Synod Interview with Relator General, Patriarch Naguib. Sottopancia: His Beatitude Antonios Naguib, Relator General of Synod on the Middle East The Synod of Bishops is well under way, and the Synod …More
Synod Interview with Relator General, Patriarch Naguib.
Sottopancia: His Beatitude Antonios Naguib, Relator General of Synod on the Middle East
The Synod of Bishops is well under way, and the Synod Fathers are discussing matters transparently, in the hope of finding the necessary solutions to support the Christians of the Middle East and of creating communion. Political and social issues are impossible to avoid in the discussions because they, of course, have their effect on religious matters. In this interview with Patriarch Antonios Naguib, General Relator of the Synod of Bishops in the Middle East, and Catholic Coptic Patriarch of Alexandria, we discussed some of the topics raised in the Special Assembly.
There are political divisions in the Arab world that cast a shadow on the clergy, and in some countries, even some of the clergy align themselves with political parties, which leads to divisions within the clergy themselves. Will the Synod address this topic? And what are the solutions?
Patriarch Naguib: “The Synod has dealt with this issue over the last few days, and some of the Synod Fathers spoke of the danger of affiliations and the risk of taking political positions instead of strengthening pastoral and religious work according to the Church’s social teaching. It is very good that the Fathers work on drawing attention to the need to unify Christians in our countries where they can exercise political action and possess political weight; the need to work together to build a society based on human rights, democracy, and mutual respect and not on political choices. We've already spoken about it in these days but I think others will raise this matter again.”
What about the situation of Christians in Egypt? Politicians speak of religious freedom and freedom of belief, but it seems to be a freedom on paper only, remaining in the world of theory. In reality, what is the situation like on the ground?“In Egypt, whether for the Catholics or other Christians, we are all in the same situation. Without doubt, the Constitution affirms our freedom and equality; the first point of the Constitution states that citizenship is the basis of belonging. The practical application for citizenship and for the confirmation of religious freedom, which is also contained in the other clauses of the Constitution, is first of all the total freedom for churches and religious institutions to exercise their religious life, so one cannot complain at all about these issues. Without doubt, there are some difficulties, for example in relation to the building of churches in the new cities and rebuilding old or ruined churches, but it must be said that in fact there is no legal prevention nor prohibition, but rather there are procedures that take some time but usually end with a good result. Here, I want to emphasize the importance of dealing directly with civil, politic and security officials, and avoiding the provocation of going through the media, which does more harm than it does good.”
How did the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East perceive the news that Israel is demanding to be described as a Jewish state and thus turn a democracy into a theocracy?
“I am not up to date with this story because I arrived here only a few days ago, and when I heard about it in the Synod hall during the press conference my comment was very clear and direct: I cannot understand such a decision. A country that announces that, within the Middle East and in the Arab and Muslim world, it is the only liberal democracy and civil country, and then makes such a decision and wants to impose swearing fidelity to the Jewish state upon its citizens... where is the logic? I see a conflict here between the announcement of a particular identity on one hand and on the other hand, making decisions and enacting laws against the principle enunciated as an identity of this State. This is my personal opinion. Some Italian newspapers announced yesterday that the Synod condemns the State of Israel; we do not condemn the state of Israel. This is my personal opinion and there may be others with different opinions but I personally think that this is not logical nor consistent. And again, this is my personal opinion.”
Sottopancia: His Beatitude Antonios Naguib, Relator General of Synod on the Middle East
The Synod of Bishops is well under way, and the Synod Fathers are discussing matters transparently, in the hope of finding the necessary solutions to support the Christians of the Middle East and of creating communion. Political and social issues are impossible to avoid in the discussions because they, of course, have their effect on religious matters. In this interview with Patriarch Antonios Naguib, General Relator of the Synod of Bishops in the Middle East, and Catholic Coptic Patriarch of Alexandria, we discussed some of the topics raised in the Special Assembly.
There are political divisions in the Arab world that cast a shadow on the clergy, and in some countries, even some of the clergy align themselves with political parties, which leads to divisions within the clergy themselves. Will the Synod address this topic? And what are the solutions?
Patriarch Naguib: “The Synod has dealt with this issue over the last few days, and some of the Synod Fathers spoke of the danger of affiliations and the risk of taking political positions instead of strengthening pastoral and religious work according to the Church’s social teaching. It is very good that the Fathers work on drawing attention to the need to unify Christians in our countries where they can exercise political action and possess political weight; the need to work together to build a society based on human rights, democracy, and mutual respect and not on political choices. We've already spoken about it in these days but I think others will raise this matter again.”
What about the situation of Christians in Egypt? Politicians speak of religious freedom and freedom of belief, but it seems to be a freedom on paper only, remaining in the world of theory. In reality, what is the situation like on the ground?“In Egypt, whether for the Catholics or other Christians, we are all in the same situation. Without doubt, the Constitution affirms our freedom and equality; the first point of the Constitution states that citizenship is the basis of belonging. The practical application for citizenship and for the confirmation of religious freedom, which is also contained in the other clauses of the Constitution, is first of all the total freedom for churches and religious institutions to exercise their religious life, so one cannot complain at all about these issues. Without doubt, there are some difficulties, for example in relation to the building of churches in the new cities and rebuilding old or ruined churches, but it must be said that in fact there is no legal prevention nor prohibition, but rather there are procedures that take some time but usually end with a good result. Here, I want to emphasize the importance of dealing directly with civil, politic and security officials, and avoiding the provocation of going through the media, which does more harm than it does good.”
How did the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East perceive the news that Israel is demanding to be described as a Jewish state and thus turn a democracy into a theocracy?
“I am not up to date with this story because I arrived here only a few days ago, and when I heard about it in the Synod hall during the press conference my comment was very clear and direct: I cannot understand such a decision. A country that announces that, within the Middle East and in the Arab and Muslim world, it is the only liberal democracy and civil country, and then makes such a decision and wants to impose swearing fidelity to the Jewish state upon its citizens... where is the logic? I see a conflict here between the announcement of a particular identity on one hand and on the other hand, making decisions and enacting laws against the principle enunciated as an identity of this State. This is my personal opinion. Some Italian newspapers announced yesterday that the Synod condemns the State of Israel; we do not condemn the state of Israel. This is my personal opinion and there may be others with different opinions but I personally think that this is not logical nor consistent. And again, this is my personal opinion.”