Retired Clergy Live Below Poverty

Published by The National Herald, October 14, 2005

Retired Clergy Living Beneath Poverty Line

BOSTON – Eight retired priests of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and five widowed presvyteres (priest’s wives) are living underneath the poverty line because the amount of money they receive from their pension does not even cover their basic needs.

Some of them are forced to survive by "eating cat food or meats that supermarkets throw out because of the expiration date," as was disclosed in the official publication of the Association of Retired Priests, "The Epistle," in their October 2005 issue.

Today, there are 211 retired priests, "out of whom 25 percent continue to serve in parishes, or to supplement on weekends in parishes that do not have a priest, or where the priest is on vacation. That includes myself, and I am approaching 80 years of age," the Vice President of the Retired Greek Orthodox Clergy Association Rev. Constantine Raptis told the National Herald.

Father Raptis, who said he is not contending with financial problems, is currently Acting President of the Association, temporarily filling in for its president, Rev. William Gaines from New Orleans, whose house was suffered flooded during the Hurricane Katrina disaster.

The Association was established in 1998 by a group of retired priests who felt that they could still serve the Church. The group includes Revs. John Zanetos, Demosthenes Mekras, Emmanuel Bouyoucas, Timothy Andreas and George Papadeas. The Association was incorporated in the state of Florida, and from a handful of retiree priests, it has grown to more than 200 members.

Fourteen years ago, the Association started its own publication, the emblem of which was created by Rev. Nicholas Vieron. For the last 14 years, "The Epistle" is put together by Father Vieron from his former parish at the Annunciation in Memphis, Tennessee which he served for 50 years. In a telephone interview with the National Herald, Father Vieron said, "I have been blessed with all of God’s gifts. The parish has given me an office and a study here. Father Paul Christi is a piece of gold."

Rev. Nicholas Soteropoulos, currently serving on a part-time basis at St. Eleftherios Church in Manhattan and the Association’s treasurer, told the Herald that, "the former president of our Association, Father Evagoras Constantinides from Indiana, had started an effort to collect funds and, for many years, has been helping those priests who are facing survival problems. Now that I’m the treasurer, I have assumed that responsibility." Father Soteropoulos did not want to disclose the priests’ names "out of respect and sensitivity," he added.

Three weeks ago, Father Soteropoulos visited Bishop Savas of Troas, Chancellor of the Archdiocese, and informed him about the problem of the eight priests and five presvyteres. According to Father Soteropoulos, Bishop Savas told him flatly that the Archdiocese is confronted with financial problems and therefore can not help (the Archdiocese is presently struggling to resolve a debt in excess of $10 million).

Father Soteropoulos wrote an article in the latest issue of the "Epistle" under the title, "Does anyone really care?" Among other things, he wrote that, "This question may surprise you. You may wonder why it is being asked. The answer is: There are 13 Retired priests and widowed presvyteres that today are living in poverty. These are our pioneers who began serving the Church in the 1940’s; they are now retired and find themselves, after giving their all in the service of God and man, living their golden years in poverty. In most cases, this was caused because, during their time, there was no retirement plan for them to participate in. Now I ask, does anyone really care?"

In the article, Father Soteropoulos made the following chilling revelation: "I was told by a widowed presvytera that she lives on cat food or on meats that supermarkets throw out because of the expiration date. She hopes that, on Thanksgiving Day, there will be some group offering a turkey dinner."

Father Soteropoulos told the Herald that he wrote the article after leaving his meeting with the Chancellor of the Archdiocese feeling disappointed.

"I do not speak against anybody, the only thing that concerns me is how to help those brother priests," Father Soteropoulos added: "How can I sit down to eat at the Thanksgiving table knowing that there are brother priests who do not have food?"

On Thursday, October 6, Bishop Andonios of Phasiane invited Father Soteropoulos to the Archdiocese to discuss the issue:

"Because I wrote that article, the Archbishop had Bishop Andonios call me. We met at the Archdiocese, and I gave him all the information. I told him that I would manage to find the money to help the priests until Christmas, but I wonder what’s going to happen after that."

Bishop Andonios said he would "try to do something," according to told Father Soteropulos.

In the meantime, the Retired Clergy Association has been sending the priests and presvyteres monthly checks of $400-500. "Without those checks, they would not be able to survive," Father Soteropoulos said.

Father Raptis told the Herald that the monies were being collected from among the Association’s members and friends.

In the past, the Philoptochos Society, as well as members of Leadership 100, have made donations to the priests. Father Raptis also said that, "we are collecting the money to help our retirees for the next five to six years because after that, we all are going to die. The new priests who make high salaries will retire with $2,000 to $2,500 from their pension, plus social security."

When asked how the Church was doing today, Father Raptis replied, "You have to ask His Eminence (Archbishop Demetrios)."



Volume 7 Number 42 - Tuesday, October 18, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY