Church of Communism
Friday, August 10th, 2007Since Arapaşu kicked the bucket, the religious segment of Romania has an opportunity to shed off some of the social baggage of the communist and PSD periods.
What’s interesting and shameful is the degree to which national politics and a single church remain intertwined at high-levels.
Last I remembered, when high priest Toady was choreographing the fairytale show, CNSAS actively stalled efforts to open records on collaboration between the Communist Party and those priests they put in charge of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
Now that the former communist-placed patriarch no longer exists, the ROC is undergoing the spectacle of choosing a new headmaster replete with all the political in-fighting and backstabbing one might expect from the clergy leadership.
In the midst of all this, Forumul Civic Romanesc — as part of its’ continued involvement in lustraţia — has been calling on CNSAS to open the files on those 20-odd vultures pecking eyes for helmsmanship of this particularly wealthy Romanian tax-free institution.
And, surprisingly, it appears the investigators are going to take action based on the situation.
Apparently, there will be a round of file inspection and archive cautaing which may reveal some of the sordid past of those communist-compliant priests who have risen to power inside the golden halls of Christianity.
Perhaps a few heads could roll and the political balance might be upset, depending on who holds what cards and who has friends in what places (we’re left to assume that CNSAS is not immune to influences).
My summary of the unfolding events is a split opinion. I think the Romanian people deserve to have those communist puppets currently dominating the supposedly sacrosanct pulpits ousted as the betrayers and charlatans they have been and continue to be.
On the other hand, I am disappointed that the lustration process continues to be heavily-driven by the impropriety of politics rather than any semblance of independence.
I’m strongly of the opinion that Romania should further separate the interests of the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Romanian government. The constitution specifies a freedom of religion, but such ideals rings hollow when the government openly courts and favors a particular brand of belief.
At the end of the day, after what took place for so many lives squandered, I think each file opened and shared on any tainted persons is a good thing for Romania. Let’s hope the information flows.
