Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Clergy is a magic word whose effect is sometimes stronger than law, especially in Upper Egypt, where they are the main and primary reference for the people. Accordingly, the State realizes the important role played by clergy in many issues, such as family planning. However, their role in issues related to national unity is the most important.

 

An example for this is the incident which took place in Kushh, 400 km (250 miles) south of Cairo. There clergy, particularly Archbishop Gabriel ‘Abd al-Masīh, priest of Archangel Michael Church, take this incident as a pretext for propaganda offensive to Muslims and designed to sow discord between Copts and Muslims there, thus shaking security and stability of the people.

 

The priest recounted the incidents which took place on April 2nd, 2006, where the police removed a large number of houses built on agricultural lands , saying it was “a campaign against the Christians."

 

This is not the first writing of Father Gabriel, he wrote a letter addressed to President Mubārak and is published on more than one site on the Internet entitled "it is time for blame," where he provocatively stressed on the absence of equality between Christians and Muslims in Egypt.

 

What is most surprising is that Father Gabriel is a member of the National Democratic Party.

 

The question is, why does Pope Shenouda reply to such writings with his usual wisdom in dealing with such situations?