E/CN.4/1989/44
page 34
63. On 24 November 1988, the Permanent Mission of the Socialist Republic of
Romania transmitted a preliminary comment and a document on religious freedoms
and religious life in Romania. In this preliminary reply to the
Special Rapporteur's letters of 20 October and 7 November 1988 to the Romanian
Government, the relevant provisions of the Constitution and other laws
concerning religious freedoms were mentioned and information also supplied on
religious practices in Romania. On 9 December 1988, the Permanent Mission of
the Socialist Republic of Romania transmitted additional comments and
documents together with letters from the leaders of the religious groups
concerned. These two replies stated in particular:
"The Roman Catholic Church enjoys the same religious rights and
freedoms as all the other 13 churches in Romania, whatever the
nationality of the believers.
The Roman Catholic bishopric of Alba Iulia and the central Roman
Catholic archipresbyterates of Oradea and Satu Mare, which have members
of Hungarian nationality, enjoy all the necessary conditions for the free
practice of their worship and administration, religious services and all
other aspects of their activities, in their mother tongue, in accordance
with their own religious doctrines and requirements.
"For the requirements of the religious life, these religious units
have Bibles in Hungarian (in 1982 alone 25,000 were imported while others
were printed in the country), and other publications in that language
(calendars, catechisms, prayer books, hymn books and others).
"The training of Catholic clergy takes place at the university-level
theological institute of Alba Iulia
in Hungarian. For the training
of Romanian Catholic priests the institute has a Romanian language
section at Iasi. The total number of students is 179. Similarly, for
the training of middle-level religious personnel, the Catholic Church has
a choir school giving courses which are currently attended by 45 students.
"The number of places offered at the entrance examination each year,
both at the institute and at the choir school, is established following
consultations between the leaders of the Catholic Church and the Romanian
State authorities, since it is the State which meets all the expenses of
the two institutions. Naturally, as in all educational institutions in
Romania, where education is entirely free, the number of places depends
on the funds available. There is no question of a numerus clausus, since
the number is actually established by the leaders of the Catholic Church
on the basis of its personnel requirements.
"It should be pointed out that the name "Gyulafehervar", used in the
note annexed to the letter, was that given by the Austro-Hungarian empire
to the Romanian locality of Alba Iulia up until 1918.
"As regards the priest (name given) (Homorodu de Jos, district of
Maramures), it may be noted that he continues to work as a priest and
that the alleged report of his disappearance is a complete fabrication.