[ALBSA-Info] A good decision

[Agron Alibali]

 Kathimerini
ATHENS, Thursday, May 25, 2000 Updated: 05/25/2000
10:19 GMT 

PM is clear: No religion on ID cards
Opposition, church leaders angry at no-choice option

Archbishop Christodoulos, the pugnacious leader of the
Church of Greece, returns from Romania today to find
that the dispute between Church and State on the
content of new identity cards has moved on
considerably since his meetings last week with
government officials.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Prime Minister
Costas Simitis stressed that new state ID cards will
not list holders' religious beliefs.

This unambiguous statement of intent flies in the face
of previous government pledges to discuss the matter
with the Church, which insists on the listing of
Greeks' faith being obligatory - or at least optional,
according to ecclesiastical moderates.

"The recording of religion on identity cards restricts
and infringes on citizens' freedom," Simitis told the
300-member house, in response to a question by
Synaspismos MP Maria Damanaki.

"Citizens must not have to give an account of whether
and what they believe in," he observed.

According to three-year-old legislation which has gone
unimplemented, filling in the religion slot on ID
cards should be optional. And the state Authority for
the Protection of Personal Data recently decided that
faith - along with nationality, occupation and
particulars of their spouses - should cease to be
mentioned on the cards all Greeks over the age of 15
are obliged to carry with them.

The PM said identity cards are meant to facilitate
relations between citizens and the state, and only
reflect "the external aspects of (Greeks)
personality."

"Sensitive data such as religion, racial ancestry and
political beliefs reflect aspects of the inner
personality, and do not serve citizens' need for
communication," he noted. "Henceforth, such sensitive
data must not be gathered , nor should they come under
scrutiny by state authorities."

The PM stressed that this will apply to all new ID
cards issued, or those given to replace lost ones.

Opposition New Democracy accused the PM of having
"tricked the Church," warning of a "social rift." ND
honorary leader Constantine Mitsotakis called
Simitis's statement a "deep mistake."

Chrysostomos, Bishop of Peristeri, said the Church
would resort to legal action, declare a "relentless
struggle" against the government, side with political
parties "well-disposed" to it, or found a party of its
own.

Other bishops warned of imminent social unrest.
 


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