DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Moscow Patriarch at odds with Constantinople on Ukraine

**Ltftujkg** · 06-03-2006, 08:00 AM

Reply to Alexis "Your point is well made. But as a former RC myself, lets not be afraid to look at the deeper reason my people may withhold 'alms' or general support. Rather than selfishness or a lack of charity, the power of the purse is the only voice many have. "

How true! Church revenue here in Greece this Easter fell 50%. Church attendance was up - the churches were full to overflowing as usual, but the faithful declined to contribute as much as they usually did due to the fact that they weren't sure whether their money would go to those who needed it or whether it would be used to feather some priest's nest.

Over Easter I read the biography of St. Nectarios of Aegina and the thing that made a tremendous impression on me was that nothing had changed much in church politics over the last 100 years.

The author might have been describing present day Patriarchs and their squabbles. The amount of money the church receives each week is unbelievable (and can only be calculated approximately becaue no receipts are given) and unfortunately there are many priests who give in to temptation - not by actually stealing the money and putting it in the bank as some have done, but by using the money for their own comfort - which, I suppose, is a just another form of stealing.

Effie

06-03-2006, 08:00 AM	#9
Ltftujkg Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 443 Senior Member	Reply to Alexis "Your point is well made. But as a former RC myself, lets not be afraid to look at the deeper reason my people may withhold 'alms' or general support. Rather than selfishness or a lack of charity, the power of the purse is the only voice many have. " How true! Church revenue here in Greece this Easter fell 50%. Church attendance was up - the churches were full to overflowing as usual, but the faithful declined to contribute as much as they usually did due to the fact that they weren't sure whether their money would go to those who needed it or whether it would be used to feather some priest's nest. Over Easter I read the biography of St. Nectarios of Aegina and the thing that made a tremendous impression on me was that nothing had changed much in church politics over the last 100 years. The author might have been describing present day Patriarchs and their squabbles. The amount of money the church receives each week is unbelievable (and can only be calculated approximately becaue no receipts are given) and unfortunately there are many priests who give in to temptation - not by actually stealing the money and putting it in the bank as some have done, but by using the money for their own comfort - which, I suppose, is a just another form of stealing. Effie
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