Abdul Quddus: Pope Did Not Threaten to Withdraw from Constituent Assembly
Mohamed Abdul-Quddus, Press Syndicate Board Member, rejected as exaggerated and inaccurate reports that Coptic Pope Tawadros II threatened to leave the Constituent Assembly trusted with authoring Egypt’s first post-revolution national charter.
In a statement to Ikhwanweb, Abdul-Quddus said: "The Pope’s words were very clear. The church's position is consistent with Al-Azhar’s; and they coordinate their stance. So, if Azhar pulls out, the Pope will. The Pope said he would not take a unilateral decision".
Earlier, after a meeting between journalists' union delegation and the Coptic Pope, at the monastery of Anba Bishoy – Beheira, statements were reported and circulated in Pope Tawadros II’s name with headlines like: "Church withdrawal from Constituent Assembly Quite Possible".