Pope Shenouda urges Copts to stay calm, refrain from protests
Egypt, Local, 6/22/2001

Egyptian Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria, Patriarch of Saint Mark Diocese, urged Copts to stay calm and refrain from protests.

"There is no justification for dealing with the situation in an agitated way," said a statement by Pope Shenouda.

The Church sharply criticized the lengthy article - complete with photographs - published in Al Nabaa newspaper about alleged sexual misconduct by a Coptic cleric who had been excommunicated in 1996, saying it fanned sectarian discord.

Thousands of Coptic Christians demonstrated in Cairo on Sunday to protest against a story in the weekly al-Nabaa al-Watany. The tabloid accused a Coptic monk of obtaining sexual favours from women then blackmailing them.

Pope Shenouda's statement, read out in a church in Cairo by his official spokesman has called on Egypt's Coptic community to preserve the peace and stop rallies against the newspaper.

"The subject touches and hurts Christian morals, provokes sectarian discord and has caused violent reactions among Copts," said a separate statement from the Coptic Church, which was read out on state-run television on Monday.

Pope Shenouda was quoted as saying the state had taken swift measures to "calm the situation, guarantee social peace and preserve national unity."

Authorities withdrew the issue from news stands on Sunday after a court order saying the article's graphic descriptions and images violated social mores.

Egypt's parliament also condemned the article.

State security has detained the monk, accused of defaming religion, pending investigations, court sources said. The Church statement said he had been excommunicated in 1996.

Previous Stories:
  Parliament denounces Al-Naba'a newspaper's reports   (6/19/2001)
  Six policemen wounded in Copts demonstrations in Egypt   (6/19/2001)
  Giza Governorate's National Day   (4/5/2001)

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