Archbishop says state obliged to pay clerics? salaries
Archbishop Ieronymos insisted yesterday that there would be no change in the source of payment of the country?s priests, thereby rebuffing reports that the Church will be obliged to cover a section of clerics? wages. ?The salary of clerics has traditionally been the obligation of the state,? Ieronymos told a session of the Holy Synod. Condemning ?a string of attacks and insults? against the Church for ostensibly failing to lighten the state?s load at such a critical time, Ieronymos presented figures for 2010 that suggest the Church is not making as much money as some claim. The Church?s income for 2010 was 10 million euros, 9.1 million euros from leasing property, he said. Its expenses meanwhile, chiefly subsidies for church organizations, churches and monasteries, came to 16.5 million euros, he said.
