Romanian religious freedom campaigner, Viorel Dima, says that opening the lines of communication within a community is the first step toward promoting religious tolerance. Dima is director of the National Association for the Defense of Conscience and Liberty (NADCL) in Romania. During his February 26 visit to the Seventh-day Adventist Church world headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, Dima outlined the ongoing efforts of his organization in promoting religious freedom as a fundamental human right.

“Religious liberty is an essential part of society,” says Dima, who is also public affairs and religious liberty director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Romania. “If awareness of this vital subject is not continually promoted, then it can easily be lost. That is why we hold so many meetings in conjunction with local councils and other organizations around the country. We use public halls, schools, even an Orthodox monastery as venues and invite prominent local people to attend. We have teachers, policemen, physicians, as well as local government officials who work together with us in promoting the importance of freedom of conscience and religious observance as part of a democratic society.”

Romania, a former communist country, has struggled to define its response to religious pluralism since the early 1990s. “There is much pressure on the government from majority religious organizations to support the concept of a state religion,” says Dima. He adds that there is also concern over statements made by some government representatives calling into question Romania’s commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  Proposed legislation on religious matters, which includes an “anti-sect” provision, is also on the table and should be considered “very carefully and seriously,” Dima says. 

Dima stresses the importance of reaching out to every facet of society—academic, political, and religious. He says that NADCL meetings include presentations by specialists from the Romanian Academy, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, jurists, and members of religious groups. Participants discuss the role and involvement of churches in social harmony, religious freedom and international legislation, and the importance of freedom of conscience and human rights in European integration.

Other religious freedom and human rights groups are also involved, and a network of supporters of religious freedom is growing in Romania, says Dima. The association headed by Dima aims to facilitate communication, in a non-sectarian way, between all groups with an interest in religious pluralism in Romania. The Association is affiliated with the International Religious Liberty Association, a worldwide association dedicated to promoting principles of religious freedom.

The NADCL has held more than 20 of these traveling religious freedom promotions in Romania in the past year, and has plans for many more in 2001.