AFRICA/EGYPT - Coptic Patriarch Tawadros II: homosexuality contradicts God's plan and the Bible

Saturday, 14 January 2023

Cairo (Agenzia Fides) - Homosexual behavior does not conform to the Bible and to the creative will of God, who «created Adam and Eve». This was reiterated by Coptic Orthodox Patriarch Tawadros II, in an Egyptian television interview, Pope Tawadros also referred to specific programs introduced in kindergartens and primary schools that belong to the Coptic Church to raise boys and girls and protect them from theories and theses considered ambiguous and not compliant with the Bible regarding issues related to the relationship between the sexes and sexual orientation.
The words of Pope Tawadros reaffirm considerations already expressed in the past by the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch regarding issues of sexual morality. In August 2017 (see Fides, 31/8/2017), answering questions about same-sex marriages with which journalists had welcomed him upon his arrival in Australia, the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch remarked that according to the Sacred Scripture «God created man and woman», and the only possible marriage «is that between a man and a woman». For this reason - the Patriarch added on that occasion - marriage between people of the same sex is "unacceptable" for the Christian faith, and "is considered a sin. It is a sin". Similar considerations were presented by Pope Tawadros during his public catechesis on Wednesday, September 27, 2017.
Previously (see Fides, 24/2/2016), during his trip to Indonesia, the Egyptian Sheikh Ahmed al Tayyeb, Grand Imam of Al Azhar and co-signatory together with Pope Francis of the "Abu Dhabi Document" on fraternity, had voiced his criticisms of «some Heads of Churches in the United States» who «accept same-sex marriages. I wonder» added the Sunni Grand Imam «what is left of the Bible in those churches. And what will they say before Jesus, peace be upon him». (GV) (Agenzia Fides, 14/1/2022)


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