Priest says some Catholics fearful after religious rioting in Egypt

Published: 2005-10-26

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- Though the recent outbreak of Muslim-Christian violence in Alexandria, Egypt, is largely against the Coptic Orthodox community, some Catholics in the city are also fearful, said a Catholic priest in Alexandria. "There is no problem with the Catholic Church," said Father Antonio Ghattas, parish priest of the Coptic Catholic St. Michael Church and director of St. Michael School and Mercy School. "The problem is with the Orthodox Church, but the fear is for all people, not only Catholics, also Muslims. We also have Muslim pupils in our school." Father Ghattas said "vagabonds" began destroying property Oct. 21 and attacking Coptic, Protestant and Catholic churches, although his own church and schools went undamaged. "Now things are calm," Father Ghattas said. The priest spoke in Italian, Arabic and English during a telephone interview from Alexandria Oct. 26. The violence, in which at least four people were killed and 90 injured, followed a week of protests over a play, performed two years ago at St. George Coptic Orthodox Church, that was recently distributed on a DVD recording. Titled "I Was Blind but Now I Can See," it tells the fictional story of a young Christian who converts to Islam for money, then returns to Christianity when Muslims threaten him with violence.

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