The Catholic Church of Greece is involved in a scandal involving a businessman already known to authorities: large amounts of money have allegedly vanished from church reserves and been shifted to gambling organizations rather than charitable causes, while donations meant for social assistance seem to have ended up in the bank accounts of nightlife entrepreneurs. The case has caused controversy within the church, with two high-ranking clerics accused of transferring “black money” for almost ten years.
Testimonies reveal a complex system of transfer of funds for entertainment and debt repayment. “Learning that this has been going on for 8 years means that there are too many people involved. It’s not one and two. They must have shared money for various purposes. And for ‘favors’, there was an exchange of money.” Now, a lot of believers are calling for full transparency to determine whether their donations resulted in inappropriate business practices.
A 60-year-old businessman, known for his gambling and extravagant lifestyle, is under investigation for allegedly embezzling three million euros from church funds over the past eight years. Police reports suggest funds were funneled to gambling agencies to cover his debts, with a recent 50,000-euro transaction reportedly used to buy a nightclub in Patras. The Catholic Church remains silent, while members express outrage over the misuse of donations, feeling betrayed by these revelations.
Syros
The controversy has sparked a growing investigation involving the bishop and produced tension in Syros, the Greek Catholic Community’s heartland. The matter concerns approximately three million euros, and the Vatican has been notified. Local churches have put up announcements about the embezzlement scandal at their doors, noting that the Catholic Church leadership has not yet provided any official information.
During today’s service, worshippers were anxious, especially over the priests’ identities who were accused. Bishops said they are likewise uninformed and get their updates from media reporting. They wait for officials to formally communicate the issue to them, According to the Athens News Agency report.
