Parliament passed a strict religious legislation that forces all Non Orthodox denominations to receive official court registration.
The bill, which has been condemned by human rights groups, defines Orthodox Christianity as a "traditional religion" in the Balkan nation, which hopes to join the European Union in 2007.
Church analysts say the law appears aimed at ending a deep rift between supporters of current Patriarch Maxim and backers of his rival, Metropolitan Innokentii. He claims to be the church’s legitimate leader and accuses Maxim of having cooperated with the communists.
16TH REPUBLIC
Maxim took over leadership of the church in 1971, when the country was described as "the Soviet Union’s 16th republic" as it was considered to be one of the closest allies of Moscow.
However the law also targets Non Orthodox churches and seems to create obstacles for foreign missionary workers and evangelizing.
Earlier this week Pastor Theodor Angelov, a Sofia-based pastor who heads the European Baptist Federation, said he was worried about the "unauthorized" religious activity prescribed in the bill, with fines of up to 5,000 leva, about $2,620.
COURT PUNISH
Under the new legislation, courts can also punish religious organizations for a variety of alleged offences by stopping their activities for up to six months and banning religious publications or their distribution as well as canceling an organization’s registration.
The bill, which passed Friday December 20, by 150-0 in the 240 seat assembly with others present boycotting the vote, was initiated by the ruling National Movement Simeon II, named after the current Prime Minister and former King.
Several churches have held street protests and demanded the intervention from the Council of Europe to stop the bill.
"UNDEMOCRATIC" BILL
"The bill is undemocratic," argued Emil Cohen, an official of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, a secular human rights group, in an interview with The Associated Press news agency. He said the bill "contravenes the constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights."
About 83 percent of the country’s population of eight million are believed to be of Orthodox heritage. There are also smaller Muslim, Jewish, Catholic, Armenian Apostolic and Protestant communities.
Those who boycotted the vote include legislators from a party whose members are mostly ethnic Turks, and Muslim, AP reported.
ASSIST News Service established that although religious freedom somewhat improved since the democratic changes started in 1989, active Christians have often been forced underground amid tense relationships with post Communist authorities and police. The current bill is expected to further complicate their situation.
