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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Nov 1999

Vol. 510 No. 6

Written Answers. - Romanian Uniate Church.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

121 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will consider the points raised by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6W concerning the Greek Catholic Church in Romania; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23259/99]

I am aware of issues concerning the restitution of church property and places of worship in relation to the Eastern Rite Catholic Church in Romania, also known as the Romanian Uniate Church. We have raised this matter with a number of interested bodies, including the Vatican authorities, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE – and the EU Commission office in Bucharest. It has also been raised directly with the Romanian authorities. As chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, I am looking in particular to see how that organisation may be able to assist in this matter.

From our contacts with the bodies I mentioned above, there would not appear to be reports of systematic discrimination against members of the Romanian Uniate Church. However, the situation regarding the restitution of church property is very complex. Last year the judicial committee of the Romanian Senate decided that the matter should be settled among the churches rather than in parliament on the grounds that, according to the 1991 Romanian Constitution, the parliament cannot take decisions involving church matters. The vast majority of properties whose restitution is sought by the Romanian Uniate Church are currently in the possession of the Orthodox Church. This issue is one of several considered at the Reconciliation Dialogue between the two churches which was held in Bucharest on 28 October 1998. It was agreed that in the first instance the issue should be addressed at diocesan and parochial levels and that each and every case should be examined to determine the practical possibility of resolving problems in consultations involving the clergy and the faithful. I understand that negotiations between the orthodox and uniate churches are continuing. Ireland will continue to keep all aspects of this issue under review, both in our EU and multilateral contacts and directly with the Romanian authorities.
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