It is already the third week that continues the signature against the activities of religious sects, which is initiated by Armenia’s youth foundation in collaboration with student councils of universities and youth organizations.<\/p>\n
The occasion for such signatures became the dispute between Jehovah’s Witnesses and south-western district pastor of Holy Trinity ChurchTer Esayi priest Artenyan on May 15, which immediately stirred active public discussion.<\/p>\n
Through the signature the youth wanted to show that they are with Apostolic Church: a few days before the signature they sent an open letter addressed to the President of Armenia Serge Sargsyan.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is not we, that started the signature, neither the Church organize it,\u201d noted Ter Esayi priest Artenyan: \u201cThis is personal initiative of our faithful people , and signatures are based on our request and demand to the National Assembly and relevant authorities of Republic of Armenian to give clear definition of what is proselytizing,\u201d says Ter Esayi.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It is already the third week that continues the signature against the activities of religious sects, which is initiated by Armenia’s youth foundation in collaboration with student councils of universities and youth organizations.<\/p>\n
The occasion for such signatures became the dispute between Jehovah’s Witnesses and south-western district pastor of Holy Trinity ChurchTer Esayi priest Artenyan on May 15, which immediately stirred active public discussion.<\/p>\n
Through the signature the youth wanted to show that they are with Apostolic Church: a few days before the signature they sent an open letter addressed to the President of Armenia Serge Sargsyan.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is not we, that started the signature, neither the Church organize it,\u201d noted Ter Esayi priest Artenyan: \u201cThis is personal initiative of our faithful people , and signatures are based on our request and demand to the National Assembly and relevant authorities of Republic of Armenian to give clear definition of what is proselytizing,\u201d says Ter Esayi.<\/p>\n
According to him, in the law of “Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations” of the Republic of Armenia it is only written that it is prohibited proselytizing in the territory of Armenia, but there is no point about what proselytizing means. Ter Esayi claims that by giving legal definition of the word proselytizing, it will be possible to determine the appropriate punishment in case of any proselytizing applies.<\/p>\n
“On the other hand we demand or ask to state clearly in the law the statement to control the area of the church.The area of our Church must be refrain from any kind of abuses,” says the priest.<\/p>\n
What about the legal formulation of “proselytizing” word, as the priest says, must give the appropriate specialists.<\/p>\n
“Taking into the consideration the fact that there are conventions, under which our country has signed, of course, our requirements must be such that will not interfere with them. For me proselytizing is when sectarians preach on the territory of our Church, when you take them outside, they return from the window , and there are many examples.No sectarian is na\u00efve.\u201d<\/p>\n
They apply to National Assembly before to demand clear definition for proselytizing problem, but the process was suspended: “Of course Europe did not like it. This signature is not a delayed case, this is a link of the chain of the common struggle. If before some concrete organizations were initiated this kind of movement, then the difference is that now people do that,” Ter Yesayi priest Artenyan thinks .<\/p>\n
The priest notes that this time their expectations are more than justified. ” Recently some kind of interesting movement started, or discussion was held in connection with signature. It is directed not against the movement of any sectarian or suspension of any religious organization , but to define concrete term for proselytizing. And suddenly all sectarians in Armenia, led by Evangelicals, raised a protest movement saying, that it is illegal or is contrary to the requirement of European conventions on human rights.And that is, when they confess that they do not proselytizing, but only do peaceful preaches. If this is true , then why do they worry about the law. ”<\/p>\n