GOAA - Archbishop Demetrios Receives Senator John McCain

[Worldwide Faith News]

GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA
8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10075-0106
Tel: (212) 570-3530 Fax: (212) 774-0215
Web: http://www.goarch.org
Email: communications at goarch.org


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 10, 2008

Contact: Stavros Papagermanos
Tel.: 212.570.3556



Archbishop Demetrios Receives Senator John 
McCain, Presumptive Nominee of Republican Party for President

New York, NY – Today, Archbishop Demetrios of 
America welcomed Senator John McCain back to the 
Archdiocese Headquarters in New York City for a 
visit with the presumptive nominee of the 
Republican Party. Senator McCain visited the 
Archbishop last year on June 27, 2007, when he 
was running for his Party’s nomination. At that 
time, the Archbishop had raised issues 
surrounding the religious freedom and legal 
protections for the Ecumenical Patriarchate and 
other human rights concerns. Today’s meeting continued their dialogue.

During their meeting, they discussed issues of 
common concern to all Americans, e.g., the 
economic hardships that many are facing and 
respect for all life. The Archbishop emphasized 
the importance of education in empowering 
economic opportunity for all citizens. As for 
issues specific to the Greek-American community, 
Senator McCain was fully prepared to speak on 
religious liberty and human rights issues for the 
Ecumenical Patriarchate, and the issues of a 
solution for Cyprus and the naming questions 
surrounding FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia).

In a comment after the meeting, the Archbishop said:

As Saint Paul says in his First Letter to 
Timothy, "Let supplications, prayers, 
intercessions and giving of thanks be made for 
all people: kings and all who are in authority, 
that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in 
all godliness and reverence."  Well, in America 
we have no kings, but we do have elected leaders 
and representatives of government. As Archbishop, 
I feel a responsibility to pray for all our 
leaders and to encourage our Greek Orthodox 
Faithful to do likewise, as they participate in 
the political process granted to all Americans by 
our Constitutionally protected freedoms. Senator 
McCain is an honorable American who has 
demonstrated his heroism and love for this country.