Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Usāh Salāmah criticizes Bishop Bīshūy, secretary of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church and metropolitan of the Dumyāt. Salāmah quoted Bishop Bīshūy as saying: “The evidence on al-Barādi‘ī’s value is that Christian nations entrusted him in a delicate position. He is, in brief, a moderate Muslim.” Salāmah interprets Bishop Bīshūy’ statements as dividing the world to Christian nations and Muslim or non-Christian nations. Moreover, Salāmhah explains that Bishop Bīshūy’s statements are not trustful.

 

Saslāmah further comments on Bishop Bīshūy’s interview with al-Misrī al-Yawm, in which he stated that the Coptic Orthodox Church refuses that the Muslim president of the state assign the patriarch who is the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church. [Reviewer: See the interview implied in a press review published in AWR 2010, week 15, article15]. Bishop Bīshūy noted that the Coptic Orthodox Church refused the Emperor of Constantinople to appoint the Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church, let alone when it is a Muslim ruler.

 

Salāmah argued that Constantinople had no Emperor [Editor: nonsense. Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine Empire]  and that Bishop Bīshūy confused between the ruler of Constantinople and the Roman Emperor Constantine. He also wondered whether the church would accept the president appointing the Patriarch if he were Christian.

 

Salāmah believes that the danger lies in Bishop Bīshūy’s duality, because he claims that he is against sectarianism but when he suggests a “wise men council headed by the Azhar Grand Imām and the patriarch” he indirectly enforces sectarianism.

 

Salāmah concluded his article: In this interview, Bihsop Bīshūy reminded us of his previous statements about the other Christian denominations, and his severe attack against the followers of the Evangelical Church, whom he believes to be non-Christians. [Editor: I have never heard the bishop state that they are not Christian. It is also not possible the bishop would have said so since the Coptic Orthodox Church cooperated with different protestant Churches in the Middle East Council of Churches. It is, however, possible that the Bishop would have made a statement that the teaching of the Evangelical Church is mistaken or similar formulations. If he indeed stated that protestants are non-Christians then a reference is needed]. As if he insists on being a sectarian metropolitan with Muslims and Christians alike. Once again, why doesn’t this bishop keep silent?”

 

[Reviewer: In earlier declarations, Bishop Bīshūy was criticized as attacking other Christian denominations, considering them to be non-Christians.]