Communique of the Holy Synod of Bishops
of the Serbian Orthodox Church
of the Serbian Orthodox Church
As regards the latest developments in Montenegro relating to the announced adoption of the draft Law on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Legal Status of Religious Communities, the
Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church hereby expresses
its support to the archbishops, clergy, monasticism and faithful people
of the dioceses: Montenegro and the Littoral, Budimlje-Niksic, Mileseva
and Zahumlje-Herzegovina, to continue defending their religious rights
in Montenegro, encouraged by the power of the Holy Spirit and the
prayerful representation of the saints of our own kin.
As already
stated in the official statement of the Holy Assembly of Bishops, we now
reiterate that we are against the draft Law by which representatives of
the authorities in Montenegro want to forcibly take away churches and
monasteries and the belonging properties from the Metropolitanate and
Dioceses of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and whose provisions would
abolish the inalienable right of every individual to freedom of religion
and conscience.
Bearing in mind all the consequences of adopting
such a Law, we appeal to the members of the Parliament of Montenegro to
listen to the voice of the bishops and the faithful of our Holy Church
which has been unequivocally and clearly expressed at two
church-people's assemblies, and not to vote in favour of this draft Law.
At
the same time, we support the initiative proposed by His Eminence
Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral and sent to the
Legislative Committee and the Parliament of Montenegro to withdraw the
proposed Law from the parliamentary procedure, which would create
conditions for the preparation of a new one that would be in accordance
with the standards of modern democratic states and acceptable to the
Serbian Orthodox Church.
The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church