The Leader of the Opposition and President of New Democracy Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in the event of his tour in Crete, met with Metropolitan Eugenios of Rethymno and Avlopotamos.
Metropolitan of Rethymno and Avlopotamos gave Mr. Mitsotakis the Charter of the Church of Crete, stressing its importance, and that it should never be altered or revised, something with which Mr. Mitsotakis completely agreed.
Indeed, he said, there are issues that “have concerned us during the past few months. Especially those that have to do with the Constitutional revision, as well as the governmental initiatives concerning the clergy payroll”.
“From day one, we stood against these governmental initiatives concerning the Constitutional revision and, since I believe that New Democracy shall have the governmental majority and undertake the revision proposal, Article 3 shall remain as it is, i.e. the next government shall not revise it”, stressed Mr. Mitsotakis.
The President of New Democracy also said that a possible revision of Article 3 would endanger the regulated relations between Greek state and Church, which have been built for decades.
Concerning the plans for the changes in clergy payroll, Mr. Mitsotakis stated that they shall be rejected, because they have been made without the consent of the Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
“We are adamant and clear about our disagreement with everyone, and I am glad that the Church of Greece has a strict and stable stance towards the changes that have been discussed and which shall never be realized, in so far as New Democracy is the new government”, said Mr. Mitsotakis.
The leader of the Opposition also expressed his deep and heartful appreciation towards the Ecumenical Patriarch, commenting on the significance of the election of the new Archbishop of America, Elpidophoros.
“The Archdiocese of America needs a new restart, something that shall inure to the benefit not only of America and its Archdiocese, but of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as well”, concluded Mr. Mitsotakis.
From his part, Metropolitan Eugenios said that it should be acknowledged that the priority of the priests and the clergy altogether is to keep the societies alive and prosper.