top

The National Herald - May 16-17, 1998

editorial

Matters of trust

"Please note that at this point of time, it is not my intention to pursue the acquisition of this property through the Archdiocese and thus consider this issue closed. Therefore, there is no reason for a subcommittee of the Executive Committee of the Archdiocesan Council to be formed in order to research the needs of the Archbishop regarding his residence."

Thus wrote Archbishop Spyridon to Archdiocesan Council President Alex Spanos, after the brouhaha and the serious legal issues raised following his attempt to purchase a $1.4 million home in an exclusive New York suburb. The issue is not closed, however. By proceeding with the signing of contracts and the payment of a $139,500 deposit without prior authorization by the Council, the Archbishop and his men have committed a serious breach of trust and of the Archdiocese's bylaws. Following the principled refusal of the Executive Committee to ratify the deal retroactively, the downpayment was lost, resulting in a serious financial loss for the already cash-strapped church. Spyridon's announcement that he would replace the money with interest but without, disclosing the source, only makes matters worse. Who are these people that will so readily part with $140,500 just to help an Archbishop get out of a legal tightspot? And what do they want in return? The Archbishop has nothing to say on the matter.

Spyridon's letter, however, raises other issues:

a. Why is he opposed to a committee that will research his housing needs (and will by necessity have to look at the Church's finances)? and
b. What does he mean when he writes that he does not intend to pursue the "acquisition of this property through the Archdiocese?" If he intends to use his own money to buy another residence that's fine (although that would also raise eyebrows since his financial resources in Italy were not known to be particularly large). But if it's not his own money he is talking about, then new questions will have to be answered in addition to the existing ones.

[ The National Herald  -  May 16-17, 1998  -  p. 2 ]