There is a sentiment of cautious optimism developing among Christians in Egypt, where the construction and repair of church buildings have been severely restricted for centuries, according to Joseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin.
The Barnabas Fund, which works with persecuted Christians worldwide, said that the predominantly Muslim nation’s three streams of Christianity – Orthodox, evangelical and Catholic – have agreed on a plan that would allow church repairs and construction.
“According to the bill, there will no longer be a requirement for the president to give personal approval for the construction of a new church building. It will only be necessary to get a license from the local governor. Furthermore, any request for a license must be responded to within a four-month deadline and each densely populated area in Egypt must have its own church,” the report said.
The announcement was made, Barnabas Fund said, by Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Magdi al-Agati.
It will be discussed at the cabinet level before moving on to parliament, officials said.
For the rest of this report, and more, please go to Joseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin.
The existing laws creating onerous burdens for Christians date to 1856 when the Ottoman Empire was in control. At that time Christians had to have the sultan’s permission to build churches.
In 1934, 10 more conditions were added, such as permission from nearby Muslim groups.