Coptic Church resumes examination of Divorce Requests

Emad Khalil
Ragab Ramadan
20/09/2011

The Coptic Orthodox Church’s Clerical Council for Personal Affairs resumed on Tuesday examining requests for divorce submitted by Copts, after a hiatus of two months while Copts held demonstrations demanding the right to divorce and remarry.

Pope Shenouda asked the council to facilitate divorce procedures without violating the teachings of the Holy Book, which forbids divorce except in cases of adultery or conversion to another religion.

Sources have said that the church has received hundreds of letters from Copts supporting the pope’s stance against second marriages. They expected thousands to attend his sermon on Wednesday to express their support.

Ayman George, coordinator of the Second Marriage Coalition, said that many people are leaving the Coptic Orthodox Church and joining other denominations in order to be allowed to divorce and remarry.

Translated from the Arabic Edition

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