The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church officially endorsed the “One of Us” campaign, according to the initiatives executive coordinator, Ana del Pino. The «One of Us» campaign is a European citizen’s initiative that is seeking «juridical protection of the dignity, the right to life and of the integrity of every human being from conception in the areas of EU competence in which such protection is of particular importance.»
Fr. Sorin Selaru, Director of Representation of the Romanian Orthodox Church to the European Institutions sent the initiative his best wishes to all the volunteers working in the campaign. The endorsement, which was greatly welcomed, was given after a meeting between Ana del Pino, representing the European Coordination Office of One of Us, and Fr. Sorin Selaru, at the office of the Rumenian Church in Bruxelles.
According to the One of Us campaign, the meeting “went very well and Fr. Selaros will organize another meeting with the representatives of the Greek and Cyprus Orthodox churches.
The Official declaration of The Holy Synod of the Romanian Patriarchate during a meeting on the 4th and 5th of July 2013 in Bucharest stated that they “approved the European Citizens’ Initiative “One of Us”, and invited the faithful of the Patriarchate to sign the petition.
“Faithful to its [belief] that life begins in the very moment of conception, the Romanian Patriarchate reminds everyone of the fact that the destruction of a human embryo is a spiritually and morally unacceptable act.
In this sense, the Representation of the Romanian Orthodox Church to the European Institutions, together with the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE), has actively supported the amendment by the European Parliament of the articles concerning the ethical aspects of the Horizon 2020 research framework,” the declaration states.
“The Romanian Patriarchate recommends all of the dioceses under its jurisdiction, as well as all organizations functioning with the blessing of the Romanian Orthodox Church, to support and make known this initiative, in order for as many as possible signatures to be raised.”
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On the NET:
For more information on the One of Us campaign or to sign the online petition, go to: www.oneofus.eu.
