Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASHGABAT1097
2007-10-10 12:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: CATHOLIC CHURCH PLANS PUSH FOR
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 001097
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/ACE, DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KIRF SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: CATHOLIC CHURCH PLANS PUSH FOR
REGISTRATION
Classified By: CHARGE RICHARD E. HOAGLAND FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 001097
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/ACE, DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KIRF SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: CATHOLIC CHURCH PLANS PUSH FOR
REGISTRATION
Classified By: CHARGE RICHARD E. HOAGLAND FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) SUMMARY: A Vatican representative will come to
Ashgabat on December 11 or 12 to formally request that the
Turkmenistan government register the Roman Catholic Church.
The requirement that the head of a religious organization be
a Turkmenistan citizen still remains a major impediment to
registration. U.S. assistance in response to Turkmenistan's
request for expert advice to re-draft its Law on Religion to
meet international standards and obligations would be one way
to overcome this impasse. Despite its unregistered status,
the Catholic Church is able to function, hold weekly
services, and even provide instruction to potential converts,
without government interference. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) A Vatican representative plans to come to
Turkmenistan December 11 or 12 to formally ask that the
Catholic Church be registered, Father Adrzey Madej, cultural
attache at the Apostolic Nunciature, told us October 6. The
main obstacle to registration in the past has been the fact
that Turkmen law requires the head of a religious
organization be a Turkmen citizen. Madej, who has lived in
Turkenistan for more than ten years, applied for Turkmen
citizenship in the past, but was denied. And currently there
are no priests who are Turkmenistani citizens. Madej had
planned to ask his superiors to allow a local citizen member
of the parish to serve as the head of the church for
registration purposes (president of the parish council, for
example),but he was told to put all efforts at registration
on hold until after the December visit.
3. (C) Madej said Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister
Meredov previously had asked that the two sides find a way to
resolve the impasse. Madej did not think the Vatican would
settle for anything less than the law being repealed or for
an exemption. He said church officials would probably also
have problems with some of the reporting requirements
mandated of registered organizations.
4. (U) Madej said registration would benefit the Catholic
Church in Turkmenistan, because they would be able to build a
church, bring in nuns, and hopefully, operate a school.
Nevertheless, the church is able to function without
registration. Attendance at weekly masses is about 100.
Local membership is composed of 80% of those with Slavic
ancestry and 20% ethnic Turkmen. The congregation is
predominantly female.
5. (SBU) Although proselytizing by foreigners is illegal in
Turkmenistan, the Catholic Church, nevertheless, is able to
hold weekly classes for people interested in converting. In
fact, in contrast to past years, when potential converts were
subject to harassment by government officials, both the
students and classes are undisturbed. Attendees, according
to Madej, range from teenagers to adults. Most of the people
heard about Catholicism by word of mouth or were referred by
friends. About 30-40 people attend these weekly classes, 1/3
of whom are ethnic Turkmen. Madej insists that the students
study for a minimum of five years to ensure they are sincere,
before being baptized.
6. (C) COMMENT: It is a positive sign that the Catholic
Church is able to function, even without registration.
However, it may be difficult for the government to work
around existing legislation to allow registration. U.S.
assistance in response to Turkmenistan's request for expert
advice to re-draft its Law on Religion to meet international
standards and obligations would be one way to help overcome
this impasse. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/ACE, DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KIRF SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: CATHOLIC CHURCH PLANS PUSH FOR
REGISTRATION
Classified By: CHARGE RICHARD E. HOAGLAND FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) SUMMARY: A Vatican representative will come to
Ashgabat on December 11 or 12 to formally request that the
Turkmenistan government register the Roman Catholic Church.
The requirement that the head of a religious organization be
a Turkmenistan citizen still remains a major impediment to
registration. U.S. assistance in response to Turkmenistan's
request for expert advice to re-draft its Law on Religion to
meet international standards and obligations would be one way
to overcome this impasse. Despite its unregistered status,
the Catholic Church is able to function, hold weekly
services, and even provide instruction to potential converts,
without government interference. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) A Vatican representative plans to come to
Turkmenistan December 11 or 12 to formally ask that the
Catholic Church be registered, Father Adrzey Madej, cultural
attache at the Apostolic Nunciature, told us October 6. The
main obstacle to registration in the past has been the fact
that Turkmen law requires the head of a religious
organization be a Turkmen citizen. Madej, who has lived in
Turkenistan for more than ten years, applied for Turkmen
citizenship in the past, but was denied. And currently there
are no priests who are Turkmenistani citizens. Madej had
planned to ask his superiors to allow a local citizen member
of the parish to serve as the head of the church for
registration purposes (president of the parish council, for
example),but he was told to put all efforts at registration
on hold until after the December visit.
3. (C) Madej said Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister
Meredov previously had asked that the two sides find a way to
resolve the impasse. Madej did not think the Vatican would
settle for anything less than the law being repealed or for
an exemption. He said church officials would probably also
have problems with some of the reporting requirements
mandated of registered organizations.
4. (U) Madej said registration would benefit the Catholic
Church in Turkmenistan, because they would be able to build a
church, bring in nuns, and hopefully, operate a school.
Nevertheless, the church is able to function without
registration. Attendance at weekly masses is about 100.
Local membership is composed of 80% of those with Slavic
ancestry and 20% ethnic Turkmen. The congregation is
predominantly female.
5. (SBU) Although proselytizing by foreigners is illegal in
Turkmenistan, the Catholic Church, nevertheless, is able to
hold weekly classes for people interested in converting. In
fact, in contrast to past years, when potential converts were
subject to harassment by government officials, both the
students and classes are undisturbed. Attendees, according
to Madej, range from teenagers to adults. Most of the people
heard about Catholicism by word of mouth or were referred by
friends. About 30-40 people attend these weekly classes, 1/3
of whom are ethnic Turkmen. Madej insists that the students
study for a minimum of five years to ensure they are sincere,
before being baptized.
6. (C) COMMENT: It is a positive sign that the Catholic
Church is able to function, even without registration.
However, it may be difficult for the government to work
around existing legislation to allow registration. U.S.
assistance in response to Turkmenistan's request for expert
advice to re-draft its Law on Religion to meet international
standards and obligations would be one way to help overcome
this impasse. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND