Religious Freedom in Romania as Scanned and viewed by US

Romania
International Religious Freedom Report 2007
Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

English Version, You may read it at:
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90195.htm

Versiunea Romana poate fi citita la http://bucharest.usembassy.gov/US_Policy/2007_IRF_Ro.html

The document was released on September 14, 2007

We are going to comment it later on.

RENEWED COMMITTMENT AND EXPECTATIONS: Churches urged to support migrant and other vulnerable minorities

Posted by: "Roma Virtual Network" romale@zahav.net.il valery_novoselsky
Thu Sep 13, 2007 3:13 am (PST)
Churches urged to support migrant and other vulnerable minority communities Ekklesia.co.uk

Delegates at the Third European Ecumenical Assembly meeting in Sibiu, Romania, concluded their weeklong gathering on 9 September 2007 with a call to the churches of Europe to deepen their support for migrants and other victimised minority groups.In a four-page Assembly Message citing 10 recommendations for the future, delegates from Protestant, Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican and Free Church traditions urged the continent's churches to focus that care on to the Roma people in particular and to make efforts to "offer better pastoral care for migrants, asylum seekers and refugees".Acknowledging the continuing quest for Christian unity in Europe, the assembly recommended that churches renew their common mission "to proclaim Christ as the Light and the Saviour of the world".

It also encouraged churches to continue dialoguing towards a "mutual recognition of baptism", create more opportunities for common prayer, pilgrimages, theological education and study in support of Christian values, and that churches work towards "the full participation of the whole people of God", including "young people, the elderly, ethnic minorities and disabled people."The assembly reaffirmed the Charta Oecumenica, a set of guidelines agreed in Europe for Christian interaction and cooperation, calling it a "stimulating" resource "for our ecumenical journey in Europe".The assembly exhorted European churches and European institutions to be courageous in addressing the needs of the whole world, while the Message recommended support for the UN's Millennium Development Goals and the creation of a new "consultative process" among church organisations on the European role in addressing ecological justice, human rights and other issues of globalisation.It also recommended the backing of initiatives for debt cancellation and fair trade.

The Third European Ecumenical Assembly - follwing similar events in Basel1989 and Graz 1997 - concluded with a new consensus to set aside the period between 1 September and 4 October on an annual basis to pray for the protection of creation and "the promotion of sustainable lifestyles that reverse our contribution to climate change".

Roman Catholic Charity Attaked for Hosting Rroma People

In Italy, Pavia, citizens attacked a Roman-Catholic Church charity for hosting Rroma. During last months many Rroma were attacked just for being in Italy. The worst crime was when a band of teenagers burn to death a camp of Rroma/Sinti and children died in fire. Yet, only few journalists dear to say those criminals are fascists.

Now we have a new fact: Attack on Church for hosting Rroma. Those people were taken in care by the Church, were not dirty, they made no trouble and although living in simplicity as everywhere in Church Charities they were not welcomed.

Let me underline, that the Rroma/Sinti were not attacked this time BUT THE CHURCH.
Why? For daring to host Rroma/Sinti. This is indeed a warning message to the Churches in Europe. The attackers, through this action are warning the Churches not to work for Rroma/Sinti as they will suffer consequences.

It is well known that at their own initiative or under the umbrella of the Conference of European Churches all Churches in Europe have helped Rroma or Non-Roma NGOs to work for alleviating the situation of Roma/Sinti.

European authorities must act now.

Religion classes: compulsory with choices

Religion classes would become obligatory for grades 1-9 in Romanian. After negociations this was the decision concluded by the Education Ministry and other actors partaking into negotiations. There will be also positive exceptions: constitutionally, those who do not want to study it, may be receiving a derogation.Education Ministry spokewoman, A. Stefanescu says that even though religion classes are compulsory, each pupil has the right to choose his/her religion. Thus, if one wishes to study another religion than his colleagues the school has to guarantee the chance of learning it.Moreover, those who do not wish to study religion at all can do so and their grades will discount these classes. Thus, religion becomes an offer and not an obligation.

Secular Protest Against Our Father Prayer at the Beginning of National Radio Broadcasting

Association for Freedom of Counsciousness recently issued a protest against broadcasting the Our Father prayer at the beginning and the end of National Radio dayly broadcasts.

Without having the necesary documentation, that Our Father is accepted as prayer by all confessions, the officals of the above named association said that broadcasting the prayer is discriminating other "Confessions" ...?! ... than the Orthodox. Follwing the bolgs and commentaries we can notice that all comentators are in favour of broadcasting the prayer... some answers stating that also in Islam and in Baha'i religion Our Father is accepted as prayer and that Our Father is from a theological point of view an ecumenical foundation.