GREECE
Christian Today
The Greek Orthodox Church is under pressure from a sweeping change of Church leadership amid investigations of overwhelming scandals on sex and finance among senior clergymen.
The controversy began in early February. Since then the Greek Orthodox Church, the official state religion of Greece, has been stunned by continuous allegations of embezzlement, corruption and sexual escapades. The Holy Synod, governing body of the Church, therefore met in Athens on 18-19 February to endorse a major emergency reform in the wake of the scandal.
The head of the Greek Orthodox Church, Archbishop Christodoulos, made an apology to the whole nation regarding all the embarrassing misbehaviours of priests and senior clerics. Financial administration has been reinforced and a council to regulate ethical problems of clergymen has been set up.
Unfortunately, the apology has not been able to ease the Church out of public and cleric outrage, and calls have been continuous for the resignation of leaders involved in the scandal.