Romania: Archbishop closes churches in protest of government action

July 13, 2009

Archbishop Ioan Robu of Bucharest closed all of the churches in his archdiocese except for the cathedral to draw attention to the government’s decision to build a 19-story office building next to the cathedral. The archbishop, who says that the building threatens the cathedral’s foundations, led 5,000 Catholics in procession to protest the government’s action.

 

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Further information:

• Roman Catholic churches closed, believers down in the street (Nine O’Clock)
• Romanian Bishop calls office building ‘hideous’ and ‘illegal’ (AP)