Intervention of Mons. Georges BAKAR, Titular Archbishop of Pelusium of the Greek-Melkites, Auxiliary Bishop and Protosyncellus of Antioch of the Greek-Melkites for Egypt and Sudan (EGYPT)

Education based on freedom is a primary question to obtain harmonious co-existence in a society made up of a plurality of religions.
This life in common by individuals and communities demands wisdom and perseverance.
This will never be a reality as long as all human beings, in enjoying their own freedom, do not respect others. We must accept the fact that our own freedom and the freedom of others go hand in hand.
The formation of future generations must therefore be centered on the respect of beliefs and the faith of others, without forgetting the respect for the just needs of their conscience. This is essential for dialogue to be constructive and effective. This is when our effort will be a community one, in working together in all that unites us, moral principles as well as human values.
At the level of principles and human values that we have in common, we recall, among others, the importance of being responsible for each other. We would insist on the quality of this individual and community responsibility, aimed at an authentic realization of the greater human family.
Starting there, we admit the need for a new religious and human discourse, as well as a new teaching one in our educational institutions, thereby calling for openness towards others.
All the religions work in view of the realization of man; their goal is to lead him on the right path of virtue and noble ethical principles.
In our Christian life, one recommendation brings order to our relations: the one of mutual love. We have received a new commandment from the Lord: “love one another; you must love one another just as I have loved you” (Jn 13:34).
At home, we work to form the new generations in our Catholic schools, which has reached the significant number of 168 schools, spread throughout Egypt. It must be pointed out that these educational institutions are open to Christians as well as to Muslims. These schools work with the consciousness that Christianity and Islam give an equilibrium to man in his faith and relationship with God, in the measure to which each is open to the other.

[00176-02.02] [IN116] [Original text: French]