By f. Ilias Makos
Since a new administration has taken office, there is still an open key issue, that is how the State will address matters related to State-Church relations.
Some of the key questions arising from this change: Will religious neutrality be guaranteed in the Constitution?
The Church disagreed to safeguard religious neutrality constitutionally, and the new ruling party agreed with the position of the Church.
How will the church property be used? The Church has no objection to such a development, provided it is constructed on the right basis.
Will the religion lesson in schools be updated and will it be again catechistic? It is a request of the Church and the theologians.
Will the payment regime of the clergy be up for debate?
Once the case was opened, the new government majority supported the priests who persistently demanded that there would be no change in the payment regime, not only for financial but also for ethical reasons.
Will malicious blasphemy, religious insult, and verbal outrage of a dead person continue to be decriminalised?
There might be new data. Only the near future will show how the situation will change.
However, in Greece, a country where its inhabitants in the overwhelming majority are Orthodox, certain situations are or at least should be considered self-evident.
Faith does not occupy a marginal position. On the contrary, it can serve as the vehicle of transformation of society through the Christian values of truth, justice, equality and freedom.
Regardless of the State-Church relations, the role of Orthodoxy, which in fact has no natural tie with governance model, but respects the institutions, cannot be disregarded.
Orthodoxy in Greece is not an abstract concept, but it is a pillar of spiritual inspiration and humanitarian support, which is closely related to the experiences of the Greeks.
For many Greeks, Orthodoxy is a source of confort and assistance. Thus, as a matter of fact, all issues that arise with the State in this context must be resolved.
