Slovak bishops urge believers not to support registration of Mormon church (Jesus Christ, priests)

[jonny]

The Associated Press

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia Catholic bishops urged believers against supporting the registration of a Mormon church in Slovakia, saying that would be a betrayal of the Catholic Church.
Earlier this month, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had asked all Slovaks "who care about religious liberty" to sign a petition supporting its bid to set up a church. Slovak law requires 20,000 signatures for a church to be legally registered.
Slovak bishops released a statement, however, saying the Mormon church's doctrine was "not in line with the doctrine of the Catholic Church."
"We call on all Catholics ... not to sign this petition and not to betray the Catholic church," the bishops' statement said.
The Mormon church said Monday it was not looking to poach the Catholic Church for converts.
"We respect the decision of every citizen, and the petition was in no way meant to convert anybody to our faith," spokesman Petr Valnicek said. "Religious liberty is all we had in mind."
Slovakia, a central European country of 5.4 million, is predominantly Catholic.
There are only about 100 Mormons in Slovakia, and nearly 2,000 in the neighboring Czech Republic.
The Mormon church, based in the U.S. state of Utah, claims more than 12 million members worldwide.
"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints respects the laws of each nation. In seeking legal recognition, church President Gordon B. Hinckley has said we 'go through the front door,' meeting all the requirements that governments expect of us," said Michael Otterson, a church spokesman in Salt Lake City.
"In this case, the church has appreciated working constructively with the government ministry responsible for such matters in the Slovak Republic. That nation, as a recent member of the European Union, is emphasizing more openness, democracy and freedom of religion, and the church is grateful to be a part of a process which will bless the lives of all its people."
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded in 1830 by Joseph Smith. The LDS Church acknowledges theological differences with the Catholic Church. Among the issues on which there is disagreement are the LDS Church's use of additional scripture such as the Book of Mormon and different interpretations of the Trinity, Otterson said.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by jonny

The Associated Press

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia Catholic bishops urged believers against supporting the registration of a Mormon church in Slovakia, saying that would be a betrayal of the Catholic Church.

This strikes me as an odd position for Catholics to take. It sounds more like... well, you know.

Slovak bishops released a statement, however, saying the Mormon church's doctrine was "not in line with the doctrine of the Catholic Church."

Duh! Of course it's not in line with Catholic doctrine. It's Mormon doctrine.

"We call on all Catholics ... not to sign this petition and not to betray the Catholic church," the bishops' statement said.

How is religious freedom betraying the Catholic Church?

The Mormon church said Monday it was not looking to poach the Catholic Church for converts.

Nonsense. Of course we're looking for converts. I'd be interested in seeing the actual quote.

"We respect the decision of every citizen, and the petition was in no way meant to convert anybody to our faith," spokesman Petr Valnicek said. "Religious liberty is all we had in mind."

So, is this it?

Slovakia, a central European country of 5.4 million, is predominantly Catholic.
There are only about 100 Mormons in Slovakia, and nearly 2,000 in the neighboring Czech Republic.
The Mormon church, based in the U.S. state of Utah, claims more than 12 million members worldwide.

Wow, it looks like our presence there would be a major threat.

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints respects the laws of each nation. In seeking legal recognition, church President Gordon B. Hinckley has said we 'go through the front door,' meeting all the requirements that governments expect of us," said Michael Otterson, a church spokesman in Salt Lake City.

This is a fact, and it's one I believe we can be proud of. If we are forbidden to have an official presence there, we'll wait it out.

[Djamila]

This has absolutely nothing to do with the Mormon church. It could be Voodoo Priests for all it matters. The Slovak people, and most Europeans, would react identically regardless of which considered abscure, foreign faith is involved.

Religion in Europe is very old. There are very few of these new, American faiths and most Europeans are very opposed to them. This happens for a variety of reasons. Religious and national identity in Europe are often closely related. Also, Europe is quite old and has a long history. New faiths from the United States don't carry a lot of credibility.

In Eastern Europe, in particular, resistence to such things is very strong. People are afraid of American political objectives and aware of the perceived influence churches have on the American government. In Europe, politics and religion are largely separate and even things Americans wouldn't notice, like the President saying "God bless America", are relatively unheard of.

There have been many high-profile incidents of American missionaries converting small numbers of Europeans to faiths perceived as abscure and invalid and this has generated a tremendous, reflex backlash to the idea of American churches in Europe. Bosnia and Herzegovina, for example, has laws on the books banning Saudi Wahabbite Muslims and American Evangelicals from doing missionary work in Bosnia.

Religion is also a source of personal identity, especially now. The Macedonian Orthodox Church has outlawed the Serbian Orthodox Church in that country. The Serbian Orthodox Church has air-lifted tiny, metal churches to regions of Montenegro where Montenegrin Orthodox Christians, Roman Catholics, and Muslims have holy sites. There's just no place for more players here.

I support protecting our religious heritage and religious identity from outside influences. Now the 100 Mormons in Slovakia are not enough to officially register a church, so who knows? They could build a church anyways and not have it registered. That's the situation Bosnian Muslims in Slovenia are in. They have 13,000 people, and need 15,000 to register a mosque - they still have a mosque, though, it's just not registered.

[Pah]

Old hatreds sometimes die hard. We have the same in America by the questioning of whether Romy is a fit candidate for President.

It seems that in Massachusetts true freedom is recognized.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by Djamila

Now the 100 Mormons in Slovakia are not enough to officially register a church, so who knows? They could build a church anyways and not have it registered. That's the situation Bosnian Muslims in Slovenia are in. They have 13,000 people, and need 15,000 to register a mosque - they still have a mosque, though, it's just not registered.

I don't know whether it would be illegal to build a church without "registering," but if it is, we won't do it. I'm not sure exactly what rights "registering" would afford us. Maybe you can shed some light on this for me.

I guess it's nice to know these guys are equal opportunity discriminators, though.

[Djamila]

It's a different country, actually, Katzpur. Slovakia and Slovenia. Hehehe... I want to mention Slavonia abstractly just for badness, but I won't. Hahaha.

[Djamila]

If it helps, it's not just religion. The European Union parliament spends a small fortune every day translating everything that is said to the delegates present, in two dozen different languages. There have been measures put forward to cut it down to three (English, French, and German) but other European countries gave such a tremendous backlash against this idea that it was tabled, as far as I know.

For a Polish politician to go to EU Parliament and speak English, French, or German would be the equivalent of political suicide. So it's not just about religion, but everything that Europeans associate with their nationality. Even if it makes things difficult.

From a Christian Science Monitor article about the language expenses at the EU Parliament:

"But if all parliamentarians were to communicate in English, it could deprive the EU body of some rare humorous moments. "There's one legendary story," says Stubb, "that a minister was speaking his mother tongue (Finnish) and telling a joke. The interpreter in the booth said, "The minister is telling a joke right now and I don't understand it, but I'd really appreciate it if you could laugh ... now."
Those cues can backfire sometimes though, he says, given the slight delay in the (nearly) simultaneous interpretation.
The worst, says Stubb, "is when you tell a joke and then you say, 'and now more seriously ...' and everyone starts to laugh."

[Bishka]

I already posted this.

[Booko]

Originally Posted by Djamila

They could build a church anyways and not have it registered. That's the situation Bosnian Muslims in Slovenia are in. They have 13,000 people, and need 15,000 to register a mosque - they still have a mosque, though, it's just not registered.

What kind of (legal) advantages would they get if it were registered?

[Djamila]

I really don't know in Slovakia, Booko. Generally the advantages are fairly superficial. You'll be included as an option in the census, you'll be given a seat on interfaith councils, and so on.

In some countries, though, the advantages are more fundamental. Tax-free status, for example, or the right to take your particular religious holidays off work.