 Cairo (AINA) -- Thousands of Christian Copts from all over Egypt
rallied on Wednesday within the grounds of St. Mark Cathedral in Cairo
during Pope Shenouda's weekly sermon, to protest a recent court ruling
ordering the Church to issue re-marriage permits for divorcees, a
ruling deemed inconsistent with the doctrine of the Coptic Orthodox
Church (AINA 5-30-2010).
The Coptic Church does not allow re-marriage except in very limited
circumstances of adultery (to the non-guilty partner only) and
conversion of one partner to another faith.
Approximately 10,000 demonstrators chanted their support for Pope
Shenouda and the Church's stance on rejecting the decision of the
Supreme Administrative Court, which the Copts view as unprecedented
interference in church affairs and contrary to religious beliefs. They
also chanted that all Copts in Egypt and abroad are behind the decision
of His Holiness, and "our personal affairs should only be regulated
only according to the teachings of the Bible, and it is not for the
judiciary to interfere in our religious affairs."
The demonstrators carried banners showing "O faithful leader, we are
with you" and "No provisions and no laws will make us violate the
teachings of the Bible."
The Cathedral was overcrowded with thousands of visitors, coming to
show support for Pope Shenouda, who was met with a standing ovation and
cheers of support for nearly 10 minutes, with chants such as "We love
you Pope Shenouda" and "Pope Shenouda, Protector of our Faith."
 Among
the visitors were clergy from all Christian denominations, Coptic human
rights organizations and renowned Muslim journalists and Coptic
personalities. The Pope's sermon spoke of Human Rights, and a person's
rights to freedom of worship, among others.
After the Pope's sermon ended, the protesters continued with their
chants joined by the clergy "we will not violate the teachings of the
Bible."
State Security forces surrounded the Cathedral, for fear that the demonstrators might go out to the streets.
During a press conference held on June 8, after an emergency meeting
of the Holy Synod, Pope Shenouda asked the court to reconsider its
decision, saying "the ruling must be reconsidered, otherwise this will
mean that the Copts are suffering and that they are religiously
oppressed" (AINA 6-9-2010).
The head of the Egyptian Church also said "The Coptic Church
respects the law, but does not accept rulings which are against the
Bible and against its religious freedom, which is guaranteed by the
Constitution." He went on to say "Marriage is a sacred bond for us, not
just a civil matter," adding that the Church "can never implement the
court's decision which is not acceptable to our conscience."
Renowned Coptic activist Wagih Yacoub, who was present in the
Cathedral rally, said that the the government failed to bring the
Church and the Copts "to their knees." He said the State has implicated
itself by issuing such a ruling again, since a similar ruling was
passed two years ago, and the judge knew in advance that the church
would never agree to violate the laws of the Gospel. "It was rejected
by the Pope before, so what is the wisdom of passing such a ruling
again?"
He believes that in the absence of a rapid intervention and the
abolition of this ruling, this might lead to a clash between Copts and
the State, with grave consequences, as the Copts will surely reject the
application of this provision which is contrary to the Gospel, and
therefore, the only solution is its abolition.
Yacoub said that the Court ruling is extremely provocative and means
that the government has "declared publicly" its persecution of the
Copts. "By forcing followers of a faith to violate the teachings of
their Scripture and what they believe in, if this is not persecution,"
he asked, "then what is?"
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