PRESS RELEASE: A New Solution Is Required for an Old Problem

Romanian Orthodox Church

Concerning the position expressed by the Romanian Church United with Rome (Greek-Catholic), in the press statement of the Major Archdiocese of Blaj, released on October 5, 2009, we wish to clarify:

The Romanian Patriarchate was surprised to find out that its viewpoint – which pleaded for the finding of law provisions by state authorities and for the finding of practical solutions to solve the patrimonial differences between the Orthodox and Greek Catholic communities in Transylvania – was knowingly misconstrued by the Major Archdiocese of Blaj, which accuses the Romanian Patriarchate that it “incites interfaith hatred and supports the process of cultural and religious cleansing which targets the Greek Catholic Church in Romania.”

We thus consider that, through this type of alarmist and emotional attitude, some representatives of the Greek Catholic Church continue their strategy of excessive lamentation in front of the public opinion, both domestic and foreign, instead of adopting a pragmatic and responsible approach to the situation, in accordance with the pastoral and social realities, as it is fit for a civilized society. To this end, last week, during their meeting at the Romanian Patriarchate, 30 priests from the Diocese of Maramures and Satmar have reported a series of grave situations, furthermost that of the 106 litigations that the Orthodox have with the Greek Catholics, 76 are in areas where the Greek Catholic communities have already their own worship place or are building one with the help of the Romanian state, and, in some cases, also with the help of the Orthodox faithful.

The Romanian Patriarchate reaffirms its point of view concerning the resolution of the patrimonial differences between the Orthodox and Greek Catholic communities in Transylvania through dialogue and realistic practical solutions on a case-by-case basis, in the ecumenical spirit of Pope John Paul II, which he expressed repeatedly, including during his visit in Bucharest in 1999. In this context, according to the data supplied by the Orthodox dioceses in Transylvania and Banat, since 1990, approximately 170 worship places were given (of which over 60 through dialogue), in addition to 49 parish houses and 21 schools and other buildings.

We think that, trough this type of realistic approach, the existing litigations between the Orthodox and Greek-Catholic communities in Transylvania can be solved. In this manner, the interfaith conflicts and such extremely harsh language between the two Romanian Churches can be avoided.

THE PRESS OFFICE OF THE ROMANIAN PATRIARCHATE

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