Amendments regarding the allocation of funds for the church were proposed by parliamentarians from the joint financial and budget committees. Basically they give more money. The budget for 2023 must be adopted at the plenary session, but there will be no surprises regarding new changes.

So the new amounts introduced by the changes will remain.

Regarding what HotNews.ro wrote after publication in the debate, the following changes appeared.

1. The adopted amendment concerns the coverage of the payment of contributions for non-clerical staff at the level of 2,300 lei/contribution, in addition to the rights to wages, which are not covered from the own funds of local religious services, for non-clerical staff working in religious services of the country.

Thus, the increase in budget allocations amounts to 52,690 million lei, i.e. from 498.17 million lei to 550.8 million lei.

2. Another amendment says that “for the support of religious institutions abroad, which carry out activities to support the linguistic, cultural and religious identity of Romanians abroad, 517,200 euros are allocated every month.”

At first they wanted 442,200 euros/month. So they will get more.

According to the adopted amendment: “it is necessary to add 75,000 euros per month both to increase the amount of support for the 850 official positions that receive a contribution from the state budget, and for approximately 40 official positions that do not currently benefit from any financial support” .

3. In addition, 4.825 million lei are taken from the budget of general actions of the Ministry of Finance (from the reserve fund of the government) to support cults, among others, more precisely for:

• Cetate Synagogue in the municipality of Timisoara,

• Repair, restoration and restoration works in the Evangelical church in Rupea, Brasov county

• Repair and restoration works in the Roman Catholic Cathedral (Cathedral of St.

Gheorghe) from Timişoara, Timiș County.

• Repair, restoration and rehabilitation works at the Cetate Synagogue in Timişoara, Timiș County.

• Repair and restoration works of the Evangelical Church in Wingard, Alba County.

• Rehabilitation of the “Change of Face” church, Strada Domnească, Galaţi

• Reconstruction of the “Buna Vestire” church, str. 2, Tulcha

• Reconstruction of the “Izvorul Tămăduirii” church, str. Teilor, Calafat, Dolj District

What money is still allocated to the Church

1. The Romanian Hermitage on Mount Athos: 4.89 million lei (compared to 4.8 million in 2022)

According to the annex, the program is intended to finance the Romanian Athos Skete so that the necessary works can be carried out to restore, repair, maintain and manage the buildings in the premises and the 4 churches; purchase of fixed assets on

basis of the list of investments, approved in accordance with current legal provisions; actual repair and production activity; payment of labor and services; support for the existential and spiritual activities of monks; reception and accommodation of pilgrims; creation of materials for popularization of the hermitage.

2. Financial support for the salaries of clerics, provided from the state budget, through the budget of the State Secretariat for Religious Affairs

In 2023, he will receive 817.3 million lei, which is 5% more than this year.

The program is intended for cults recognized in accordance with the law, to support the salaries of the clergy in the country, as well as to support the Romanian Orthodox Church abroad, which carries out special measures to support linguistic, cultural and religious identity. Romanians abroad, especially activities aimed at young people, as well as non-clerical staff sent to serve the settlements abroad of the Romanian Orthodox Church, as well as non-clerical staff from Covasna and Hargit counties.

More than 19,000 people will benefit.

3. Places of worship

In 2023, he will receive 370.2 million lei, which is 3% more than in 2022

The program aims to support recognized religious cults in Romania for the restoration and preservation of places of worship that are historical monuments and movable national cultural heritage items belonging to recognized religious cults in Romania, to supplement their own funds necessary for maintenance and operation low-income or non-profit religious institutions, for the arrangement and maintenance of cultural and religious museums, for the construction and repair of religious buildings, for the purchase of buildings necessary for the development of the activities of cult and social assistance units supported by them, for the support of social assistance activities organized by religious cults in hospitals, accommodation centers, homes for the elderly and other forms of assistance, to support domestic and international events held by religious cults in Romania.

4. Budgetary appropriations for the payment of labor of spiritual education workers

In 2023, 9.18 million lei were allocated, as in 2022.

The program is intended for cults recognized under the law to support the salaries of non-church personnel working in theological education units and institutions authorized and accredited under the law

300 people will benefit.