GREECE
Philadelphia Inquirer
By Brian Murphy
Associated Press
ATHENS, Greece - The leader of Greece's embattled Orthodox Church begged the nation for forgiveness Friday as allegations including trial-fixing and purported sex escapades battered the denomination's reputation as a guardian of Greek culture and honor.
The apology by Archbishop Christodoulos, made as senior clerics opened an emergency conclave aimed at instituting changes, showed the depth of the scandal enveloping the church.
Public outrage has reached such a level that some lawmakers and commentators have suggested stripping the Orthodox Church of its status as the official state religion - once an almost unthinkable proposal in a nation where church and political history are often intertwined.
Posted by kshaw at February 20, 2005 05:16 AM