Scottish Catholic Observer

Pope Francis is leading calls for peace in Egypt, after attacks on Christians and churches increased last weekend and as the situation in the country becomes increasingly desperate.

Egypt is under a state of emergency as the military-backed interim leaders crack down on Islamists opposed to the army’s ousting of former President Mohammed Morsi.

Since last Tuesday, August 13, close to 900 people have reportedly been killed in Egypt and reports from within the country say that almost 80 churches, convents, Church-run schools, clinics and other centres have been attacked by Muslim Brotherhood supporters of former President Morsi, with some being burned to the ground.

The Coptic Christians rights group Maspero Youth Union this week estimated that more than 38 churches have been ‘completely’ devastated by fires, adding that many others have been looted or stormed.

On Sunday, the Holy Father went on to condemn all forms of violence, saying that the words of the Gospel do not authorise the use of force to spread the Faith.

“Just the opposite: the true strength of Christians is the power of truth and love, which means renouncing all forms of violence,” he said. “Faith and violence are incompatible! Instead, faith and fortitude go hand in hand. A Christian is not violent.”

The Pope’s call for peace in Egypt has been echoed by Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, who this week condemned the violence against Christians in the country and called for national reconciliation, justice and lasting peace through dialogue.

“The destruction of Christian churches is unacceptable,” Cardinal Sandri said. “The revival of the country must take place in respect of the human person, in the mutual respect of all religions, in respect for religious freedom.”

Since President Morsi was ousted in a military coup last month there have been many attacks on Christians and their places of worship, which increased as the Egyptian police and military clamped down on sit-in protests by Muslim Brotherhood supporters of the ousted president.

Among the most recent attacks by Islamists on Christian places of worship was the targeting of a Franciscan school in Beni Suef, a city 71 miles south of Cairo, Egypt’s capital.

Following the attack, three nuns who worked at the school were taken out in front of protestors and treated like ‘prisoners of war’ with two other women sexually assaulted trying to escape the crowd.

Islamists have also targeted Christian-owned businesses, painting a red ‘X’ on Muslim stores and a black ‘X’ on Christian stores to discern help which ones to attack.

On Tuesday, Mohammed Badie, the most senior leader in Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, was arrested in Cairo. Mr Badie, who was wanted over alleged incitement to violence and murder, has been temporarily replaced as ‘general guide’ by Mahmoud Ezzat, his deputy.

Despite the increasing death toll, the head of the Coptic Catholic Church has praised Egyptian police and military action against Muslim Brotherhood protestors.

Speaking to Aid to the Church in Need, Coptic Catholic Bishop Kyrillos William of Assiut called on Western governments to work with Egypt’s new regime in defeating extremists responsible for attacks on Christians and their places of worship, adding that, thus far, they have failed to realise the scale of the unprovoked attacks.

“The Western governments are speaking about human rights; yes, these groups have a right to demonstrate, but not with arms,” he said. “The Western governments do not see the reality of what is going on here.

“The [Muslim Brothers] think that the Christians were the cause of Morsi being ousted. But the Christians were not alone: there were 35 million who went on the streets against Morsi.

“Christians are being punished. We have been scapegoated.”

The escalated conflict in Egypt came after Pope Francis recently called for Christians and Muslims to foster mutual respect through the education of the young.

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—This story ran in full in the August 23 edition print of the SCO, available in parishes