There is an increasing interest in issues of religious freedom and human rights in Romania, a trend that is linked with the country’s application to join the European Union, says Jonathan Gallagher, associate director for public affairs and religious liberty for the Seventh-day Adventist Church worldwide.

Romanian national television featured an interview with Gallagher, recorded May 13 in the Galati “Betania” Adventist Church in Romania.

“We talked about the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights, to which Romania is a signatory, and the need to make sure the practice matches the theory,” says Gallagher. “It also was a chance to demonstrate very practically the Adventist Church’s strong and continuing support for concepts of tolerance, respect, and non-discrimination in the area of religious freedom and human rights.”

The interview was conducted during a series of six religious liberty sessions held in Bacau and Galati as part of a program of training and publicity organized by Viorel Dima, director of religious liberty for the Adventist Church in Romania.

“The involvement of the media provided an excellent opportunity to highlight the need for freedom of conscience and worship in a country that may at times be dominated by a majority faith,” explains Gallagher.

“We call on the public and the government of Romania to ensure that the fundamental rights of freedom of conscience as guaranteed in the Constitution and in the international documents are respected,” Gallagher concludes. “We are confident that the right decisions will be made, and that the great progress already made in religious freedom in Romania will continue.”