wfn.org | Romania: Adventist Church Rejects Proposed Discriminatory Legislation

["Beckett, John" <BeckettJ@gc.adventist.org>]

on Religion

ANN Bulletin
Adventist News Network
Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters
November 30, 1999

Romania: Adventist Church Rejects Proposed Discriminatory Legislation on
Religion
Bucharest, Romania ... [ANN]

After reviewing a proposed new law on religious denominations in Romania,
the Seventh-day Adventist Church's Executive Committee voted on November 26
to return the draft law to the Prime Minister's office with the response
that it was "unacceptable."

The draft legislation seeks to establish a two-tier system of state
recognition for religions: 15 are identified as fully recognized, while all
others would be simply seen as "associations" with far fewer privileges
under the law. Heavy penalties are to be imposed on any groups not
registered by the state. 

The draft law was reviewed in a meeting on November 25 of the Parliamentary
Commission for Human Rights, Religious Denominations and Ethnical
Minorities.

"A significant number of representatives expressed their deep concern for
the general tone of the draft which is perceived as very restrictive and
discriminatory," comments Adrian Bocaneanu, president of the Adventist
Church in Romania. "They deplored the fact that the draft was significantly
altered since accepted by consensus by representatives of the religious
denominations."

The Adventist Church was represented by Pastor Aron Moldovan, secretary
general, and Pastor Viorel Dima, director for religious freedom and
executive secretary of the Romanian branch of the International Association
for the Defense of Religious Freedom.

Hope is growing for a better consensus on the legislative requirements. 

"There seems to be a growing awareness of the serious flaws of the draft and
its very adverse reaction on the international scene at a time when Romania
is more eager than ever for international approval and support," says
Bocaneanu. [Jonathan Gallagher]

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