Egypt’s Orthodox Church released a statement objecting to the “complexities and obstacles” in the governmental amendments to a long-awaited bill on church building in the country, privately-owned Al-Shorouk reported. “The church was surprised with unacceptable amendments and impractical additions; and it declares that they will impose a danger on Egyptian national unity,” reads the statement, released on Thursday, following a meeting between representatives of the Egyptian church and state officials to discuss the church building legislation. The statement also slams the amendments’ “failure to observe the citizenship rights or patriotism of Egyptian Copts.” In a phone-in with privately-owned television channel Al-Nahar, Ihab Ramzy, former MP and representative lawyer of the Orthodox Church, said that one of the main concerns is in regards to the first article of the bill, which identifies a church as a “building surrounded with walls.” According to Ramzy, this condition is “very difficult to fulfill in reality,” particularly in small villages. Ramzy points out that the definition of a church also does not include the existence of a cross or a bell, which he says raises fears of future complications if the erected churches have either … Continue reading ‘Church Building’ Bill Sparks Dispute Between Coptic Church and Egypt’s Government