CAIRO: Head of the Egyptian Union for Human Rights Organization Naguib Gobrael filed a lawsuit at the Administrative Court against the Ministry of Interior’s decision to grant dissident bishop Maximus I a new national ID card affiliating him with the American National Council of Churches.
The ministry’s civil affairs department issued the priest, whose real name is Max Michel, a national ID card under the name Maximus Hanna when his previous card was withdrawn after a court ruling canceling his religious affiliation.
Gobrael deemed the ministry’s decision unconstitutional because Maximus’ alternative church had not been acknowledged by a presidential decree.
“The ministry’s decision bypassed the President’s [Mubarak] authority since the law stipulates that a presidential decree has to acknowledge any new Christian sect first, he said, “there are currently 17 Christian sects in Egypt, all of which have been approved by a presidential decree.
Gobrael explained that the main risk lies in allowing Maximus to illegally assume the role of head of an alternative church, adding that he might adopt invalid methods to marry and divorce the church’s followers.
“Who will recognize the marriage license that Maximus officiated? Who will recognize the children that will be a product of that marriage? he asked.
On his part, Maximus told Daily News Egypt that he will be known as Archbishop Maximus Hanna as stated on his new ID card.
“Our churches in Egypt will be patriarchates belonging to the Holy Synod in the US, he said.
“Marriage and baptism certificates will be issued by the Holy Synod and will be documented under the foreign ministries in Egypt and the US, he explained, adding that by next year, he will open the first two churches to serve his church’s followers.
