Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

In a symposium at the Yūnān Labīb Center for Historical Studies, Reverend Ikrām Lam‘ī, spokesman of the Evangelical Church, renewed his attack on the Coptic Orthodox Church with regard to the issue of re-marriage for Copts. He states that the Gospel does not mention that Jesus or his disciples performed the religious procedures of marriage. Lam‘ī resents state interference for the first time in history in limiting divorce to one reason, adultery. Nabil ‘Abd al-Fattāh, president of the Center, criticized the Orthodox Church’s regarding the issue in question and Dr. Samīr Tanāghū, professor of law at Alexandria University, defended the regulation of 1938, which Pope Shenouda rejects. Counselor Iskandar Jirjis, former assistant to the Justice Minister, supports the application of the two verdicts issued by the Supreme Administrative Court against the Pope, which force him to issue permission for re-marriages. On the other hand, Bishop Basantī of Helwan states that the Orthodox Church will never violate the Gospel teachings, and thanks the State for responding to the Church’s request.