Estonia approves bill requiring Estonian Church to sever ties with Russia
Kuremäe Monastery in Estonia. Photo: ERR
The Estonian government has approved a bill amending the Law on Churches and Congregations, which requires religious organizations to revise their statutes and completely sever ties with the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). According to Estonia’s Minister of the Interior, Lauri Läänemets, the bill has been submitted to the Riigikogu (Parliament), ERR reports.
As stated in the explanatory note to the bill, the law prohibits guidance from any person or organization with significant influence and located in a foreign country if it poses a threat to the security, constitutional order, or public order of the Estonian state, supports military aggression, or incites war, terrorist acts, or any other unlawful use of armed force or violence.
Once the amendments take effect, religious organizations will have two months to bring their statutes, board composition, and activities in line with the updated legislation.
As previously reported by UOJ, the Estonian Orthodox Church responded to the authorities' demands by changing its name.
Additionally, believers of the Estonian Orthodox Church have submitted a petition opposing the anti-church law.
Read also
Bill banning LGBT and childfree propaganda adopted in Belarus
A bill in the Belarusian parliament provides for administrative liability for propaganda of homosexuality and childlessness.
In women's monastery of Holovchyntsi village, monastic tonsure performed
In the Khmelnytskyi Eparchy, two nuns were tonsured into the lesser schema.
Finnish MP urges EU to repeal law banning criticism of LGBT
Päivi Räsänen stated that the "hate speech" law in Europe serves as a means for censorship.
Displaced children from Dnipro baptized at orphanage in Mukachevo
A priest of the Mukachevo Eparchy of the UOC performed the baptism of children from the "Barvinok" orphanage.
During Holy Week, Catholics celebrate Mass at Holy Sepulchre without believers
The RCC bishop, who was previously barred by police from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, was nevertheless allowed to conduct a service there on Thursday.
UGCC calls murder of TRC employee "particularly grave sin"
UGCC cleric Yustin Boyko emphasized that hatred against TRC employees is being artificially incited on social media.