Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Zākhir comments on one of Pope Shenouda’s TV interviews in which he referred to all Copts, except clergymen, as laymen and not merely the few who make up the laymen front. Zākhir agrees with the pope and confirms that they, the laymen fornt, do not represent all Copts. He points out that the laymen have stated that they are “a group of laymen” which aims to provide a vision through research and studies of church problems based on the Bible and church tradition. Zākhir mentions that the laymen have tried to open channels of communication with the church through the pope’s secretariat but their voices went unheard the pope. He also mentions the false accusation over the trend of attacking the Orthodox doctrine, and discusses the issue of the altar lot and how it does not have any reference in church history. Zākhir hopes in 2010 to witness a breakthrough in the relations between the laymen trend and the church.