Church – state relations: A crossword puzzle for strong solvers

The issue of Church – state relations frequently recurs in the Greek news, sparking discussions, disagreements, and occasionally tensions. Such was the case last February when the Greek Parliament voted in favor of marriage for same-sex couples and the adoption of children. Similarly, years ago, the Simitis government’s decision to remove the indication of religion from citizens’ identity cards led to heightened friction. Back then, relations between the Church and the government were severely strained, taking years to return to normalcy.

One of the most significant clashes between these two entities came with the passing of the law on same-sex couples. The Holy Synod firmly opposed both marriage and child adoption by same – sex couples. Metropolitan Nicholas of Mesogaia, introducing the bill to the Holy Synod, emphasized that “every subversion of morality deconstructs the value of man.”

The Holy Synod further declared in emphatic tones:

“The Church is totally opposed to the bill. Its hierarchy leads and cannot be ignored. The bill is ‘mined.’ The Church does not legislate but neither does it accept state interference. There must be a demarcation between Church and state administration.”

Following the law’s passage, the BBC highlighted in a special report that “Greece has become the first country with a Christian Orthodox majority population to legalize same-sex marriage. Same sex couples will now be able to adopt children after the vote in Parliament.”

Constitutional context

Turning to Article 3 of the Greek Constitution, which addresses the Church, we see a nuanced relationship. Unlike other European states with a national or official religion often headed by the head of state (e.g., the Anglican Church), the Church in Greece is not officially involved in politics. With a few exceptions, its stance towards political parties remains neutral. This stands in contrast to other countries where the Catholic Church wields significant influence on political affairs.

Unresolved issues

One of the most contentious unresolved matters is ecclesiastical property, which experts estimate to be immense some suggesting a value of 14 billion euros. In 2022, the Mitsotakis government introduced a provision ending the peculiar employment status of approximately 3,500 priests, a system that had persisted for nearly eight decades. According to Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, clergy salaries are effectively a quid pro quo for the Church properties acquired by the state in the 19th century, for which the Church received no compensation.

Adding to the complexity, many of the Church’s prime assets, including highly valuable landholdings, remain unused but are of great interest to the government.

Archbishop Ieronymos has articulated the Church’s position clearly:

“We want an independent Church that cooperates on equal terms with the State, ensuring a decent standard of living for our priests.”

The big picture

In sum, the Church seeks a balanced, equal relationship with the State, rooted in mutual respect and fair treatment. As history shows, achieving this balance is no simple task. With ecclesiastical property, clergy employment, and shifting societal values on the table, church-state relations remain a challenging “crossword puzzle” for Greece – one for the strong solvers among us.