Nicolae Rădoi – AN INVINCIBLE FORTRESS, translated from the Romanian by Dorin D. Motz, #244

[Dorin Motz]

#244 Annex 3, Church and State

 

THE ROMANIAN CHRISTIAN COMMITTEE, DOCUMENT No. 11

The Defense of Religion and Conscience Freedom (ALRC), affiliated to ‘Christian Solidarity International,’ Zürich, Switzerland.

 

CHURCH AND STATE ISSUES

 

As to the Church, the Romanian State has adopted certain principles designed to create and maintain mutual respect, cooperation and good understanding between these two institutions. But these principles, expressed by laws, pacts and decrees, run counter to the atheistic-Marxist ideology and practice. These principles of the Marxist ideology demand that everything be done so that religion and the church will disappear. However, in spite of these expectations, still the Church is alive and well!

 

The State’s attitude to the Church is not dictated by conventional principles, adopted under the pressure of reality and circumstances, but under those principles which are inherent in the State, intimately linked to the essence and prevalent in the way we think. Therefore, we are not surprised by the restricting of religious freedom, by the existence of hatred and discrimination in the field of religion in Romania, and by the existence of a continuous conflict, deaf and often plain in sight, between Church and State. For the two mutually exclusive points of view on the same reality cannot peacefully coexist, but the stronger of the two will eventually win, in our case the ideological one. This in view of the continuing Marxist antireligious propaganda, while the official and legal principles will be ignored.

 

However, we believe the Church has a special role in society. She has not yet been able to demonstrate to the atheistic state her current and legitimate place, her positive and progressive role, to break down such obsolete mentalities and materialist prejudices by which it is looked upon. “Notwithstanding all her mistakes, the Church is still the best witness God has on earth! She has many critics, but no rival in her mission to save mankind…

 

Leper colonies and shelters, wherever she has been allowed to set up. At best, the Church crushes all class and racial barriers and thus makes mankind feel as one.

 

The Church has been the mother of all noble movements. She has been a creative society par excellence. She has birthed the arts, education, democracy and missionary movements. Modern democracy is the progeny of the Christian faith. Democracy is based on a particular concept of God, and hence about man and government. As Thomas Mann has so aptly put it, “Democracy is the political expression of Christianity.”

 

In the Church people take a break, so that the Eternity’s seal may be imprinted in the flashing moments of Time. Out of this worship of God proceed impulses and movements in the service of man.

 

Be that as it may, these two institutions, the Church and the State, have not yet spoken their last word!

 

Each day, it becomes more and more obvious that sustained efforts are being made in Romania towards the destruction of the Church.

 

Several actions have been taken to systematically curb religious freedom.

 

Religious persecution encompasses not only the Christians as individuals, but the entire religious life, including its spiritual and material aspects.

 

One aspect of religious persecution is the issue of granting building and renovation permits to the churches. In the ALRC document No. 4, called “Schedule of Demands,” under paragraph #4, the Party and State organs are being asked for…

 

- The right to build, to buy or to rent worship places, without the need of the Cults Department approving this.

 

- The strict observance of the right to start new local churches, work centers and parishes;

 

- The right to repair or reconstruct the denomination’s buildings which have been affected by the earthquake, and all the prayer houses, parishes, theological school, etc.;

 

- Ending any pressure exerted on owners who are willing to sell or rent real estate or land to groups of believers or church organizations that will be used for religious purposes;

 

- Ownership of churches, liturgical objects and donations;

 

- Recording in the land register of all of a denomination’s properties, without the approval of the Department of Religious Affairs, of any buildings which have been bought or constructed.

 

We are going to deal with this issue later and present some specific cases. But first, let us see what motivates Christians to ask the authorities to grant them permits for the building and renovation of churches.

 

a) Because the church facilities are old and were built of improper materials, they are no longer appropriate, risking to collapse any time;

 

b) With the numerical increase of members, the premises have become too small, hence the religious services are conducted in inappropriate conditions.

 

c) Following the March 1977 earthquake, many church buildings have been critically damaged.

 

Unable to bear any more the harsh conditions in which they had to carry out their religious services, and upon seeing that the solving of their problems drags on, many communities and churches resorted to consolidation and reconstruction of their buildings. The authorities’ response to these actions has been prompt, by stopping all building projects, by punishing the builders through heavy fines, by shutting down the worship places and, ultimately, by demolishing them!

 

To illustrate our point, let us quote some examples:

 

BAPTIST CHURCH of NEGRENI, CLUJ COUNTY

 

BAPTIST CHURCH GÎRBĂU, CLUJ COUNTY

 

PHILADELPHIA PENTECOSTAL CHURCH of MEDIAŞ

 

BAPTIST CHURCH No. 2 of REŞIŢA

 

BAPTIST CHURCH No. 4 of TIMIŞOARA

 

(Following are 15 cases of Pentecostal, Orthodox and Baptist Churches) ...

 

We might add to these dozens of just as serious cases whereby the authorities refuse to grant building permits, and they take these measures against the Christian communities, who are left with no option but to rebuild their churches.

 

Through its Constitution, its pacts, laws and decrees which it has issued or signed, Romania guarantees certain rights and freedoms to the Christians of the approved 14 denominations, which, alas, we have to say, are being systematically violated! And this violation does not occur randomly, but in a systematic, stubborn and generalized way, on a nation-wide scale, with a view to completely take away the Christians’ rights and their religious freedoms!

 

Despite these actions, Christians continue to hold their heads high, convinced the future belongs to them! They take these sufferings in stride, as birth pains, coming up with new movements, even when confronted by all sorts of persecutions and limitations.

 

Christians never lose! They are always victorious! Here is their perennial testimony:

“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4).

 

We believe that the only right and legal attitude that can be taken by state authorities is to end the religious persecution in Romania by by ensuring the full observance of religious and conscience freedom!

 

Signed: The Romanian Christian Committee for the Defense of Religious and Conscience Freedom