Church divided over baptism issue

The public statement on Thursday by Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece that the Church of Greece would agree to the baptism of children of same-sex couples when they grow up, if they so desire, surprised senior clerics, who referred to his address just two days ago at the meeting of the Holy Synod, where he had stressed that the Hierarchy will speak in one voice.

"There is no decision of the Hierarchy on this particular issue, as it was decided to follow specific steps so that a decision of the Synod would be taken, so that there would be no 'cacophony' and the Church would not appear divided," one senior cleric said.

Ieronymos spoke after a meeting with Archbishop Elpidophoros of America in Athens.

"We must return again to tradition. If baptism is done at a young age, it is because within the Church the feeling had been created that the child is...