Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Cairo (Agenzia Fides) - The Egyptian Family House, liaison body which unites the University of Al Azhar - the highest seat of learning in the Sunni Muslim world - and the Christian churches in Egypt, has decided to inaugurate a website as an operational tool to coordinate the growing amount of initiatives put in place by the body throughout Egypt. The news was released by local sources consulted by Fides Agency. The website will relaunch press releases and newsletters of local committees of the Egyptian Family House. Even TV channels directly connected to Al Azhar and the various Christian churches have been urged to publicize the initiatives put in place by the liaison body. In the meantime the preparation of a national meeting regarding those responsible of the body, which should be held soon at Al Azhar University, has entered its operational phase.
The liaison body - which is guided in alternation by the Grand Imam of Al Azhar and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch was established initially as a tool to prevent and mitigate sectarian conflicts, in a time when the upsurge of fundamentalist sectarianism seemed to endanger national unity. "The initiative - explains to Fides Anba Antonios Aziz Mina, the Coptic Catholic Bishop of Guizeh - did not stop at the level of good intentions, and is developing a network of local committees throughout the Country. Activities are concrete and effective. There are also meeting sessions between priests and imams, that are proving to be very useful to promote collaboration between the different communities of believers in different places". (GV) (Agenzia Fides 17/10/2014)
