Government reassures Church it wants dialogue about religion courses in school

The government sought on Thursday to reassure Church officials that it is serious in its commitment to engage in dialogue over changes to the way courses on religion are taught at school.

While a meeting between the Archbishop Ieronymos and Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras late Wednesday suggested that the government and the Church had buried the hatchet, albeit temporarily, comments made on behalf of Education Minister Nikos Filis by his political office that "changes will proceed as planned," prompted senior members of the clergy to express their reservations.

"The conclusion is that I can reach no conclusion," said Bishop Nikolaos of Mesogaia, who also attended the meeting between Ieronymos and Tsipras.

Referring to reports that Panos Kammenos, the leader of coalition partner Independent Greeks (ANEL), had shed tears during the meeting, Nikolaos said, "We don't...