[ALBSA-Info] New census in Greece?

[Agron Alibali]

KATHIMERINI
5.3.2001

Frustrated Church plans Orthodox IDs
Archbishop says pope will get same welcome as 'Teheran
mufti'

Confronted with the government's determination to keep
religious belief off state identity cards, the Church
of Greece is now proposing to launch its own
identification papers, to be borne by all devout
Christian Orthodox, Archbishop Christodoulos said
yesterday.
In another surprise move, he extended a grudging
welcome to Pope John Paul II, who has officially asked
to visit Greece this spring - in a move regarded with
great suspicion by the Orthodox Church.

"I will recommend to the Holy Synod that the Church
should undertake a census of its own, of its
Christians," the archbishop of Athens and All Greece
told callers on a Church radio program.

The Synod, the Church's ruling body, is to convene
today.

"This will allow us to have Christian Orthodox
identity cards," he added, "so that in a short time we
can know exactly how many Christians Orthodox we have
on our lists."

Christodoulos proceeded to take a shot at Constantinos
Dafermos, the head of the state Authority for the
Protection of Personal data privacy watchdog, who has
steadfastly upheld the government's decision last year
to erase any mention of religious belief from the blue
plastic cards all Greeks are obliged by law to carry
at all times.

"Now Mr Dafermos may prohibit this too," he said. "We
sometimes get the impression that we are not living in
a Christian state. The children of the Church are
fighting against us, as if the Church was acting to
the detriment of the nation. It is enough to drive one
mad."

A six-month campaign by the Church for a referendum on
the police ID question, in the form of a nationwide
petition, is scheduled to end on March 25. 

According to Christodoulos, up to 2.5 million people
have signed.

On Saturday, the archbishop called local parishes to
step up the campaign, and attacked members of the
clergy who have not signed the petition - a failure
which he attributed to fear of the government.

"I am in greater danger than you," Christodoulos said.

Turning to the papal visit, the archbishop said he
would meet John Paul II, as a matter of good manners.

"If he comes, can I close the door on him?" he asked.
"Even if he was the mufti from Teheran I would meet
him. This is ordained by the rules of politeness."
 


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. 
http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/