Orthodox Church
Union of priests rattle Orthodox Church
Wednesday 04 June 2008
The clergy of the Romanian Orthodox Church have created the first labour union of priests, with plenty of grievances toward the government and the church's Patriarchy. (Report: M.Bran)
Wednesday 04 June 2008
By FRANCE 24In the office of the Patriarchy of the Romanian Orthodox Church, anger is in the air and hostilities against the unionist priests have emerged.
The Patriarchy considers the initiative of certain priests to set up unions to be against the regulations and the statutes of the Church.
In spite of the tensions between the direction of the Church and the 15,000 Romanian priests, religion is all over Romanian public life. Religious icons decorate the walls of state schools while the children are taught the catechism.
Union members hope to negotiate a collective job agreement. The State pays them an average wage of only 200 euros, with little possibility for a raise.
In order to make themselves heard by all means, the Romanian priests have involved themselves in the political scene. Hundreds were running in the local elections organized in Romania on June 1st.
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