A recent attack on an Adventist church building is "disturbing for religious freedom," says Viorel Dima, director of the Seventh-day Adventist Church's department of religious liberty in Romania.
A recent attack on an Adventist church building is “disturbing for religious freedom,” says Viorel Dima, director of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s department of religious liberty in Romania.
The damage, caused by unknown culprits, was discovered May 25 when church members arrived for a religious service. The attackers had smashed their way into the church through a window and proceeded to destroy much of the interior of the church.
All the front windows were shattered, together with internal glass doors and the glass on the baptistry. The organ was overturned and broken, wooden cupboard, couches and chairs destroyed, and light fittings damaged. Staircase railings were torn down, and the pulpit thrown to the ground. A sack of cement was torn open and its contents scattered all over the church. Blood stains found on some walls are assumed to be those of the vandals.
According to a May 28 report in the Evenimentul Zilei, a local newspaper, the deputy chief of the Buzau Police District Inspectorate has characterized the incident as a “revenge attack” incited by local religious tensions.
Dima is concerned not to prejudge the event, but maintains it is a sign that there is still work to be done in developing inter-religious harmony and religious freedom.
“Until the inquiries are completed and the culprits found, it is difficult to express an opinion regarding the causes of this incident,” he says. “But we view it as a signal which warns us that we must work with more determination to improve the religious climate in this part of the country.”
“In Romania, inter-denominational relations are good and we generally enjoy a positive climate of understanding and respect for the religious rights and liberties,” Dima adds. “The Adventist Church in our country has a good image and has developed good relations with the authorities and with the representatives of other churches. In Buzau District, we have experienced from time to time some manifestations of religious intolerance, but never on such a level as this.”
In a separate case, the Adventist church in Bucesti has experienced hostility, with windows being broken and dead animals and garbage being thrown onto the church property. A local priest has also spoken in favor of the destruction of the Adventist church building.
“We find these actions very disturbing for religious liberty,” Dima concludes. “However we remain confident that the government authorities will act to confirm their commitment to freedom of conscience and human rights, and that those who act outside the law will be brought to account.”