Will Egypt's Copts Get to Build More Churches?

AL Monitor ^ | 6/9/16 | Rania Rabeaa Elabd

[marshmallow]

The draft law on the construction of churches has renewed the crisis that has existed between the ruling regimes and the Copts in Egypt since the Ottoman era. Over the years, Egypt’s Christians have requested the state to promulgate a law governing the construction of houses of worship, regulating the building of mosques for Muslims and churches for Christians, in light of the challenges in obtaining permission to build new churches, despite the growing Christian population.

A law was issued on Oct. 17, 2001, governing only the construction of mosques, with no mention of the building of churches. In Egypt, a new church may only be built by virtue of a presidential decree, which is issued once a year or once every other year. The difficulties lie in the legislative structure of the state that does not have a mechanism for building churches. Hence, some Christians have turned — in secret — homes into churches.

Until the passing of the 2001 law, any citizen was allowed to build a mosque, even in his own home by the mere authorization of the Ministry of Religious Endowments.

For centuries, the Copts have had no legal reference regulating the construction of churches; the only legal instrument they can rely on is a presidential decision whose issuance is subject to a lengthy procedure.

During the reign of former President Hosni Mubarak, problems related to the construction of churches piled up in all provinces; licenses to build churches were not granted since the issuing authority feared a popular uproar by the Muslim community. In light of the state apparatus’ intransigence numerous Christian communities in Egypt were forced to build unlicensed churches or perform religious rituals in buildings allocated for theatrical and community activities and sports events.

In this regard, Minister of State for Legal....

[CondorFlight]

With all the aid we send to Egypt (allowing them to have subsidized food), we ought to be able to press for something more than “gay rights”.

How about allowing Christians to build churches? How about allowing them to repair the churches they have?

[cloudmountain]

I attended St. Joseph's Catholic Church for Christmas Mass one year. It was in Cairo, Egypt. The nice thing is that the Mass is celebrated EXACTLY the same way all over this planet...in the local vernacular.
But, since the Mass is the same, I was able to KNOW exactly what was going on ALL THE TIME. What a blessing.

One doesn't usually look for Christians in Arab countries.

I found that finding a CATHOLIC Church in New England was also difficult. There might be ONE in a town, with only ONE Sunday service only. I had forgotten that New England (Boston excepted) was essentially Protestant.

I learned to go to daily Mass in Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia. There was a daily 9:00 A.M. Mass there. My co-worker, a Catholic man from India, REALLY resented it. He never did say why, only that I should go ONLY to the Friday Mass service.
My SAUDI boss was the one that said to us, as we argued and my co-worker "told on me": GOD IS NUMBER ONE. THERE IS ALWAYS TIME FOR GOD. CloudMountain CAN GO TO PRAY WHENEVER SHE WANTS TO."
My Muslim Saudi boss was the one who got me going to DAILY Mass. God works in mysterious ways.

OFFICIALLY, men of the cloth are NOT permitted in that Muslim country but the Saudi government solved THAT dilemma. They called the priests, reverends and the one vicar "special teachers." PROBLEM SOLVED.

I still go to daily Mass after all those years.