wfn.org | Reprieve for Adventist Church in Estonia

[APD <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

July 8, 2001
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD

Reprieve for Adventist Church in Estonia

Tartu, Estonia. (APD)  The president of  Estonia has 
decided not to approve a law, passed by the national 
parliament June 13, that would have denied legal 
registration to religious organizations with foreign 
leadership.  Among the groups that risked losing legal 
status were Jehovah's Witnesses, the Russian Orthodox 
Church, the Seventh-day Adventist Church and other 
Protestant churches.

President Lennart Meri refused to proclaim the law 
because it contained "disproportionate restrictions to the 
exercise of freedom of religion," according to a statement 
released June 29 by the president's press office. The 
press release cited the Estonian Union of Seventh-day 
Adventists as an example of a group that would be 
unfairly impacted by the law.

The law was aimed at religious organizations, rather than 
single congregations. It would have denied registration to 
those groups whose administrative or economic 
management takes place abroad, or whose decisions 
need affirmation by leaders or administration abroad.

Tuno Jugar, president of the Adventist Church in Estonia, 
had written to President Meri asking him not to approve 
the law in its current form. He pointed out that passages 
in the legislation were in conflict with Estonia's 
Constitution and with international conventions of 
religious liberty.

Leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church were also vocal 
about their concerns, telling Keston News Service that the 
law would mean "the complete de-legitimization of our 
church structure in that country."

The law would not have affected the status of the Roman 
Catholic Church, which operates under a special 
agreement with the Estonian government brokered by the 
Vatican.