I've been asked that question by many IRB panel members when I make my presentation about the Copts of Egypt. Then the popular question pops up—no surprise—“But the head of your church doesn't say that the Christians of Egypt, the Copts, are being persecuted.” Here is my classic answer: you cannot ask the prisoner about the jail guard while he's still in prison. You're asking the head of a church under siege. How could you ask the head of a church under siege and expect him to give you a free, bold answer? You cannot do that. But you can ask the Christians on the outside, such as us, who have families on the inside. We live on the outside and we know the facts and we are free enough to give you the facts. That's what it is.
If Pope Shenouda today were to take a bolder stand and say yes, there is persecution against my Coptic people in Egypt, what do you expect would happen? There would be a civil war, and more Christians would be wiped out, assaulted and massacred and killed.
The wisest thing to do while the church is still under siege, while the Christians of Egypt don't have any rights and representation, is to maintain the line that we are working with the government. We have problems—that's what he says—and we are working with the government to solve these problems. That's what it is.