Conflict over Adventist religious gathering downtown continues

A few days ago, a newly-formed non-governmental organization presented a letter from Moldovan Metropolitan Vladimir, in which he was asking local authorities to cancel an Adventist gathering in downtown Chisinau.

Chisinau City Hall said it could not make judgments on the content of public get-togethers, so the meeting is to take place on August 15. A religious music concert is also scheduled at that time.

Today, a Christian Orthodox initiative group held a press conference to express its outrage at the Adventist meeting and reinforce the Metropolitan's request for its cancellation or relocation to a more isolated part of Chisinau.

Viorel Ciubotaru, a representative of the initiative group, said that the Adventist meeting, entitled "Follow the Bible," shows defiance toward a Christian nation like Moldova.

Teodor Olarasu, a priest and university lecturer, added that "even homosexuals find justification in the Bible."

The Christian Orthodox Church in Moldova - which is itself split into two Metropolitan seats that are under Romanian and Russian jurisdiction respectively - has often had a tense relationship with other denominations in the country. About 93 percent of Moldovans say they are Orthodox.