Serbian Orthodox Church, that is, Metropolis of Montenegro and the Littoral has announced the organization of the International Scientific Conference entitled “Freedom of confession in Montenegro”, together with the Conference on European churches in Brussels.
Vice President of the Council of the Metropolis of Montenegrin Orthodox Church, Stevo Vučinić, says that this move isn’t a coincidence and that Metropolis of Montenegro and the Littoral wants to present this country as private and criminal, country that plunders church property and damages the church.
“Representatives of the Cetinje branch of Belgrade patriarchy have been forcing the government to legalize 12 square meters of church land, tens of monasteries and hundreds of village churches that had been owned by the state just up until recently”, says Vučinić.
According to him, the Metropolis is referring to the new Law on Freedom of Confession, and Article 52 thereof, which makes legal again all the unlawfully entered church property.
“It’s a mean politics, aimed at compromising the country and the Law”, said Vučinić.
He claims that’s what he expected from the Saint Sava organization that despises eighth, ninth and tenth Commandment.
“If they really were church, they would know that taking away state and people’s property illegally is a sin”, said Vučinić.
Notice about the organization of the aforementioned Conference cites that the intention is to open professional and argumentative dialogue, contribute to the overall well-being and help relevant authorities develop Draft Law on the Freedom of Confession that would be completely in compliance with the international legal frameworks of the freedom of confession.
However, Metropolis of Montenegro and the Littoral has made statements of objection to almost the entire Draft Law.
There have been 4.500 submissions with remarks and suggestions.
Venice Commission has expressed its positive opinion on the Draft Law.
President of Montenegro, Milo Đukanović, said in June last year, that Montenegro is committed to tackling the issue of the Law on Freedom of Confession, “while preserving stability, multi-confessional and multi-cultural character of the country”.
