In response to what was published in the newspaper of Almasry Alyoum on 5/8/2008 entitled "Egyptian churches considering sending a letter to Congress to stop a resolution condemning Egypt on charges of persecution," Father Mattias Nasr conducted a telephone interview with His Eminence Bishop Marcous. Bishop Marcous confirmed that he had not spoken with this newspaper concerning the draft resolution proposed by Congressman Frank Wolf, which issues a resolution condemning Egypt in the field of human rights and the persecution of Copts. Bishop Marcous confirmed that he had not heard about this resolution, and that what is published in the newspapers about this issue can’t be taken seriously. Bishop Marcous also confirmed that on 7/8/2008, the same newspaper published an article by the same writer about the Catholic and Evangelical Churches only. He went on to say that what was published in Akhbar Alyoum newspaper about him, regarding his comments on the demonstrations of the Copts of Diaspora (which he described as one of the most faithful people of Egypt), that he supposedly rejected the idea of demonstrations, is not accurate. He also explained that he prefers civilized marches and demonstrations, and does not like uncivilized demonstrations. Bishop Marcous also emphasized that newspapers always write statements claiming that he said something when in reality he hasn’t said anything - he gave an example of this by saying that the Wafed newspaper wrote a statement claiming that he made a statement, but he had not spoken to Wafed newspaper in months.

The Katiba Tibia followed up with what was published in Almasry Alyoum, concerning the Christian communities declaration to reject all levels of American interference in Egyptian matter, as well as its refusal to Congressman Frank Wolf’s resolution, which condemns Egypt in the field of human rights and accuses Egypt of persecuting the Copts. According to the text of the newspaper, I wondered: What does “all their sects” mean? And who speaks on behalf of all the sects? His Holiness Pope is the spokesman for the largest Christian sect in Egypt (80% of Egypt's Christians and the largest Christian sect in the Middle East), and he did not participate in this letter - no one spoke to him about a draft of this letter.

The newspaper quoted Dr. Bassilly, the Secretary General of the Church’s Financial Committee, as saying “Pope Shenouda, in all his interviews, seeks to raise high the name of Egypt, and rejects touching it.” I want to reiterate that this statement is not related in any way to the letter from the churches, and it does not mean that the National Coptic Church participated in this letter in any form.