Shenouda to hold emergency meeting on divorce

Pope Shenouda III has decided to convene an emergency meeting of the Holy Synod next Tuesday to discuss problems faced by Egypt's Coptic community with regards to divorce. The meeting comes in the wake of a ruling by Egypt's Supreme Administrative Court stating that divorced Coptic Christians have a right to remarry, a decision which contradicts Church policy.

A source from the papal office has said that the call for the meeting came unexpectedly, and that the Church's bishops do not know what will take place in the gathering.

"This is the second time under Pope Shenouda that an emergency meeting of the Holy Synod will be held," the source stated, noting that the first such meeting took place eight years ago, in which the ordination of women and homosexuals as priests was rejected.

"The Holy Synod meets once a year on the Pentecost holiday," he added. "Other meetings only occur when there is a matter of extreme importance that cannot be postponed." He also projected that a significant decision would made in the upcoming meeting.

The Holy Synod has also decided to delay inquiry into the possibility of medical exams for Church members before marriage, claiming that the matter required further study and clarification.

Translated from the Arabic Edition.