Reform of religious funding in Romania: UK Secular Society comments, Becali insults, Orthodox Church disapproves

19/4/13 Disputes over the funding of Romania’s Orthodox Church and religious organizations in general has piqued the interest of Britain’s National Secular Society. The idea of a ‘church tax’ in Romania, proposed by Romanian Green Party MP Remus Cernea, has provoked angry responses from a number of public figures, including former MEP and football boss George Becali. The church tax proposed would be similar to the system used in Germany whereby citizens have the option to donate part of the tax they pay to religious and/or non-religious organizations.