ACTIVITIES OF TOTALITARIAN SECTS CONTRADICT NATIONAL AND STATE INTERESTS OF
ARMENIAN PEOPLE

ETCHMIADZIN, November 18 (Noyan Tapan). The meeting of the Supreme
Spiritual Council, which was held in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
under the chairmanship of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II,
touched upon the activities of the sectarian organizations and the
problems of the recent official registration of the “Jehovah’s
Witnesses” sect in Armenia. After getting acquaintance with the
conducted researches and after exchanging views, the Supreme Spiritual
Council decided to make a statement:

“The Armenian Apostolic Church recognizes the right to the liberty
of conscience as a basic value of Christianity. At the same time,
it considers the fact that the religious organizations registered
in Armenia, whose activities are directed at the hunt for soles,
by all possible means violate this right to liberty of conscience as
inadmissible,” the statement reads.

The Armenian Church expresses its anxiety in connection with the fact
that the religious organizations are registered by the corresponding
state bodies as a result of not adequate explorations and not too
zealous attitude towards the law. “The activities of the totalitarian
sects, including the “Jehovah’s Witnesses”, contradict the national and
state interests and the aspirations of our people, saving teaching of
Christianity and seriously contradicts the international lawfulness,
the RA Constitution, those principles of the RA law “On Liberty of
Conscience and Religious Organizations” that consolidate the issues
of state security, public customs, morality, people’s health, the
protection of others’ rights, etc.,” the Supreme Spiritual Council
announces.

The Supreme Spiritual Council emphasizes that the “Jehovah’s Witnesses”
sect is registered as a “Christian” sect, whereas it connects with
the Christianity by no means and isn’t recognized by the traditional
Christian Church, the World Council of Churches, the Union of European
Churches, as well as other organizations. “It is interesting that the
“Jehovah’s Witnesses” organization under cover of Christianity comes
up only in the midst of the Christians and in the Christian countries
and never in the Moslem ones,” the document reads.

Such situation, according to the Supreme Spiritual Council, can’t
contribute to the health of public consciousness, implicit obedience to
spiritual moral values in the country, especially when the Motherland
and the people face the various economic and social difficulties and
are in the process of reforms now.”

“The Armenian Holy Apostolic Church devoted to its mission and
realizing its duty before its sons is in the mood to defend its flock
from any infringements of their integrity and security. The Supreme
Spiritual Council expects that the corresponding state bodies will
start the reconsideration and settlement of these problems. It is
necessary that the RA law “On Liberty of Conscience and Religious
Organizations” should be re-examined to contribute to the regulation of
the activities of the religious organizations and serve the protection
of liberty of conscience, regardless of anarchy and uncontrol,”
the Supreme Spiritual Council states.

The Supreme Council calls on the people to remain loyal to the heritage
of our ancestors – our Holy Apostolic faith.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress