CAIRO: Copts’ status in Egypt has greatly improved especially with regards to building churches and a recent increase in political participation, Pope Shenouda III said, noting however that he would like to see more improvements.
The Pope was speaking to journalist Lamis El-Hadidy on terrestrial state-TV.
He said while more Copts won seats in the recent Shoura Council (upper house of parliament) elections, he would like to see more Copts holding top official positions, increased political participation and more legislative representation.
He described the currently-discussed personal status law for non-Muslims as “a great step,” noting the role of the political leadership in it.
The pope had earlier rejected a court order obliging the church to issue a second marriage license to divorcees. The controversy that followed reopened the discussions of a unified personal status law for non-Muslims.
The Ministry of Justice is currently discussing the draft law with representatives of the different churches.
Differences over inclusion of adoption, which is not permitted under Islam, in the new law have marred the discussions. The Pope however said that the adoption clause would be dropped due to the objections of Muslims.
During the interview, the Pope reiterated his position on second marriages. Explaining that divorce is only allowed in the case of adultery, he said the adulterous spouse doesn’t get a permit, while the other does.
Shenouda explained that if a single person sins he or she is forgiven but when a married person sins he or she is not and thus not allowed to remarry. “If s/he didn’t take care of their first spouse how can s/he be entrusted with a second spouse?” he added.
