Albanian Church Praised for Feeding Poor not Politicians

The Catholic Church's decision to replace its annual reception for officials with a charity lunch for people in poverty has been welcomed by Christians in Albania as an example of the genuine spirit of the Christmas season.

"Christmas is love in action, it is about giving love. The Catholic Church's decision to feed poor people is the real [spirit of] Christmas, everything else is just PR," Bardha Qokaj, a Christian and human rights activist, told BIRN.

Qokaj also said that the initiative should continue in order to give more people in need the chance to celebrate Christmas.

The move, which was announced last Thursday by the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tirana-Durres, was one of the first important decisions to be made by the newly-appointed Archbishop Gjergj Frendo.

"Christmas is a celebration for everybody but especially of those who are on the edge of our society," the Archdiocese said in a statement.

"This is the reason why Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tirana-Durres has decided not to hold an official reception for this year's celebration as it has done in the past," it added.

Leon Menkshi, a journalist and Christian, told BIRN that the decision was a wonderful gift for Christmas.

"The celebration belongs mainly to those in need, those who have Christ as a saviour, and not those who are privileged people," Menkshi said.

"It is very good news that the Church has decided to set aside its servility to people in politics and direct attention at Christmas to those who deserve it," he added.

The decision by the Catholic Church is being seen as a break with a tradition created by politicians who visit churches where they issue seasonal greetings to Albanians over the Christmas holidays.

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