The following comes from an August 19 posting on the Catholic World Report.
Italian journalist Alessandra Nucci, a contributor to CWR (who recently wrote this piece about Christians in Syria), sent me a note this morning about the violent and horrible events in Egypt. She stated that the reporting of the Western press, in general, “from Egypt is marred by the same one-sided superficiality as denounced by the Christians in Syria.” She included her translation of this recent piece, by Valentina Colombo, from the Italian newspaper, La Nuova Bussola (The New Compass), which contains quotes from a number of Christians leaders in Egypt. Here are some of that article:
[……] In Egypt and in the Arab world it is feared that the West might once again take the wrong sides, as it has in the past, supporting the butchers rather than the victims. Statements, articles and communiqués are being released by all different sources, whether Copts, Catholics, Sunni Muslim authorities or secularists, in the hopes of waking the West up to reality.
One of the first to speak up was Father Rafiq Greiche, spokesman for the Catholic bishops of Egypt, who stated to AsiaNews: “Obama does not appear to understand the situation. In his speech he didn’t even so much as mention all the churches and Christian buildings being burnt down by the Muslim Brotherhood. This must absolutely be made clear: the Muslim Brothers are terrorists, and are tied to groups belonging to Al Qaeda and to the Salafites. The history of the Muslim Brotherhood, ever since their foundation, has been a history of 85 years of bloodshed”.
Father Greiche also pointed to one of the main characteristics of the movement founded by Hasan al-Banna: dissimulation. “The Muslim Brotherhood communicates with a double register – he said — to the Western media they speak about democracy and coups d’etat, to the Arab media they talk about their plan for a State based on Islam, on sharia law, on a Caliphate that is to include other Arab nations as well. Either Obama doesn’t understand what’s going on, or he is an accomplice to this project.”
On the evening of August 16th pope Tawadros II, patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church, issued another appeal to the West in an official communiqué: “Egypt’s Coptic Church has been following the developments of the sad events that have stricken our land and it confirms its firm support for the Egyptian police, for the Armed Forces, for all of Egypt’s civil institutions which are facing the violent factions devoted to obscure terrorism, both within and from without the country. The attacks on our governing bodies and on the protected churches terrify our citizens, whether Coptic or Muslim, and are the opposite of all religion, of all morality and of humanity itself.
“We appreciate the position of the loyal and friendly nations who understand the nature of the ongoing events. At the same time however we loudly denounce the misleading news conveyed by the Western media and urge them to re-read the facts with objectivity so as to give international and political coverage to these bloody terrorist organizations and to their followers. They should not be legitimized by global support and political protection when their efforts are committed to spreading devastation and destruction over our beloved country.
“We ask the international and Western media to do its best to give a truthful account of what is going on, with honesty, truthfulness and accuracy. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to all the victims and martyrs of duty, who have offered up their lives, and we pray for the recovery of the wounded and those who have been attacked. We will remain loyal to our national unity and reject all attempts to push our great nation into a gigantic conflict.
“We firmly reject, with all our might, any and all foreign interference, however small it may be, into our domestic affairs. Just as the hand of evil burns, kills and destroys, the hands of God protect, strengthen and build up. We trust in Divine aid which will lead the Egyptian people in this delicate period of their history towards a better tomorrow and a more radiant future, full of the justice, peace and democracy that the people of the Nile valley deserve. May Egypt live a proud liberty”.
Another Coptic voice is that of scholar Kamal Ghobrial: “Who would have thought that the very moment the Egyptian people woke up and started cleansing themselves and their country of oppression, the West would take sides against us, allying itself with the wolves of tyranny?”.
Faysal J. Abbas, editor of Al Arabiya English, does not mince words in reproaching the West for its lukewarm, timid and ambiguous attitude: “The West’s denouncement of the recent events in Egypt begs many questions. I wonder if the leaders of the free world are aware of, or understand, the actual situation on the ground. The way in which Americans and Europeans, not to mention Turks, are clearly taking sides is certainly not going to solve the situation. Do they realize who it is they are supporting ? […] Democracy should be protected and well-received, but the West seems to have forgotten how very far the Muslim Brotherhood was from protecting and welcoming democracy after they took power.”
The conclusion Abbas reaches is a sharp and bitter piece of advice: “In the light of the disastrous way it has managed almost every single issue pertaining to the Arab Spring of 2011, it is highly recommended that the West stop meddling in the internal affairs of Egypt”. …
Tarek Heggy, a brilliant member of the liberal intelligentsia in Egypt: “The Egyptian army on July 3rd, 2013 simply sided with the twenty-five million Egyptians who took to the streets to say “no” to the radicalization of Egypt by the Muslim Brotherhood. Morsi was doing his utmost to turn Egypt into a replica of what Afghanistan was before 2001. The Muslim Brothers’ 369 days in power in Egypt are there to show that a theocratic organization can not govern democratically. Let’s just think a moment about what Hamas is doing in Gaza. Theocracy is the exact opposite of democracy. The West must remind itself that there is no difference between Al Qaeda and political Islam.
Moderation can exist only by completely accepting a secular State, which to the Muslim Brotherhood is a product of Satan”.
To read original story, click here.
Obama understands, he along with the rest of the political Left are quite comfortable at the site of burning Churches just like they were comfortable with what the communists did in eastern Europe.
Ditto. What perplexes me is the number of bloggers who radiate the glories of naiivite’.
ha ha, Obama has at his disposal the most well funded information gathering apparatus. He knows exactly what is going on, who is doing it, sometime even before it happens.
This is not a liberal versus conservative issue. Ever since the invasion of Iraq, life has become intolerable for Christians, and many have fled. The sectarian violence began after Bush invaded. Similarly, Obama’s administration is (so far) supporting Egypt at a time when life for Coptic Christians is particularly threatened.
Peter Berger has an excellent blog over at the American Interest, and one post in particular should be of interest to the readers of this site in which he outlines the persecutions of Christians around the world. https://blogs.the-american-interest.com/berger/2013/08/07/persecuted-christians/
“Obama does not appear to understand the situation.” So what else is new?
I never fail to understand Catholics in general and the Catholic press when it comes to Mr. Obama. Obama has always been: Anti Christian, anti Catholic, a card carrying communist, against the principles of established U.S.A., and a strong supporter of the Islamic cause. These are not my opinions but established facts on record. It is not possible for Mr.Obama to do anything but support efforts against Christians. This is what Commumism has always been about.
I am so angry at what is happening to our brothers and sisters in that part of the world! Christians are being tortured and killed by the Muslims! I hate this helpless feeling that I have right now, not knowing what to do to protect them from those monster terrorists…that evil cult! Where is the outrage, innocent people are being hurt and silenced. We know that Obama is anti-Christian, he is for protecting the Muslims more…I am so outraged, I better not comment on this subject at hand, I better just pray about it because this truly is hurtful to read, to know that we have many brothers and sisters being treated so inhumane.
What I think all the rhetoric coming out of Washington means is a message to the military that they won’t tolerate them setting themselves up as military dictators.
They are also playing “populist” in decrying violence.
This is somewhat hypocritical in that Washington is decrying violence in Egypt while raining down collateral damage from our drones in many countries across the world. What Washington wants is a popularly elected government that is not 1) Islamist and 2) is not anti-Israel.
Until such a government gets elected, I expect Washington to keep crying crocodile tears for the dead, while continuing to funnel money to keep the Egyptian generals loaded with guns and ammo.
JonJ, why do you obviously assume that most of the world’s inhabitants prefer democracy and are culturally capable of making it work?
I’m not assuming that at all. It’s what Washington wants and is trying to spin things to get. The “popularly elected” isn’t a real requirement, but Washington would prefer at least the appearance of a popular election that elects a secularist, pro Israel government.
They’ll keep enabling the Egyptian military to keep running coups if the Eypytian’s don’t elect government the US likes—until they give up and support a dictator like Mubarik (though they hope they get someone who makes at least a more convincing pretense of democracy).
I don’t get all that jumble mumble that jonj is trying to convey…..I don’t even want to get it….my concern right now is not political but it is about the poor innocent Christians that are being terrorized.
Abeca, my “mumbo jumbo” breaks down pretty much like this:
1) all this rhetoric Obama spouts chastizing the Egyptian military for seizing power is so much hot air. They’re actually pretty happy they threw down Morsi.
2) you can see that 1 is true because not six months ago the Obama pushed for a big appropriation to finance the Egyptian military—darn well knowing they weren’t happy with Morsi. This money didn’t support Morsi in any way—as is now clear after the military deposed him.
3) all the tears for the Egyptian dead coming from Washington is a warning to the military that they can’t keep power, but need to hold elections. Washington can pretty much pull their strings since the Egyptian military is largely equipped with American-built weapons systems. We can ruin them by refusing to supply spare parts—which we only provide in short term quantities.
4) I suspect that Washington will keep supplying the Egyptian military with guns and support. Washington will encourage them to keep staging coups if any Islamist government gets elected. They’ll keep supporting them until the electorate “gets it right” within Washington’s view.
5) Obama isn’t a loyal Muslim or Christian. He only makes religious noises for political benefit. The only way Obama will take up the Coptic Christian cause is if they are politically useful to him—and in some way advance his power. Right now, championing them is the last thing he wants to do—for fear that the rest of the Arab world will use it to characterize US intervention as a replay of the Crusades.
When governments and/or government leaders are involved, it is political.
I’m no fan of Obama, but I think he knows exactly what is going on. We are paying way too much attention to the lip service Washington is giving to democracy and failing to “follow the money”.
Many in the US screamed not 6 months ago, when Obama approved billions in foreign aid to support the Egyptian military. We delivered new weapons and spare parts for the Egyptian military knowing full well that the military is a secularist force in Egypt (most of their officers are US trained).
We can interpret the noises coming out of Washington only in tandem with where their money is going. I think the “message” is that we want the military to hold democratic elections yet again—with a subtext that Washington won’t admit but is pretty clearly saying: we support democracy IF you elect someone we approve.
The fact is we can yank the Egyptian military’s chain—and they know it—by cutting off their supply of spare parts for their US made weapons systems and their operating funds. Do you really think Washington is truly unhappy that the Morsi government has been cast down?
I think not.
The US has always been reticent to pull military aid from “friendly” countries, especially in this region where Saudi Arabia and the UAE are there to backstop certain countries, which certainly grabs US attention too.
With the Suez Canal, Libya to its west and the Gaza Strip and Israel to the East, Egypt is central to the area. The unfortunate part for the United States is that Obama and Co. are terribly inept and have no idea what’s going on most of the time (a la Bengazi) and they shot themselves in the foot by saying that gay rights are central to our foreign policy (this says a lot to all the countries of the world and makes our leaders look incompetent – which most are).
These are truly disturbing reports. My question is why do we not hear a peep from our pulpits about the atrocities being committed against the Christian population of Egypt? I have seen no statements or proclamations from our bishops regarding these crimes against humanity, all in the name of Allah. Why such deafening silence? As far as Obama goes: It becomes ever more clear that the man is a Muslim sympathizer. Did he not say that the sweetest sound in the world is the muezzin chanting his morning prayers? Obama is an enemy of Christianity, as is practically the entirety of the democrat party. In my very liberal parish, blessings for our Muslim brethren were offered as part of the general prayer intentions during the month of Ramadan, The pews remained silent.
I know we probably all wish that Bishop Sheen was still living – he never seemed afraid to tell it like it is. Unfortunately, we are living with the church of nice, since VII, and most of the Church’s hierarchy seem afraid of their own shadows and would much rather invite Obama to dinner than to offend.
Isn’t ecumenicalism wonderful?
Well, Bob, we can all ask Archbishop’s Fulton Sheen’s intercession before God about all this. Now that we can do.
For those who can, it is also possible to send or provide Archbishop’s Sheen Catholic “Military Prayebook” to Catholics and those who want it in our military services.
Correctiion: “Prayerbook”.
TObama is doing exactly the opposite of what should be done. He is supporting the Muslim Brotherhood when he should be seizing the opportunity offered by Saudi Arabia and the Egyptian military to completely destroy them. He did exactly the same thing with Iran when he offered no support for the green popular revolution 3 years ago and the opportunity was lost. Obama is a Muslim sympathizer. People like Hillary Clinton’s chief of staff Huma Abedin are also really close to the higher echelons ( her Mother) of this Muslim cabal.
In the meantime our Obamamedia has dropped the Muslim from Muslim Brotherhood so for the last three days these Christian killers have been renamed simply “The Brotherhood”.
Baraq Hussein Obama was raised a Muslim by his adopted father Lolo Soetoro in Jakarta, Indonesia, where he attended Islamic school and Friday services at the mosque. His spent his formative childhood years in this un-American environment and was dispatched back to his commie grandparents in Hawaii only when he was 9 years old or so. Obama is not on our side.
Bush Akhbar !
While driving on a trip this evening, I was pleased to happen upon an exceptional Spanish language radio program featuring a Catholic lay person presenting basic and foundational catechesis expressed beautifully. A Latino man called in, confused about Obama’s promises to Latino voters vs. failure to deliver much to Latinos, instead promoting an immoral, anti-Christian, pro-abortion, pro-homosexual, etc., agenda. This brilliant speaker acknowledged the caller’s discontent and described Obama’s specific deceptions and behaviors that should prove antithetical to Latino voters who will stop and think about the differences between his promises and his performance. I never before heard a Catholic in the media spell out so honestly the failures, frauds, and discernible faults that all faithful, thinking, voting Catholics should have seen coming. Obama’s behavior toward Egypt and Christians in the Middle East is just the latest shameful failure of policy and performance we are all suffering through. God bless any human being, Christian or otherwise, in the Middle East suffering needlessly, due in part to our administration’s horrific ineptitude and shameful inaction.
Maryanne Leonard,
The, not our, administration’s horrific ineptitude and shameful inaction, are not what you seem to think they are, they are deliberately planned operations on the part of a Communist Moslem President put into power by a traitorous Demoncrat Party!
Wake up and smell the garbage! Until you do, you are no help to the cause.
Viva Cristo Rey!
May God have mercy on your poor soul,
Kenneth M. Fisher
The President is not Muslim nor is he a communist. You are entitled to your own opinion about Obama, but not to your own facts.
Here is a video where Obama brags about being a Muslim: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCAffMSWSzY. According to this video he is either a Muslim or a liar. Personally I think he is both.
Did you read the disclaimer at the being of the video, Ron?
YFC: FACT Obama’s parents were communist as was his mentor Frank Marshall Davis….uncomfortable facts YFC but facts none the less….
Canisius, I don’t know whether his parents were communists or not, but I’m pretty sure Communism isn’t genetic.
And I have now listened to and watched the entire Muslim Proof video. This is propaganda at its most disgusting. The President is leader of all of the US: To Catholics and Protestants, to Jews and Muslims, to atheists and agnostics. Every day he delivers speeches to one segment or another. This video takes speeches he gave to Muslim Americans and pretends that this is the entire world view of the man, that he would not give equally welcoming messages to, say, Catholics or to the Pope. EVERY SINGLE CLIP is taken out of context. Most cut him off midsentence. If anyone mistakes this for journalism, they really need to think seriously about they are objective enough to make a discernment on the issue.
Remember the open mic, Canisius? That was in your face, live and unedited proof of obama’s treason and yet nothing was done, said or held against him. You’re wasting your time showing proof to people who are not using reason when it comes to this person. As Catherine recommended, watch Michael Voris on obama…on think it was Fridays’ program. Also, this attitude you’re seeing first hand is what allowed Lenin, Hitler and other tyrants unlimited access to power…people blindly followed them and the ones who didn’t were eliminated. Period.
Obama is intent on killing any business or organization that will not pay for the killing of unborn babies by taxing them to death.
Yes, Obama does understand what is going on. He, is not a Christian (even though he says he is). He is a Moslem, who hates Christianity. He attempted to no longer have diplomatic relations with the Vatican, he does not celebrate Christmas, he is against Christian displays, but is all in favor of Islamic religious practices. If it smells like a duck, walks like a duck, sounds like a duck, and looks like a duck, associates itself with other ducks, then, it must be a duck. Obama detests Christianity, and will do all he can to discredit and destroy any influence Christianity has concerning culture and moral values.
Amen, Father Karl.
I disagree Fr. Karl.
I think Obama simply uses religion if it suits him. He’ll make Islamic noises or Christian noises if it helps him gain political traction at any given moment. But, he doesn’t give a fig for either.
If we was a loyal Muslim, he wouldn’t be making US aid dependent on protecting homosexual rights around the world. He’s doing that that win over a small (3% homosexuals and maybe 5% if you include supporters) political base that ends up having clout when you consider most US elections are won with less than a 10% margin.
Playing to the homosexuals only loses him the evangelicals, and they’re going to vote republican anyway.
actions speak louder than words….
Bearing false witness against your neighbor is:
1) The thing to do on Wisteria Lane
2) The 35th Amendment to the US Constitution
3) A violation of the Ten Commandments
4) All of the above
Thanks for playing.
Hey YFC how do explain Obama saying “god bless planned parenthood”….the biggest baby killing machine in the US….
Oh he understands alright, please don’t insult us by making stupid statements, after all he is the most brilliant President ever is he not? That’s what the left-wing press has told us for the last 6 years correct? As for Islam please please people read the so called Holy Koran it states in black and white what will become of Christians and Jews it is either convert be a dhimmi or death. Islam is taking over the world not by the sword this time but by sheer birthrate, France 8 million,Germany 5 million, England 5 million, Holland 1 million, Belgium 1 million and the list goes on.
Janek,
The late Fr. Paul Marx, OSB tried to warn us of the Moslem threat, but few listened.
Viva Cristo Rey!
May God have mercy on your poor soul,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Oh, he knows exactly what is going on and is instrumental in obtaining it I believe. He is positioning Muslims at the top of our nation as fast as he can get them there. I think Denish Souza and others figured him out from the beginnng.
The scary thing is that Obama knows exactly what is going on. He is a radical with an agenda, steeped in Marxist theory. His enemy is and has always been Western Civilization. He finds a natural (albeit) problematic relationship with radical Muslims. They have a common enemy – Christianity. These simpletons think that force will eradicate Christian life, that burning churches stomp out Christian worship, that brainwashing will overcome Christian thought, without realizing that the true faith will only grow stronger. In a way Obama and these other morons are doing Christianity a favor.
Dear Del, President Obama is a Christian. He is neither a Marxist nor a Muslim.
Hitler killed fewer (6,000,000) than Obama has butchered in the womb (7,500,000 and counting). So, was Hitler a Christian too?
I agree with Del and Father Karl.
Dear YFC,
I have 100 acres of swampland in Florida I would like to sell you. I’ll give you a deal.
YFC Obama’s parents were Marxist as were his grandparents, his mentor Frank Marshall Davis was an avowed Marxist who praised Stalin, you are the company you keep… Obama is Marxist end of story
YFC: Here you go again. Your defense of this charlatan is getting tedious.
Remember the gay activist is all about gay rights…Obama is their hero on that subject at hand as well….
Buy Christian and Jewish and from other religions as long as they are not involved in evil, such as abortion. Many realized they were using monetary jihad on us a long time ago — right after President Bush cut off Al Queda funding, but really all along. Buy meat from Christian butchers or kosher from Jewish butchers. At least keep it all at a level playing field. Try to buy American made as much as possbile, even if it is more expensive, and avoid buying from Communist countries but buy from countries that are friendly to Christians and Jews. Of course they read all this but who cares.
Halal butcher shops are Muslim owned. I avoid “halal” meat.
“Obama does not appear to understand the situation.”
OF COURSE he understands it. He just doesn’t care.
Face the facts, if he could manage it politically, he would
openly support and encourage the Muslim Brotherhood all the way.
Don’t make the mistake of accusing Barack Obama of decency or Christianity.
Does anyone know if St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, the one the Muslim jihadists destroyed, has been rebuilt yet in New York City? I cannot find a website that says it has been rebuilt yet, and let’s call them what they are MUSLIM jihadists.
1600 Years – Just a blink of an eye in the Age of Abomination:
“Egyptian church cancels Mass for first time in 1,600 years amid Islamist attacks
8/21/13 FoxNews.com
A Christian church in Egypt canceled Mass for the first time in 1,600 years on Sunday amid increasingly violent attacks by Islamists following President Mohamed Morsi’s ouster.
“We did not hold prayers in the monastery on Sunday for the first time in 1,600 years,” Selwanes Lotfy, the priest of the Virgin Mary and Priest Ibram Monastery in Degla, told the al-Masry al-Youm, according to The Times of Israel.
Lofty said Morsi supporters targeted the monastery – which includes three churches and an archaeological site – in a recent attack.
Obama/Nabuchodonosor knows exactly what he is doing.
Daniel 3:19 ” Then was Nabuchodonosor filled with fury: and the countenance of his face was changed against Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, and he commanded that the furnace should be heated seven times more than it had been accustomed to be heated.” (Douay-Rheims)
Proverbs 29: 2-4 (Douay-Rheims)
2 When just men increase, the people shall rejoice: when the wicked shall bear rule, the people shall mourn.
4 A just king setteth up the land: a covetous man shall destroy it.
This is what happens when society continues to vote for the lesser of two evils. In the beginning, the “evil” doesn’t “seem” so bad, but over time, it grows into something so large, it tramples everything in its path that stands in the way. This is the war between the Culture of Life and the Culture of Death. Truth verses lies. Its very obvious to see the destructive path this man is leading our nation into, from the same destructive path she has been on for many years. Its just now, under his control, the evil has become big enough to see without a microscope. The culture of death starts like a single cell of cancer, that without “cutting it out” but rather placing a band aid over it, enters the lymphatic system of society and metastasizes into many areas, until it makes us all physically sick. The cure can only be found in the Truth.
“America needs religious conviction and a stanch adherence to sound principles if they are to meet the threat of communism on a long-term basis. Communism is a faith and it can be combated only by those who have a strong faith in Christianity.”
— Fulton J. Sheen, 1952, Silver Jubilee of Rev. Thomas J. Toolen.
“I am worried about America! I am not so much worried about its politics or its economics, important though they be: I am worried about its soul. After all, politics and economics are determined by the sense of values which underlies them.”
-†- Fulton J. Sheen, Too Much Politics.
Archbishop Fulton Sheen pray for us. We need a miracle. Especially in my life right now… : (
Sending up prayers for you, Abeca Christian.
Thank you for your prayers….I seem to be healing better…
Obama knows exactly what’s going on. He’s a Muslim, as is his half brother, who is affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. Obama hates Christianity, especially the Catholic Church, hence his dutiful butchering and dismemberment in the womb of millions of babies, all on behalf of Satan. Obama’s attacks on the Church in the West is no less Satanic than the Muslim attacks on the Church in the East.
“Children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come; therefore we know that it is the last hour.” 1 John 2:18
Bend to this earth at the sound of our crying;
Bend to this earth which Thy footsteps have trod.
Reach out Thine arms to us living and dying,
Mary, Immaculate, Mother of God.
“Egyptian Christians: Obama doesn’t understand what’s going on”.
Obama understands, he does not care.
Be sure to keep your own Federal Senators and Representative up to date on this issue, so that they do not follow Obama blindly.
For practical help you might want to check out this website.
copticsolidarity.org/en/opinion/287-christian-copts-in-egypt-need-help
See Daily Vortex Church Militant TV ‘Blindness about Obama ‘ Excellent!