Patriarch denounces legal obstacles in Egypt that hamper the Church
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.- During a recent visit to the headquarters of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), His Beatitude Antonios Naguib, the Patriarch of the Coptic Catholic Church in Egypt, said that while that country’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion and of conscience the contradictory legal situation in Egypt is making life difficult for the Church.

During his visit, Patriarch Naguib said most Muslims in Egypt follow Islamic law, according to which a Muslim cannot convert to another religion without being punished or even put to death.

Another grave problem for the Church in Egypt, resulting from the unclear legal situation, is the difficulty in obtaining permission to build churches.  A 19th century law still in force makes it difficult for Christians to obtain premises for religious worship, he said.

While there are many voices calling for equality in the country, Patriarch Naguib said changes would depend on the “good will” of the particular individual holding office. 

In Egypt there are about 250,000 Coptic Catholics and 80 million Muslims. The Catholic Church is divided into seven dioceses and has a total of 11 bishops and 150 priests.

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Subscriber comments:
Published by: Charbel
Sydney, Australia 10/21/2007 05:18 AM EST
Christians all over the middle east face many challenges practicing their faith. Christians in Iraq are fleeing by their thousands, Christians in Egypt lack the legal rights to buy land for churches (same as in Turkey). Christians in Palestine are disappearing fast. The only christians in the middle east that still enjoy the right to practice their faith freely and have their rights embedded in their constitution is the lebanese. Even they are currently under immense pressure to preserve their identity. Their lands are being bought by others mainly with foreign money coming from the GULF with the intent of 'islamisaing' the land, and the christians have no one supporting them. I urge all christians of all denominations to help out as much as they can their brethren in the middle east as the christian numbers in the middle east are dwindling fast
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