Peter's Viewpoint

The Greek Orthodox religion along with other religions provides a spiritual assurance but is also thought to provide a lifestyle of respect and values.

While living in a country where more than 90% of the people are Greek Orthodox in faith, I tend to wonder what values the church purports when the same church does not pay taxes, receives money as a government employee, accepts donations, can perform other paying jobs, and can rent commercial property located on church properties such as city squares with a church.

I have not seen if any research about social behavior and the correlation of the church but if the information here about the Greek Orthodox Church in Greece is used as a basis, then merge this with corrupt government then one could infer why the Greek people who are not to blame have had to adopt tax evasion as a means to survive.

I came across an article written by Maria Antoniadou in the Greek newspaper, TO BHMA Sunday 21st March 2010, which details the current “war” between the church and state in Greece.  Most people do not realize that the churches in European countries are declared as state churches and therefore receive funding from the governments of the countries but what they do not know is the extent of funding that churches do actually receive.

Here is a synopsis from the article.

What the government provides:
In 1852 King Othonas legislated that an allowance would be provided to the priests of the church.

Today the funds provided by the government are:
A Priest Salary: 1,600 to 2,500 Euros per month based on experience and level of education.
For a small cathedral, salaries include a driver and for 2 to 4 employees of a church. 
For a larger cathedral, salaries cover 5 to 10 employees of which each receive 800 to 1,200 euros per month and of which are increased based upon marital status, children, and level of education.
Monies from European program funding from 400,000 to 800,000 euros based on the program.
Funding from 15,000 to 20,000 euros per year for teaching catechism in their local area school.  The hiring of teachers and the provision of salaries of 1,500 up to 2,000 euros per month for 10 to 12 teachers for the same schools.
For social support to help people, they receive 1,000 to 1,000,000 euros from the foreign ministry analogous upon the amount of help.
Funding from the state lottery in the amount of 5,000 to 10,000 euros per year.

What the Church provides:
Since 1853, almost all priests collect money from their congregations that come under their jurisdiction of performing the religious services of the mass.

As such in 2010 the Church offered to each hierarch:
The payment of the church utility bills of 1,000 to 5,000 euros per month.
Each cathedral includes a private home for their priest.
Transportation costs of around 1,000 per month.
Food costs.
If the priest is part of the 12 member holy summit, he receives a lump sum of 500 euros every month as compensation.
Monies from the income of the church:  7% for the office in the church and 3% every month for the edifice of the church from the sale of candles, and donations.
Money from the special occasions of worship of their areas as minister.

Note: There is no mention of fees or amounts that the church charges for marriages, baptisms, funerals, blessings, special occasions, feasts and other miscellaneous amounts that the priests receive.

As anyone can see, even though the church receives funding from the government, the un-audited amounts of money that they receive are not given to the government.

At a time of Greece's economic crisis, why does the Greek government not appropriate the church funds since the government pays them as government employees or terminate their funding?

With the inception of taxing the church, why should the church receive any special privileges or not being audited?

I’d say that they have found their tax heaven, oops, sorry I mean tax haven.