Czech bishops on European Court of Human Rights decision

The Czech Bishops’ Conference released a statement on the decision of the European Court of Human Rights from January 31, 2012. One of the court’s chambers condemned the state of Romania for having refused to register an association “Păstorul cel Bun” although the state just followed its system of law.

Statement of the Czech Bishops’ Conference on the decision of the European Court of Human Rights from January 31, 2012

The Czech Bishops’ Conference joins voices from many representatives of Churches and religious societies in Europe as regards the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg from January 31, 2012 (No. 2330/09). With this decision, one of the chambers of the European Court of Human Rights condemned the state of Romania for having refused, according to its system of law, to register an association “Păstorul cel Bun,” which had been established by several clergymen and laymen of the Romanian Orthodox Church despite of disagreement of the hierarchy and contrary to internal regulations of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

In contradiction with practice of the courts, the chamber of the European Court of Human Rights preferred the right of association to the right of the Romanian Orthodox Church for independent administration of its internal matters. The chamber of the European Court of Human Rights didn’t take into account the fact that activities of clergymen and other people serving in the Romanian Orthodox Church consists in unity between them and representatives of the Church, and that without respect for Church hierarchy the ecclesiastic ministry lacks its reason.

The Czech Bishops’ Conference hopes that the European Court of Human Rights will consider the case again and asks that this case be submitted to the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights, so that all the above-mentioned aspects could be taken into account properly.

Prague, April 25, 2012

Czech Bishops’ Conference