Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-12-16

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From: The Cyprus Mail at <http://www.cynews.com/>

Wednesday, December 16, 1998

Bishop's outburst angers flock

THE ALLEGATIONS of sexual misconduct against a Mount Athos monk made by the Bishop of Paphos Chrysostomos continued to be the lead story in three of yesterday's papers.

Simerini reported that the foundations of the Church of Cyprus had been rocked by the "unprecedented comments and squabbling" by leading clerics. The Paphos Bishop's allegations against the Mount Athos monk Iosif, who is the spiritual father of Machairas Monastery abbot Father Athanasios had thrown the Church into crisis.

Members of the public see the attack on Iosif as a way of harming the chances of Athanasios becoming Bishop of Limassol. In this way Bishop Chrysostomos would not be challenged by Athanasios when there was an election for the position of Archbishop.

Alithia reported that the supporters of Father Athanasios were demanding the defrocking of Bishop Chrysostomos for claiming that Father Iosif had sexually harassed nuns. Chrysostomos had also accused Athanasios of "immoral behaviour", but did not elaborate. The latest allegations caused a storm of protest among Athanasios' supporters, who want Chrysostomos defrocked if his allegations prove unfounded. Supporters plan demonstrations and rallies to show solidarity with Athanasios.

Machi, under the headline "Church on the cross", claimed that Chrysostomos' latest outbursts had divided the Paphos flock into two camps. His supporters claim that, because of his "honesty, Bishop Chrysostomos calls a spade a spade".

It reported that Archbishop Chrysostomos was not happy with the Bishop's comments. According to inside information, the Archbishop has been informed of the Bishop's allegations, which he has judged to be without foundation.

Haravghi castigated the government for its decision not to lower the price of oil products, despite the fall in the price of oil from $24 a barrel to $10 a barrel. It described the government move as "secret taxation" which would raise $60m in 1999.

It laughed at the government's excuse for not lowering the price. The head of the Consumer Services of the Ministry of Commerce, said the benefit to consumers would amount to only 5 million pounds while the remaining amount would benefit businesses, which would not lower their prices, but simply pocket the surplus. He also claimed there would be price stability if the price was kept fixed.

Phileleftheros claimed that UN representative Dame Ann Hercus' mediation efforts had been moving at snail's pace. Quoting reliable sources, it said that Dame Ann had failed to break the current deadlock on two fronts - reducing tension through confidence building measures and resumption of talks.

This lack of progress had activated the US, which was considering the intervention of the UN Security Council or the Secretary-general as a way of preventing the arrival of the missiles.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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