WCC slams Israel's refusal to recognize Greek patriarch
By GEORGE CONGER ...Oct. 5, 2006 21:31
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The World Council of Churches (WCC) in Geneva has demanded Israel withdraw its backing of Irineos I and acknowledge Theophilos III as the leader of the Greek Orthodox church in Jerusalem. Israel's continued support for the "duly deposed former patriarch, now monk, Irineos," was "tantamount to interference by the state in the affairs of the church," WCC general secretary Samuel Kobia wrote in a September 29 letter to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
The leader of the ecumenical organization called for "remedial action at the long delay by the government in recognizing... Theophilos III as the head of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem."
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Irineos 1 was elected patriarch in 2001. Later it was revealed that he gave a 198 year lease at below market prices on commercial properties near Jaffa Gate to
four British Virgin Island holding companies controlled by a Jewish settlement group. Quote:
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Israel's failure to recognize Theophilos has been " near catastrophic," Patrick Theros, former US ambassador to Qatar and the patriarchate's representative to the US, told a meeting of the American Hellenic Institute in Washington.
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Due to Israel's intransience, Theophilos has been unable to deal with the government, banks, commercial firms, land registry and other state agencies as the church's legal representative.