[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 30 (Thursday, March 9, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E335]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       OPPOSITION TO LIMITATIONS ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN ROMANIA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. WALTER B. JONES

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 9, 2006

  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my 
opposition to any limitations on religious freedom In Romania.
  The religion bill that recently passed the Romanian Senate, 
discriminates against virtually all Christians except the dominant 
Orthodox Church. The bill that now stands before the Chamber of 
Deputies would in many ways treat Evangelical Protestants and Catholics 
as inferior.
  The Romanian bill would restrict minority religious education and the 
use of church cemeteries, and would not protect private legal rights 
for all religious denominations or allow tax incentives to donors.
  The spokesperson for a leading human rights group in Bucharest said 
``the draft law infringes many laws and the Constitution of Romania, as 
well as international human rights commitments to which Romania is 
subject'' and that ``it would close the possibility for religious 
communities, such as the Greek Catholic churches, to reclaim any 
property in the hands of other faiths.'' The head of the Romanian 
Evangelical Alliance, Dr. Paul Negrut, pronounced NAY GROOTS, with whom 
I met two weeks ago said: ``this is a very critical time for religious 
liberty in Romania.''
  Because we as Americans have to stand for religious freedom 
everywhere, we are especially concerned about this development in an 
emerging democracy that is a friend and ally of the U.S.
  As one who has championed the Houses of Worship bill in the U.S. 
Congress, it is a personal matter of importance to me.
  I urge the Romanian President and the Romanian Parliament to reject 
this discriminatory religious bill to help protect freedom of religion 
and to help improve U.S.-Romanian relations.

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