Archbishop Jerome: Investigation launched into accusations against children’s charity

Archbishop Jerome of Athens and All Hellas on Sunday ordered an investigation into allegations of abuse related to Kivotos tou Kosmou, a children’s charity run by Greek Orthodox clergy Father Antonios Papanikolaou.

The Children’s Charity is a non-governmental organization that has helped thousands of Greek and migrant children since it was founded by a priest about ten years ago. The investigation follows a request from the Greek Ombudsman after the 19-year-old victim approached an independent body. The Ombudsman referred the complaint to the prosecutor’s office. According to media reports, the victim was 16.5 years old when he was repeatedly abused by a charity worker at a shelter in Athens.

Archbishop Hieronimos said he ordered an investigation into the allegations and banned Father Antonios from serving as priest until the case was heard. He also stressed that the Athens Archdiocese had nothing to do with the NGO, which had never been under the supervision of the Archdiocese and had not cooperated with it in any way. . Jerome emphasized that the Church intends to “exercise the absolute degree of worldly ecclesiastical justice” if the accusations prove to be true.

“As we in the Church, so is the rest of Greek society shocked to the highest degree. Whatever it was, the Church will not tolerate, much less cover up, shameful and disgusting behavior and actions,” he said. And he added that the Church is at the disposal of the authorities in order to contribute in every possible way to the full investigation of this case.

The scandal that shakes and shocks Greece with constant new revelations and revelations erupted last week when the media reported sexual and physical abuse of minors at a charity.

As we reported earlier, One of the well-known and most respected children’s charities in Greece “Kivotos tou Kosmou” (Ark of Peace) is under investigation for sexual and physical abuse of a minor in at least one of its facilities.

Citing sources, mass media report that the charity has been accused of engaging in abusive behavior towards its beneficiaries. Earlier Thursday, Deputy Social Solidarity Minister Domna Mihailidou told Mega TV they were informed of the complaint on Wednesday evening. Problems seem to take the form of an “avalanche” as the media reports that the police are investigating at least three cases of similar complaints and, in addition, allegations of physical or other forms of violence.

According to police press release, under investigation are six objects of the charity organization in Athens and other parts of the country.

Greece has been unlucky with NGOs in recent years. Some are engaged in espionage in favor of Turkey, others bring in illegal immigrants for money, others also teach illegal immigrants how to become refugees for money, in the fourth, the leader turned out to be a pedophile…

According to the Panhellenic Trade Union POEDIN, a large non-governmental organization that is also involved in welfare, abandoned 12 abused children at Penteli Hospital due to lack of funding. Pentelis Hospital with 12 beds for children is a social facility that accepts children up to 5 years of age. The building was renovated with donations from Greek shipowners. Its activities are transferred to a large non-profit organization dedicated to charity. In 2017, the NGO operated this structure with 12 children. In January 2022, she announced that she would leave the structure in six months due to the end of funding. At the end of July last year, she really left, withdrawing her staff from the structure, leaving her children to their fate …

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