The Church of Greece yesterday backed efforts to increase the number of organ donors after several transplant cases, including the highly publicized case of an 11-month-old baby from Crete, highlighted the country’s donor shortage.

The Holy Synod decided to distribute forms to its parishes so people can sign up to help transplant patients. Archbishop Christodoulos will also register as a donor along with the Church’s entire hierarchy.

The baby from Crete was rushed to Paris via the prime minister’s plane this week for a liver transplant because of a lack of donors in Greece.

“In the face of this problem, no one can be unmoved,” said Holy Synod spokesman Dorotheos, Bishop of Syros. “It is a shame that while in our country medical science has worked miracles in the field of transplants, Greeks hesitate to become donors.”