the efforts of Pope Shenouda, these days are the days of Christian
dialogue and I assure you that all meetings with other denominations are very friendly.
Q: Recently
there has been a crisis because of Pope Shenouda’s decree which forbids people from praying in other
churches.
A: Although he has forbidden such prayers, he has not anathematized that because it is
better for one to adhere to his church so as not to be confused.
العربية