Disappearing Christians
Reader comment on item: Disappearing Christians in the Middle East

Submitted by Herb Burack (United States), Sep 10, 2004 at 11:37

Dear Dr. Pipes:
Apropos to your essay on the Disappearance of Christians in the Middle East:

This past December, I had the unfortunate necessity to be with my son at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia on the Jewish Sabbath. There were no adequate sleeping quarters for parents and consequently I was left with a choice to take a room on the 22nd hotel floor across the street. Since Jewish law forbids the carrying of hotel keys on the outside nor could I activate the elevator on the Sabbath, I asked the desk manager to help me out. Noticing my yarmulka he inquired whether I prayed in Hebrew. I answered in the afirmative. With that response he proceeded to tell me that he emigrated from Egypt and that his father also prayed in Hebrew. It occurred to me that his family were Egyptian Copts. He also imparted to me his hatred for the Moslem world due to the killing of Christians throughout various Islamic countries including his own home. I tried to enlighten him, during our short conversation, regarding the worldwide Islamic threat. I left him with a simple, burning question. Where is the Catholic Church? Where is the Pope? Perhaps you have the answers.

Regards,
Herb Burack

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