Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

It became well known in the Coptic circles the opinions of Dr. Mīlād Hannā in which he said the Copts were all represented by the church, and the church is represented by the clergymen and the clergymen are represented by the pope.

To approach a solution to any of the Copts' problems has to go through the pope. This, in fact, has caused relief to all parties but this has also resulted in the house arrest of Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III when differences between the political leadership (Sādāt) and the church leadership (the pope) reached their zenith in September 1981.

The pope remained behind the fences of Wādī al-Natrūn Monastery until January 1985 and came out only upon new conditions.

It is high time now, particularly in the spirit of the January 25 revolution, to give the due consideration to the Egyptianness and citizenship of Egyptian Christians and to avoid bringing the church as an intermediary between them and the state.

The church will remain a spiritual institution that is worthy of all appreciation and respect as long as it is confined within its spiritual role. We all have to acknowledge together that Copts are citizens like any other citizens and they are in no way nationals or members of a community.

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