YOUNG REPUBLICANS AND THE CHURCH FIGHT SECTS
Armenpress
Apr 10 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS: A priest of the Armenian Apostolic
Church urged today the government to take swift action to fight
back the growing influence of religious sects on Armenians saying
the revised constitution gives it right to restrict the activity of
those sects which jeopardize the country’s security.
The priest, Mkhitar Aloyan, was speaking at a roundtable discussion
organized together with the youth wing of the governing Republican
party to seek ways to fight back Jehovah’s Witnesses’ proselytizing.
The priest argued that the government should adopt stricter laws to
stop ‘the destructive activity ‘ of religious sects. He said the public
at large should be taught extensively about the danger of such sects,
which he said pose huge threats to both the state and family.
Karen Avakian from the youth wing of the party said the wing and
the youth organization of the Ararat Diocese of the Church have made
a joint declaration on concerted battle against sects. He said all
those who consider that they suffered from the sects could ask the
organizations for help.
He said the operation of sects must be open and transparent. He
said the increased number of suicides may have been triggered by
religious sects.