The
secular forces of the enemy are becoming
bolder and more aggressive in assaulting
the Christian Churches. But here is the
Orthodox Coptic Pope standing up against
the injustice of secular liberal government.
He has drawn a line in the sand. He will
rather suffer the consequences than be
unfaithful to Christ.
Liberal, pro-choice governments will
continue to persecute and oppress God's
people who stand for marriage, family
and life. There will be fines, arrests,
imprisonment, confiscation of property.
But the Church has always stood stronger
whenever she is persecuted. The blood
of the martyrs are what strengthen the
Church. And while Christians are not
today being fed to the lions, they nevertheless
face great losses and pains. This is
a great time for martyrdom, to be true
witnesses to our faith.
Egyptian
Coptic Pope Shenouda III Fined For Stand
Against Divorce
By
Thaddeus M. Baklinski
CAIRO,
September 27, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com)
- The Egyptian Supreme Administrative
Court has issued a decision requiring
Orthodox Coptic Pope Shenouda III to
pay damages of approximately 19,500
Egyptian pounds to church member Magdi
William who sued the Coptic Church over
its refusal to issue a certificate to
re-marry after he divorced his wife.
In
May, the Supreme Administrative Court
ruled in favor of another litigant seeking
re-marriage, Hani Wasfi Naguib, stating
that under Egyptian law the Coptic Orthodox
Church must allow its members to divorce
and remarry.
However,
after an appeal of that decision by
the Coptic Church, the Supreme Constitutional
Court overturned the ruling by the Supreme
Administrative Court, stating that marital
matters are under the sole jurisdiction
of the church because civil marriage
without a religious ceremony is not
recognized in Egypt.
The
Orthodox Coptic Church forbids divorce
and re-marriage except in cases of proven
adultery or religious conversion of
a spouse.
In
the current case, Pope Shenouda lost
an appeal to overturn the court verdict
in favor of William, despite the Constitutional
Court ruling.
According
to Al-Masry
Al-Youm news service,
the Coptic pope has refused to pay the
fine, and instead said he would defrock
any priest who allows a divorced Christian
to remarry, except under the allowed
conditions.
See previous LSN coverage:
Egyptian
Court Orders Coptic Orthodox Church
To Allow Divorce and Remarriage
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/jun/10060102.html
"For
to me to live is Christ, and to die
is gain." (Phil 1:21)