Three archbishops from Iraq and Syria were re¬fused entry into Britain. They had been invited by the Syriac Orthodox Church in Britain for the consecration of its first cathedral. Archbishop Nicodemus Daoud Sharaf of Mosui; Timothius Mousa Shamani, Archbishop of St Matthew’s, Nineveh Valley; and Archbishop Selwanos Boutros Alnemeh ofHoms and Hama were all refused visas.
The bishops were refused entry because it was thought they might not return home.
What commentators are saying
The Daily Express ran the story on its front page. In an editorial condemning the decision, it said: “Last week we learned that 650,000 immigrants made their way to Britain, the highest level yet. And yet somehow, while letting all these in, officials contrived to ban these three wise men who have risked their lives for the Christian faith. Mary and Joseph were told there was no room at the inn. At this time of the year in particular we would do well to be more mindful of the Christmas message.”
The Anglican commentator Giles Fraser tweeted that the decision was “utterly bonkers”, while the Archbishop Cranmer blog said: “Bishops banned? Why on earth, when we roll out the red carpet for hate preachers and those who incite the murder of Christians?”
Lord Alton of Liverpool said: “When the Syrian Orthodox patriarch told me that these three bishops had been refused visas to come to the UK for the consecration of the new Syrian Orthodox cathedral, I greeted it with incredulity and disbelief. It’s a decision that brings shame on our country.
“These amazingly courageous bishops come from the Mosul region of Iraq – where Christians have been beheaded, crucified, raped and either forcibly converted or forced to flee as their possessions have been seized by radical Islamists. It adds insult to injury that Britain would refuse admission to men who pose no threat and whose community has suffered so much – especially when we still fail to bring to justice jihadists who have committed genocide.”
The most overlooked story of the week
✣ Islamist mob attacks Christian village in Egypt
What happened?
The homes and properties of Coptic Christians in Egypt have been attacked by Islamists following a rumour that a new church was going to be built.
According to International Christian Con¬cern, the attacks occurred in the Sohag Government in Upper Egypt in the village of Manshiet El-Naghamish.
Why was it under-reported?
The media’s appetite for reporting anti-Christian violence overseas was limited to begin with and attacks on Christians in Egypt have become too frequent to attract much attention.
In May there were three mob attacks on Christians, all in the area of the Minya governorate. In one of these outbreaks a Coptic Christian was stabbed to death. Two months earlier an elderly Christian woman had been stripped and paraded through the street after a rumour that her son had had an affair with a Muslim woman.
What will happen next?
Many of the attacks happen because of a rumour that a church is being built. A new law on church building was welcomed by the Cop tic Catholic Church because it “seeks to avoid sectarian enmities” and requires governors to justify their decisions on applications. However, a new law is unlikely to change attitudes on its own.
Christians in Egypt still suffer because hardline Islamists see them as supportive of the ousting of Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Morsi as president.
✣The week ahead
The Vatican Christmas tree will be lit up today in St Peter’s Square. This year’s tree is 82 feet tall and will be adorned with ornaments made by child cancer patients from hospitals across Italy as well as 18,000 environmentally friendly lights. The nativity scene will include a Maltese fishing boat as a tribute to migrants and refugees who are forced to flee their country.
Pope Francis will celebrate evening Mass on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Monday. The Sistine Chapel Choir will be joined by the Latin American Choir. The Mass will include liturgical hymns in indigenous languages.
The Council of Cardinals will meet from Monday to Wednesday. Among the issues the Pope’s closest advisers may discuss is the process used to decide which priests should be appointed bishops.
They are also likely to continue their office-by-office look at the Roman Curia in view of a planned a reform.
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