Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Priest Ilyās Habīb from the Roman Orthodox Church, underlined that the protest against the decision of Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria to ban Copts from visiting Jerusalem was not the reason behind the withdrawal of the Coptic Church from the Middles East Churches Council.

 

"The real reason was the dispute on sacking Deacon Jirjis Sālih, the secretary general of the current Council, who had been nominated by the Coptic Church, for the many problems that plagued the Council during his term in office," Habīb said.

"During a meeting in Amman with the participation of Archbishop Bīshūy , the representative the Coptic Church, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, and His Beatitude Theopholis III, suggested on forcing Sālih to resign, asserting that his resignation will solve half of the Council's problems. They asked Bīshūy to nominate a replacement, but he rejected the suggestion, saying that Pope Shenouda was the one who appointed Sālih and he is the only one who can dismiss him.”

"We elected him and we have the right to hold him responsible for what he does," Theopholis responded.

 

"If you insis t on forcing him to resign, we will quit the Churches Council," the Archbishop said.

 

Pope Shenouda has reportedly rejected offers by other member churches to mediate a resolution for the dispute.

 

Sources close to the Coptic Church say that Shenouda is demanding an official apology from Theophilos before he restores the Church's membership in the Council.