Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece expressed support for talks between the clergy and the state on proposals that regulate clergy payroll and church assets, following a Holy Synod meeting on Tuesday.
After the meeting, which discussed among other things the membership of a joint committee between the Greek Orthodox Church and the state, Ieronymos said that “all discussions are welcome.”
The joint committee will discuss a draft law tabled in Parliament by the government incorporating a fifteen-point agreement reached between Ieronymos and Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras that transfers clergy payroll to the Church and regulates outstanding issues on Church property.
Ieronymos said that proposals discussed include “providing a two-year extension on the current state of wage payments for clergy” by the state. He also said the extension would give the Church time to settle outstanding asset issues, adding that it would also allow the state to return to the Church assets the latter had turned over as of January 1, 1945 in exchange for bringing the clergy under the state payroll.
Source: ANA-MPA
