Archbishop seeks details of church, state separation

Commenting on the government's plan to revise the Constitution, Archbishop Ieronymos urged Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras Monday to clarify what his proposal to establish the "religious neutrality" of the state actually means in terms of its relationship to the Church.

SYRIZA last week finalized its proposals for changes to 23 articles of the Constitution, including the "recognition of the religious neutrality of the state," as well as granting citizens the right to elect a Greek president when Parliament is unable to appoint one.

"We will have to clarify first what we mean by religious neutrality. I believe the opportunity will arise and I will cooperate," Ieronymos said Monday after a meeting of the Church's Holy Synod.

"I don't know what the prime minister means; he will tell us."

The archbishop of Greece added that he prefers the German model, where the...