Egypt’s Christian leaders encourage voters to join in Referendum

December 15, 2012: Egypt’s Christian leaders have encouraged their followers to participate in a constitutional referendum, without giving them instructions on how to vote.
“Every citizen has the freedom to vote,” said Orthodox Coptic Pope Tawadros II after a meeting of Coptic, Catholic, Protestant, and Anglican leaders. “Everyone is free to vote in favor or against the new constitution,” agreed Father Rafic Greiche, a spokesman for the Catholic hierarchy.
Pope Tawadros had already said that he would not encourage the Coptic faithful to join in a boycott of the referendum. Christian leaders generally have opposed the change in the nation’s constitution, which would give new powers to President Mohamed Morsi and could consolidate the power of Islamic force in government.