persecution of religion in Montenegro

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, and all people of good will,

Government of Montenegro initiated a procedure for passing a legislature whose intent is to criple the freedom of religion in this country. The draft law enables a state control over symbols, organization, teachings, appointing clergy of churches and religious communities.It forces o religious communities to affirm all governmental policies. It forbids religious instruction to children, takes tight control over education of clergy. The most shocking provision of this draft relates to confiscating ancient holy shrines, monasteries, churches that have been the property of religious communities, in some cases, for thousand years. What even the communist regime did not confiscate, their descendants in capitalist descuise will. What motivates such move? Montenegrin government that has been in power for 25 years is weak and has a thin support. This way, it wants to force religious communities into submission in order to have support for its, often, devastating policies.

draft of the law in original http://www.minmanj.gov.me/ResourceManager/FileDownload.aspx?rId=211144&rType=2

the translation of the draft law at https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=587157234755528&id=293781280759793

Diocese of Budimlje and Niksic    Contact the author of the petition