On 17 September 2014, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel received, on an introductory visit, Mr Dean Thompson, ad-interim charge d’affaires of the United States of America Embassy in Bucharest.
Mr Dean Thompson thanked for reception and manifested his interest in the relationship between the Romanian Patriarchate and the Romanians settled temporary or forever abroad. In this context, the ad-interim charge d’affaires of the United States of America Embassy in Bucharest wanted to know more about the involvement of the Romanian Orthodox Church in the prevention and combating of the trafficking in persons.
The Patriarch of Romania made a short presentation of the Romanian Orthodox communities abroad and mentioned, in the context of the massive migration of the Romanians abroad after 2007, the pastoral and social assistance that the priests of these communities give to those in distress (victims of the trafficking in persons, sick people, persons deprived of freedom etc.).
In this sense, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel mentioned the dissent of the Romanian Orthodox Church towards the intention to legalize prostitution which he considers a form of modern slavery, contrary to the freedom of the person and of the human dignity.
In conclusion, Mr Dean Thompson underlined the fact that in the European countries where prostitution was legalised, the phenomenon was not diminished, but on the contrary, increased.
During the meeting, both parts also discussed about the construction of the new Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, considered as a practical need and moral compensation for the churches in the area demolished during the communist regime in order to build the People’s House on their place. Mr Thompson appreciated the symbolic value of the new Cathedral evoking a similar case, namely the National Cathedral of Washington D.C.
In the context of the present conflicts in the Middle East that caused many victims, the representative of the American diplomacy appreciated the statements of the Romanian Patriarchate and the concrete attitude designed to help the Christians in this part of the world.
The Patriarch of Romania has also underlined the important affirmation and support of the human dignity and emphasised, in this sense, the role of the Consultative Council of the Religious Cults in Romania, set up in 2011, for promoting the religious values in society and maintaining the social peace.
Press Office of the Romanian Patriarchate
