Archbishop: we ignore dictatorship threats

ARCHBISHOP Chrysostomos yesterday appeared defiant in the face of criticism over his political comments and actions.
Chrysostomos found himself under heavy fire on Wednesday over the purchase of 10,000 copies of a book written by former Central Bank Governor Christodoulos Christodoulou on the cost of a solution of the Cyprus problem, which were distributed through churches.
The Archbishop said he wanted people to be informed of the hardship awaiting them after a federal solution.
DISY lawmaker Christos Pourgourides accused the primate of squandering Church property and suggested the money be given to those in need instead.
Pourgourides said Church property should be put under the scrutiny of an independent elected body “to put an end to the arbitrary acts and abuse of Church finances.”
Chrysostomos said as a deputy Pourgourides can propose a change of the constitution.
“It is not the first time they did it. They can do it again and can also impose a dictatorship,” the Archbishop said.
He pointed out that through its long history the Church has survived many dictatorships, many atheist emperors, who put pressure on it.
But it survived because it is not a human structure but a divine creation, Chrysostomos said.
“That is why we ignore all those threats and if need be we will give all the Church property … for the salvation of the country,” he said. “Mr. Pourgourides cannot tell us we squander the Church property.”
Chrysostomos said the Church gave €1.5 million more than last year, despite the economic crisis, to the needy.
The author of the book said in reality his writings reveal in an “objective and substantiated manner” that both the Annan plan and the ongoing talks, which are based on the provisions of the said plan, lead to a dysfunctional and non-viable solution.
“They lead to a solution, that if accepted, we spell the destruction of the Cypriot economy,” Christodoulou said.
He said Pourgourides was insincere and acted with prejudice guided by his support of the Annan plan.
Christodoulou said his book had cost the Church two euros each “which does not even cover the cost of printing.”
“The people must be informed because it is about their history, survival and the future of their children,” Christodoulou said.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.