In a 9 December 1998 telephone interview, the vice-president of the Romanian Helsinki Committee in Bucharest provided the following information, which represents the vice-president's viewpoint. The vice-president has not heard of any recent cases of discrimination towards Roman Catholics in Romania, either by society at large or within the military. However, the vice-president stated that there is tension in the Transylvanian town of Odorheiul Secuiesc between Greek Catholic nuns and the other inhabitants of the town, who are mainly ethnic Hungarians. The dispute revolves around the nuns' proposed use of a building, and the case is currently before the courts.

A 16 July 1998 AP article states:

A visit by the pope in Transylvania, where most Eastern Rite Catholics live, "would be seen as a threat by the Orthodox faithful that they would lose their churches," said Liviu Stoinea, a professor at the Orthodox theology institute, as quoted by Libertatea. Catholics make up only five percent of the population.

The Communists seized Catholic properties in 1948 and handed them to the Orthodox Church. Tensions over who owns the buildings have erupted between the two, culminating in a recent cathedral brawl in the Transylvanian city of Cluj.

After a lengthy trial, Eastern Rite Catholics, who are beholden to the Vatican, were handed back a cathedral. The Orthodox, who account for 90 percent of all Romanians, eventually agreed to relinquish the cathedral.

No additional or corroborating information on the situation of Roman Catholics in Romania could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Romanian Helsinki Committee, Bucharest. 9 September 1998. Telephone interview with the vice-president.

The Associated Press (AP). 16 July 1998. "Report: Pope Not Welcome in Romania Because of Church Conflict." (NEXIS)

Eastern European Constitutional Review [Chicago]. Winter 1998 - Summer 1998.

Electronic sources: IRB databases, Interent, NEXIS/LEXIS, REFWORLD, WNC.

Frontier [Oxford: Keston Institute]. 1998. Issues 1, 2, 4 , 5.

Transitions [Prague]. January 1998 - October 1998.

Resource Centre country file on Romania. January 1998 - November 1998.

Unsuccessful attempts to contact other oral sources.