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According to reports, the "citizen card" will be used for all of the citizen's transactions with the state and for social services in particular.
The card will also be used as a travel document for destinations within Schengen.
According to the same reports, the government is orientated towards extending the uses of the card to uses for the private sector as well, such as transactions with banks.
The same sources said that there is no question with personal data and that their full protection is anticipated.
The "citizen's card" is expected to start being available as of December 2011 and will gradually replace the police identity card.
Many Orthodox Christians fear this card may prove to be the mark of the Antichrist, or at least a forerunner to it. Protests abound, based on these fears.
It is unfortunate that Orthodox Christians are ruled by fear on this issue, when no evidence even suggests this is a mark for evil. Paranoia seems to have once again set it, a "satanic panic" of sorts based on unfounded conspiracies.
Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Zakynthos has given a blanced response to public fears when asked about the "citizen card": "I have the same opinion that I had about the ID cards. If someone has Christ within them they will not fear 200 demons, not even one."
When he was asked his opinion if it contained within it a chip with the number 666, he responded: "Let it have the number '666' 3,000 times over. It will not concern me a bit."
Some Metropolitans and clergy will refuse the card however, because it disturbs the conscience of Orthodox Christians.
Back in the 1980s I had booklets from the Marian Movement of Priests around. They were and are full of glee over a coming chastisement and wrath of God. It was very irresponsible of me to give them any notice because I had children. My older daughter was especially terrified by this and she is still indifferent to religion, especially churches. During the Gulf War Fr. Gobbi was in America saying God was finally fed up with our country and this would begin the final wrath of God for all the abortions, etc. I live in a military city and knew first hand the prayers and concern for the soldiers. I wrote them in Maine and told them not to listen to such stuff, as they would be made fools of later. But the appetite for wrath and punishment, attributing mass murder to our Lord with glee, goes on.
ReplyDeleteI made a personal decision to renounce it all. When I die, I want it to be in the service of life, of kindness, of nurturing and encouraging others in the faith. I like your Chrysostomos...he speaks like a Christian.