Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BUCHAREST780
2006-05-12 16:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bucharest
Cable title:
ROMANIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH'S OVERNIGHT DEMOLITION OF
how-toVZCZCXRO2906 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHBM #0780 1321603 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 121603Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4386 INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 0003 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0814 RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KIEV 1225 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 0330
UNCLAS BUCHAREST 000780
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR EUR/NCE - WILLIAM SILKWORTH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI KIRF RO
SUBJECT: ROMANIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH'S OVERNIGHT DEMOLITION OF
A GREEK-CATHOLIC CHURCH
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY
UNCLAS BUCHAREST 000780
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR EUR/NCE - WILLIAM SILKWORTH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI KIRF RO
SUBJECT: ROMANIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH'S OVERNIGHT DEMOLITION OF
A GREEK-CATHOLIC CHURCH
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY
1. (U) Several media outlets reported that, overnight, a
wrecking crew acting on instructions from the GOR-affiliated
Romanian Orthodox Church (BOR) demolished a Greek-Catholic
church in the Transylvanian village of Taga, near Cluj-
Napoca, violating a court's injunction that banned the
building's demolition. During the night of May 9, the local
Orthodox priest and his supporters tore down a Greek
Catholic parish church that was in the process of being
restituted and was the subject of negotiations between the
two denominations. Despite promising to reopen negotiations
after the April 23 Orthodox Easter, Orthodox activists
reportedly built a wall around the church shortly after, and
overnight, destroyed the building. The following day,
members of the Orthodox community began constructing a new
church despite an injunction that also banned any new
construction. The mayor of Taga, Romulus Marza, reportedly
stated that the church belongs to the BOR as "we have more
of their members in the village." He issued a demolition
permit to the Orthodox Church after the incident on May 10.
2. (SBU) According to Greek Catholic Priest Calin Teglas,
the Greek Catholic Church holds the property deed and is the
rightful owner of the church property. The Orthodox Church
disputed the deed and claimed that the Greek Catholics lost
their ownership rights when the building was destroyed in
1965 and a new one was built. Teglas indicated that an
officer sent from the County Court to monitor observance of
the injunction this week was in fact harassed by the local
community, "under the influence of the Orthodox priest."
Teglas also lamented to Emboff that Taga village is not the
first time the Orthodox Church used this tactic -- the
church in Belotint village of Arad County is presently
facing the same danger. He said that his Greek Catholic
Diocese intends to file a criminal complaint against the
BOR.
3. (U) Amembassy Bucharest's reporting telegrams are
available on the Bucharest SIPRNET Website:
www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/bucharest.
Taubman
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR EUR/NCE - WILLIAM SILKWORTH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI KIRF RO
SUBJECT: ROMANIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH'S OVERNIGHT DEMOLITION OF
A GREEK-CATHOLIC CHURCH
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY
1. (U) Several media outlets reported that, overnight, a
wrecking crew acting on instructions from the GOR-affiliated
Romanian Orthodox Church (BOR) demolished a Greek-Catholic
church in the Transylvanian village of Taga, near Cluj-
Napoca, violating a court's injunction that banned the
building's demolition. During the night of May 9, the local
Orthodox priest and his supporters tore down a Greek
Catholic parish church that was in the process of being
restituted and was the subject of negotiations between the
two denominations. Despite promising to reopen negotiations
after the April 23 Orthodox Easter, Orthodox activists
reportedly built a wall around the church shortly after, and
overnight, destroyed the building. The following day,
members of the Orthodox community began constructing a new
church despite an injunction that also banned any new
construction. The mayor of Taga, Romulus Marza, reportedly
stated that the church belongs to the BOR as "we have more
of their members in the village." He issued a demolition
permit to the Orthodox Church after the incident on May 10.
2. (SBU) According to Greek Catholic Priest Calin Teglas,
the Greek Catholic Church holds the property deed and is the
rightful owner of the church property. The Orthodox Church
disputed the deed and claimed that the Greek Catholics lost
their ownership rights when the building was destroyed in
1965 and a new one was built. Teglas indicated that an
officer sent from the County Court to monitor observance of
the injunction this week was in fact harassed by the local
community, "under the influence of the Orthodox priest."
Teglas also lamented to Emboff that Taga village is not the
first time the Orthodox Church used this tactic -- the
church in Belotint village of Arad County is presently
facing the same danger. He said that his Greek Catholic
Diocese intends to file a criminal complaint against the
BOR.
3. (U) Amembassy Bucharest's reporting telegrams are
available on the Bucharest SIPRNET Website:
www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/bucharest.
Taubman