Church of Communism
Since 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.
August 11th, 2007 at 12:14 am
“Romanian Orthodox Church” … probably should be written as “Rumanian Ethno-National Cult” since it increasingly identifies itself as the Church of the Rumanians, and not as the congregation of the believers in the resurection of Jesus Christ that happen to live in Rumania. This, by the statutes of the Eastern Orthodox Church, is a heresy called phyletism, and was formally condemned during a synod of the Eastern Orthodox Church. It is also not a Church, or eclesia, since the statues regarding the involvement of the lay members of the Eastern Orthodox Church in the administration are not respected.
August 11th, 2007 at 1:55 am
Emil, that’s the church’s official stance.
But the truth is that many priests (from the lowest to the highest ranks) do not have that official semi-fascist stance of “defenders of Rumanianism”, but they’re crooks, thiefs, corrupt people, ex-communists, ex-securitate officers etc.
The priest in a Wallachian village I know is an old car dealer (you know how honest the people in that industry are) and he drives a bright yellow convertable (very appropriate for a priest). In another village in the same county, a priest fooled someone into selling a property for a very small price, misusing the exaggerated confidence the ordinary elderly people have in priests.
Then there’s the problem of money extorted from the parishioners. Well, one can’t extort much money from people in poor areas, so there are “good parishes” and “bad parishes”. For a priest to get a “good parish”, one has to pay more than 15,000 euros in bribes, but allegedly this is a good investment, as in less than two years one can earn his money back.
August 11th, 2007 at 2:37 am
Bogdan,
the issue is not whether if honest priests still exist or not. I believe most of the lower clergy are as honest their parishioners .
The issue is that Arapaşu’s cult is not Christian anymore.
Disclaimer: I am not neo-protestant, Catholic etc.
August 11th, 2007 at 5:27 am
Let’s not forget the priest who was growing marijuana in large quantities and, after apprehension, claimed it was for his wife. Politicians ordered a slap on the wrist and prosecutors took it easy.
August 11th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
In my building, at the last floor lives a priest (working at the Patriarchy– occasionally I get woken up in the morning by his singing), who allegedly brings women in his apartment for unknown reasons. :-)
I’m sure that many priests are nice people, but I think the people have way too much confidence in the church and priests.
August 19th, 2007 at 2:50 am
hi nice post, i enjoyed it
August 20th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
but why?
let’s look here
http://www.reportingproject.net/sub_story03_rom.html
(right side- The Holy Power)
and here
http://www.standard.ro/articol_9851/the_wealth_of_the_romanian_orthodox_church_exceeds____3_billion.html
o halca serioasa, merita batalia-
August 22nd, 2007 at 10:10 am
Where the…. is your mail or PM option? Anyway, there’s something for you.
- a relative
http://iheartrome.blogspot.com/
- something good
http://www.aceea.ro/ro/eveniment_1.php
August 29th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
off topic: it’s time somebody hit the refresh button around here!
September 21st, 2007 at 3:17 am
Hey Romerican, still stirring the pot I see. Very interesting post. The first comment made by Bogdan sounds so very much the way things were at the time when the whole Robin Hood story got started. When was that anyway? 1300’s? Anyway, the corrupt religious orders and intertwining of church and politics seems to be something that just never goes out of style.
September 26th, 2007 at 4:12 am
where in the world is romerican today?
October 1st, 2007 at 7:00 pm
I second Ron & Maria. Where are you? Hello? Hellooooo?! (the sound of echo creeps me out).
October 6th, 2007 at 12:09 am
What, have BOR break the habits of the 16-19th centuries, pre and post Phanariot? What was good for the boierii… Aren’t you asking a bit much? :-P
Wake me up when the Mitropolia gives back all the properties of the greco-catolicii and alte culte that Dej, Leonte Rautu and company, on down through Iliescu and Theodorescu, finagled and secured for them. Then I’ll believe there might actually be real, moral change afoot in the BOR leadership.
Yes, I know I’m going to hell. This one is the least of my worries… :-D
+1 to: Romerican, where the hell are you? :-)
October 6th, 2007 at 4:57 am
Romerican is now working a a merce… oops, I mean, consultant, for Blackwater USA!
Go USA!
October 6th, 2007 at 11:34 am
It has been very interesting to read your blog romerican. I am from Chile but I used to live in Bucharest when I was a child.
October 9th, 2007 at 2:16 am
could it be possible that the romerican has abandoned the masses for bigger and better things and that the blog was merely boredom in type?
Where the f*&#k are you Sean?
October 11th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
He is obviously into delaying pleasure.
:o))
October 16th, 2007 at 2:46 am
Thanks, everyone. The lights are starting to come back on.
November 5th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
Go back in America!