Evangelicals Woo Orthodox Christians in Egypt

Prominent Orthodox leaders have publicly accused Protestant Evangelicals -- a Christian sect with strong roots in the United States -- of recruiting Orthodox youth during the past few months, as part of a broader plot to evangelize Egypt's estimated eight million Christians.

"There are many rules among Christians. One of the most important of these rules is not to recruit people from one church to another," said Father Abdel Masiih Basiit, pastor of St. Mary's Orthodox Church of Mostarid in Qalubiya, about an hour north of Cairo. He added, "The Evangelicals did not respect this rule."

Protestant leaders have denied that there is any such recruitment scheme in Egypt. They do admit, however, that Evangelicals proselytize those Christians whose faith has lapsed and who may lack allegiance to a specific Christian sect.

For more information on this topic, visit the Coptreal website.