Report

Conference: "The role of Christians in defending and promoting Judeo-Christian Values in Romanian society and Europe” and  the Launching Ceremony of Prodocens Media Platform

On 24th September 2019, in the nice capital of Romania, Bucharest, in the Romanian Parliament, Prodocens Media Association together with the Evangelical Alliance in Romania,  the Prayer Group of the Romanian Parliament and European Christian Political Movement (ECPM) organized the Conference, The role of Christians in defending and promoting Judeo-Christian Values in Romanian society and Europe” and  the Launching Ceremony of Prodocens Media Platform. The event was scheduled as a follow up  meeting where concept statutes and also the practical steps in the creation of the new alliance as an organization dedicated to articulating and advancing a Judeo-Christian values-centered philosophy of public life. In addition to providing policy research and analysis for the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the Romanian government, this new organization will seeks to inform the news media, the academic community, business leaders, and the general public about of issues and threats in promoting and exercising  Christian values  in everyday life.

In the first part we were looking for the opportunity to continue what we started last year in December 2018 and address the importance of religious freedom and the emerging threats facing religious liberties in Europe, but this this time with a special section focused on mass-media and the it’s very important role in relation with religious liberties and human life.

We know that we live in dangerous times and the assault of secularism challenges the very essence of the humanity. No longer is this merely a clash of civilizations, but a struggle for the preservation of human life. Since religion or religious belief is often viewed as the origin of the hatred and bloodletting, it is not surprising that religion is treated as a toxic substance incompatible with peace or the human good, and thus off-limits.

In these days we need to underline the role that media plays in shaping public perception and attitudes, emphasizing the role of independent and community media in responding to the needs groups that are marginalized in the mainstream media as we all realized that we need to create a community of journalists that maintains the highest ethical and professional standards, reporting the truth about the current threats facing religious liberties in Europe.

The attendees were representatives of different church denominations like the Romanian orthodox, Baptist and Pentecostal churches and the representatives of the civil society who came together to discuss about the basics of defending and promoting Christian Values in Romanian society and Europe. All the participants were very well known as persons fully engaged in different activisms actions related to Bodnariu family case and/or Referendum for Marriage and Pro-Life activities.

1st part of the conference focused on four subjects: 

1. Human dignity and freedoms (faith, conscience, expression) face to face with the imminent threats against them in Europe (Leo van Doesburg, ECPM)

2. Initiatives and projects for life in Romania. (Alexandra Nadane, Romania for life)

3. Initiatives and projects regarding the family, the education of the children and the defense of the parental rights (av. Ana-Corina Sacrieru, Platform Together)

4. Media and its role in defending and promoting human dignity (Cristina Olariu, RVE and Cătălin Vasile, Prodocens Media)

The conference was opened with prayer and also with a motivational speech regarding the need for the Christians to be active in public space, civil society and politics. The second speaker was Catalin Vasile, the founder and president of Prodocens media, one of the member executives of Coalition for Family in Romania who was fully engaged in the last three years in the Referendum for Marriage which took place on 6-7 October 2018 with a negative result due to low participation of Romania citizens.

Catalin Vasile made a presentation about the current situation in Romania which is a battleground country in international circles by both opponents and proponents of religious liberties, especially now after the referendum where we see more and more the pressure of LGBT activists. It is also a country which in 1989 showed the world what freedom means by ushering in democracy and rule of law. Those same freedoms are today at stake. Not at the hands of communism or dictatorship; but from a threat coming from a much more cunning and friendly figure with the European Institutions. These institutions believe that they can use Romania as a new member state still unsure of its place in Europe as a means of quickly implementing radical legislation that they would like to in the future set up in the west. In a way, it has become a cold war of social policy.

Also in his speech Catalin Vasile made a presentation also about the threats  facing religious liberty in Europe today and of course in Romania like: hate-speech laws, non-discrimination laws and attacks on parental rights.

After this the next speaker was Leo van Doesburg - Director for European Affairs for the European Christian Political Movement (ECPM), a European political party committed to promoting Christian Democratic values with its social expression in public life. Leo van Doesburg  explained about the need for developing Christian-democratic values in Europe. The fact that in the concept of the European Constitution was mentioned about the Christian heritage of Europe was not to be blamed to Europe, but to us. It is time that we as Christian should think more clearly about how we could be salt and light also on the political field. The ECPM  is growing quickly and tries to motivate politicians, Christians, professionals etc to implement Christian-social values in the society based on the Holy Scriptures.” He also confirmed the need to implement the vision of developing a framework within which the Christians can grow spiritually, personally and professionally, where they can be encouraged and supported to become involved at each level in the political and administrative field.” 

The second part of the day focused on mass-media, especially Prodocens Media. The launch of the new studio and also the collaboration with all other Christian televisions in order to be more involved and more successful in defending and promoting religious liberties and human life. We had here as guests all Evangelical leaders and also Orthodox and Catholics officials speakers and all other Christians publications and televisions.

This is the list with the speakers and the name of the institutions they represent:

Moise Ardelean - President of the Pentecostal Christian Cult of Romania

Viorel Iuga - President of the Union of Baptist Christian Churches in Romania and President of the Evangelical Alliance in Romania

Virgil Achihai - President of the Union of Bothers Christian Churches in Romania and Secretary General of the Evangelical Alliance in Romania

Francisc Doboș - Spokesman of the Roman Catholic Archbishopric of Bucharest

Vasile Bănescu - Spokesman of the Romanian Patriarchate, Romanian Orthodox Church

Aurelian Iftimiu - Director of the News Agency Basilica of the Romanian Patriarchate, Romanian Orthodox Church

Cornel Dărvășan - Director of A7TV Programs

Marius Creţa - General manager A7TV

Cristian Măgura - Director of Programs Speranta TV

Răzvan Bucuroiu - Tv producer, Romanian Television

Leo van Doesburg - Director for European Affairs ECPM

Florica Chereches - Member of the Romanian Parliament and member of the Prayer Group of the Romanian Parliament

Lucian Despa - General Director of Gospel Voice Radio

Daniel Bodnariu - Pro Bodnariu family leader and anti- Barnevernet movement

Mihai Gheorghiu - The President of the Civic Platform TOGETHER

Alexandra Nadane - President of the Romanian Association for life

Iosif Mureșan - Executiv Directoe, Credo TV

Daniel Gheorghe - Member of the Romanian Parliament and member of the Prayer Group of the Romanian Parliament 

Samuel Tutac - Pastor, Providence Baptist Church

Ligia Dugulescu - President Jesus Hope of Romania, Timisoara

Cristian Curte - Producer at  la Radio Romania                          

We started with the description  of PRODOCENS Association declaring that is a non-profit organization that addresses Romanian speakers through the latest methods of mass communication, whose primary purpose is to defend and promote Christian values. People's apathy for what we call the Christian faith and the abandonment of Judeo-Christian values occurred not as a result of lack of values, but rather because of changing values.

This project was born from the personal vision to establish an organization that responds to these specific challenges of the time we live in, the public being the Romanian community everywhere, of any confession or religious affiliation. Through what the PRODOCENS Media Platform does, it provides various resources in order to offer a positive alternative to the subculture and the non-values promoted more and more aggressively.

We are convinced that Christian values are part of the fundamental values of the Romanian people, and their application in the Romanian actuality dominated by uncertainty and conflicts can lead to achieving the much needed ethical and spiritual balance. There is also the need to identify and promote new people and initiatives that reflect a coherent and relevant Christian perspective in public life.

The need for a community of Christians to influence the Romanian society, becoming involved at different levels in the civil society, social, political and administrative life, responding to the problems of the society by identifying and applying solutions from a Christian perspective, is becoming more acute. These people are called to be "salt and light" for their peers, to develop an approach based on biblical values and Christian morality.

Every Christian must therefore be prepared to face contemporary pluralism, affirming without reservation of the absolute Truth, which is the Word of God. In order to achieve such an endeavour, it is necessary for intellectually trained people, capable of understanding the present context, willing to be actively involved in the formation of tomorrow's generation.

To adopt an attitude of indifference to what is happening in these times means to give up the mandate entrusted by Christ to all those who call themselves Christians: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father. and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

We already live in a new society in which moral values and immoral actions have become amoral, abrogating any kind of moral-religious judgment by legalizing them. The social, religious and moral rebellion should not be confused with the desire for freedom and independence, with the emancipation of the soul and the mind, these being successful for which many have paid the price of blood even in the past generations.

The evening ended with a reception in honour of our guests where we had the great pleasure and opportunity to enjoy classical music played by the unrivalled Desiderio Quintet - purely orchestral music with their amazing repertoire -  that  rejoiced our hearts and delighted our hearing in harmonious tones.

In conclusion, in the conference we provided a lot of information to think about the current threats against Christians and about our options for victory and need to organize.

Undoubtedly, our opponents are organized and fierce. As such, we must be even more organized and fiercer. As participants in this conference we have a golden opportunity to develop a cohesive and cooperative strategy for religious freedom in Romania and internationally.

No single individual or organization can win this battle alone just like our opponents did not conquer all of the ground they did individually. This is a battle that cannot be lost and this is a battle that will undoubtedly define our generation. As we all well know, in order to win these battles, we will require a team effort. And so I urge all of us here to use this time effectively, both inside of these meetings and out, to set a cohesive strategy for victory.

We must strive to see laws that affirm religious liberty; protect life from conception to natural death; defend the family; and preserve marriage as being between one woman and one man. We must reclaim what we have lost; protect what we have; and shape a future where Christian religious freedom will be protected and affirmed.

Today, when the communications and information revolution is in full swing, the Christian community is undoubtedly facing another decisive threshold. At present, Christians should use both the classical and the online media widely. Mass media are nowadays part of the "individual" life as well as the life of society. The Christian must learn to do the "management" of these instruments so that they are not harmful to the soul, but, as far as possible.

Mankind can live without moral values only in a human condition without God. We cannot really be people without knowing Christian values and we cannot talk about culture, without drawing attention to spirituality, without talking about the Church. In a world without ethical and religious principles, laws have no power anymore. All that is good for us and at the center of humanity is the pursuit of old and venerable Christian values. That is why they must first of all be loved, preserved, respected and cultivated with sanctity by every Christian, because only these values are permanent, transcendent and universally valid.