🚀 go-pugleaf

>From: sebr@iro.umontreal.CA (Sebastien Racine *Rocker*)
>     I heard that public advocation of religions in
>     Greece was strictly prohibited according to a
>     law (1939). Greek Orthodox church is allowed to
>     make propoganda f any kind, on the other hand
>     any public activity of other religious branches

 There are certain misconseptions in the above. First of all, there are
no special political rights granted to the Orthodox Church, (except for
the administration of Mountain Athos, a small subdivision in Northern
Greece). Even property belonging to the church was converted to public
property in 1987. Greek law does prohibit any attempt to preach to
minors without the permision of their parents, and any proselitisation
in public spaces. This was actually done in 1939 to diminish the power
of the C.O. Church, and over the objections of the Church. If there were
no restrictions on procelitisation, who whould be more vulnerable, the
Orthodox church that has thousands of priests and huge financial assets,
or the various fringe religions?

 By the way, what was the age of the persons being procelytised in the
above example? In all the years I lived in Greece the law was not
applied more than once every two years or so, and ONLY in cases where
minors were involved. I am not familiar with the particulatrs of this
case, so I'd really like to know the ages of those involved. And there
have not been any convictions in recent history, or those convictions
that were made were overturned by higher courts for various
technicalities. And yes, there has been a case of a C.O. priest who was
procecuted under the same law.

Michael.