Showing posts with label Coptic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Coptic. Show all posts

Monday, February 16, 2009

Movie challenges Coptic restrictions on divorce


An upcoming Egyptian movie has caused a stir over it's portrayal of the struggles faced by divorced women to remarry in the Coptic Church, reports the LA Times.

"Christian lawyer Nabil Gobriel has filed a legal complaint and called on the Egyptian prime minister to ban the movie. “Freedom is not absolute, it must have limits, it should not infringe on religious fundamentals,” Gobriel told The Times in a phone interview. "

Obviously, I would argue that the lawyer is out of line for calling for the banning of the movie. I don't think laws regarding divorce are this strict in the Indian church. Is there not a "canonical standard" on this among the Oriental Churches?

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Coptic Pope bans phone confessions



"The head of the Coptic Church in Egypt, Pope Shenuda III, has banned confession conducted over the phone for fear that the phones might be monitored and that the confession might reach state security services, the Egyptian Daily News Egypt reported. "

I'm not sure how I feel about phone confessions in general, in view of confession being a sacrament and all.
One could argue that it be allowed in dire situations where the priest is unable to be physically present with the person undertaking confession. Any comments?