Not only the economy is ailing” “

Greece tries to change its course. The “blood and tears” plan imposed by the Troika, namely IMF, ECB and EU “despite low growth and the political uncertainties” of the ellenic country is now bearing its fruits. The deficit, according to Moody’s US rating agency, was reduced by 74% since 2009, with measures amounting to 11.9% of GDP. The cut to the national budget should end with a consistent surplus in 2014. Another good news is that Greece’s GDP, according to Moody’s, which fell by 25% since 2009, is expected to decrease by 0.1% in 2014 and eventually grow by 1% the following year thanks to tourism. Further improvement is expected by measures to reduce the amount of private debt. Alarming picture. In spite of this, in today’s Greece, now nearing six consecutive year of economic downturn, more than one in five families (over 23%) is at poverty-risk. The latest report by the Greek Statistical Institute (ELSTAT), released a few days ago, regarding the economic situation of households in 2012 is merciless: last year 914,873 families (a total of approximately 2.5 million people on a population of 11 million) were lacking the bare minimum to lead a decent life. The figures released by Caritas Greece present an even gloomier picture: in 40% of households one family member is unemployed, in 11% two. Many households are living with the pension of an elder relative. Four out of 10 families do not pay the bills due and 60.8% do not pay taxes within the deadlines. 70% decided to cut spending on food, 83.2% on heating. The country, with unemployment at 27% and youth unemployment at 59%, is on its knees. The scourge of corruption. Imposing further sacrifices risks sparking off social tensions, Monsignor Nikolaos Foscolos, Catholic archbishop of Athens, told SIR, pointing his finger at widespread corruption. “Since EU adhesion, large amounts of money were sent to Greece intended for infrastructure and for the growth of the country and of its population. Instead, a good portion of these sums ended up in the pockets of politicians, and in bank accounts in accounts in Switzerland. Today I fear a wide social upheaval”. “Paradoxically, those very political parties that caused the sinking of the Country are those called to boost recovery. Corruption is all over”. The president of Greek bishops, archbishop of Syros-Milos-Santorini, Msgr. Francesco Papamanolis, reiterated: “The economic crisis is a result of the moral crisis. Every Greek citizen is a victim of corruption. Uprooting this venomous weed requires rigour, morality, respect of the rules and certainty of the punishment of the guilty. It’s unacceptable that some people take advantage of the gravity of the present circumstances”. Mobilization in parishes. The small Catholic Church conveys not only condemnation. It also provides concrete help. In Athens, where live approximately 50% of the Greek population, dozens of volunteers actively respond to the requests of refugees, migrants, young women with children, and now also to those of a large part of the Greek population. Coordinated by Caritas Athens, in close contact with Caritas Greece, Catholic mobilization is intense. Only in the refugee-centre of via Kapodistriou, not far from Omonia square in Athens, refers the social worker Panegiotas Siafaka, “last year the soup-kitchen served over 76 thousand hot meals, an average of 300 people a day for five days a week. We provide clothing and blankets. Last year we supplied over 3500 people. We distributed food parcels to poor families every month, a total of 524. We vaccinated 116 children and held over 2500 personal meetings to inform people on the opportunities of employment, health and legal assistance”. These figures in no way are a definitive answer to poverty, nor to the ongoing crisis. However, Siafaka said, “we strive to respond to people’s strong need to be welcomed, loved, treated with respect, regardless of language, religion, race and ethnicity. The right to live and to dignity is unalienable”. The same style of reception and service is to be found in the parishes of the capital. Starting with the degraded areas of Kypséli or “Aghioi Anarghiri” up to wealthy areas such as Psychico, initiatives, fairs, bazaars, food parcels, health and legal assistants, along with microcredit, are thriving. “We do our utmost to help them”, said a volunteer, Maria Miliari, who revealed: “Mass is celebrated for them every day”.