Archbishop a ‘vessel of discord and division’
By Natalie Hami
11/9/2011
GOVERNMENT spokesman Stefanos Stefanou questioned whether Cyprus was an EU member state yesterday with the church trying to make policy instead of leaving it to political leaders in a secular and bi-communal state.
“The new statements made by the Archbishop confirmed again that the Primate does not seek simple intervention in political issues of the country but is trying to lead political life, defining the direction of the Cyprus problem, by making alliances and contacts with political parties for the next presidential elections,” said Stefanou.
Stefanou was reacting to the Archbishop’s outspoken remarks on Friday concerning the Cyprus problem, saying that after Municipal elections he would publish an easily understandable solution. He would then ask the people, after consulting politicians, to choose 100 to 150 personalities, out of which five to ten would then be shortlisted to stand as presidential candidates.
“In the end the parties and everyone must answer: are we or are we not an EU member state? said Stefanou.
He made it clear that what the Archbishop is trying to do does not happen in any country that has full separation between state and church as its basic principle.
“In this way, the Primate from a vessel of unity, wisdom and understanding that he could be portrays himself as the vessel of discord and division at home,” said Stefanou adding that Cyprus is not just secular but bi-communal which everyone must respect including the Archbishop.
Parties agreed that the Archbishop has the right to an opinion and to express it but according to DISY MP Tasos Mitsopoulos yesterday not in a way that would interfere with “political harmony.” The Greens echoed a similar sentiment saying that the Archbishop’s view ought to be expressed “under a framework of caution and in moderation, and not in a way that could be seen as getting involved in political clashes between parties.”
House president Yiannakis Omirou however asserted that the Church leader has the right to have and maintain an opinion on the political direction of the country, saying that he does not believe that the Archbishop seeks to gain political footing.
In the past Omirou has supported a political role for the church despite the separation of church and state.
