Coptic Pope courageously criticizes Morsi for failing to protect Christians

The Pope of the Coptic church is criticizing the government of Egypt and President Mohamed Morsi for allowing a mob to attack the church's main Cathedral and failing to protect the country. Pope Tawadros II made the comments in an interview on Tuesday.

CAIRO, EGYPT (Catholic Online) - Pope Tawardos II of the Egyptian Coptic Church criticized Morsi saying he had failed to protect the main Cathedral of the Coptic Church. He also said the country is collapsing because of a growing divide between Morsi and his Islamist allies and a loose coalition of moderates, liberals, and Christians.

Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood are trying to monopolize power, according to Morsi's opponents.

The civil strife in Egypt is beginning to embroil many entities that might not normally participate in political divide. The Military became a party to the conflict when it was placed in power following the ouster of Hosni Mubarak, the U.S. supported dictator who ruled Egypt for years.

More recently, religious institutions have been caught up in the conflict as the conflict becomes one between dominant conservative Muslims and more moderate, and secular elements of Egyptian society.

Tawardos II said the Morsi promised to protect his church and people, "but in reality he did not [do so]." He added, "This is a society that is collapsing. Society is collapsing every day. The church has been a national symbol for 2,000 years. It has not been subjected to anything like this even during the darkest ages ... There has been no positive and clear action from the state, but there is a God. The church does not ask for anyone's protection, only from God."

Morsi did publicly condemn the violence against the church, saying that an attack on those institutions was an attack on him personally. He has taken some recent steps to preserve equality in the increasingly divided country such as ordering an investigation into the violence and reviving a state panel called the "National Council for Justice and Equality." That council is intended to promote equality between all Egyptians regardless of their background.

Mosri's aides have also visited the Cathedral to inspect damage and offer condolences to the Pope.

Tawardos says he remains skeptical of Morsi's promises. The true value of those promises will not be known until later, and if the perpetrators of crimes against Egypt's Christians are brought to justice.

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