Minister of Education: Government’s aim is to safeguard the existing rights of the clerics

© Giannis Panagopoulos

By Romfea.news

Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece held a meeting with the new Minister of Education Niki Kerameus this afternoon during which they discussed the need for cooperation and the safeguarding of the existing wage rights of the clergy.

Protosyncellus of the Archdiocese, Bishop Symeon of Thespies, welcomed the Education Minister while General Secretary for Religious Affairs Georgios Kalantzis was also there.

The Archbishop welcomed the minister. He referred to yesterday’s meeting with the prime minister and talked about the need for cooperation.

Niki Kerameus expressed her delight at the meeting and stressed that “today is the real start of our cooperation. There is good will on the part of the State to build a new fruitful and constructive cooperation placed on a honest footing.”

He added that “the government’s intention is the resumption of dialogue aimed at discussing all issues between the State and the Church, always respecting the distinct roles.”

The Archbishop said that the dialogue committee had been successful in the past in dealing with various issues and “we have to activate it again and upgrade it, if necessary, because the committee is ahead of many things that are often simple.”

Niki Kerameus replied that the relationship would be face-to-face without any anything acting as an intermediate. She also pointed out that “the government’s aim is to safeguard the existing wage, insurance and pension rights of the clerics.”

© Giannis Panagopoulos
© Giannis Panagopoulos
© Giannis Panagopoulos