The spokesman of the Romanian Patriarchate, Vasile Benescu, reports that following the corruption case in which IPS Teodosie is being prosecuted, the Chancellery of the Holy Synod will propose to the Holy Synod to create two bodies at the level of the Patriarchate to investigate, in parallel with state bodies, possible cases of corruption among clergy.

• “It is precisely because of this and another similar case that the Chancellery of the Holy Synod will propose to the Holy Synod at the February meeting a very clear configuration of two judicial bodies that will function in the following sense: the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church can use his right of delegation, therefore transferring his power to another hierarch, metropolitans in general, there will definitely be such a body in Bucharest, and a judicial body that will not consist of clergymen, but of persons who have the right to judge. an investigation that will investigate, based on suspicions, from the appearance in the press, as it is now, of some very serious things, to investigate the relevant case in parallel with the judicial authorities or even before them. In the absence of these bodies, which will be created, I repeat, after the meeting of the Holy Synod, at the moment it was not possible to conduct an ecclesiastical investigation in this regard (with the case in which Archbishop Tomisky is present). the accused is not), because this topic is not ecclesiastical, I would say that it is as unecclesiastical as possible, as I understand it is about accusations of influence-buying,” Vasile Benescu said Thursday evening on Euronews Romania, News. quotation ro.

According to him, due to the existence of two bodies, “investigation, analysis and clarification will become possible, including within the Church.”

Benescu said that the idea of ​​creating two bodies started with the recent case of Archbishop Tomis, IPS Teodosie, accused by DNA, and after another case, also publicly reported by Recorder journalists, in which Bishop Joachim Bekeuanul was accused of discussing the “purchase” of a parish, for which the owner would pay 25,000 euros.

Banescu: “Simony is a sin. The purchase of parishes leads to the degradation of the church body and community”

The spokesman of the Romanian Patriarchate, Vasile Benescu, states that the Church categorically rejects the idea of ​​distributing parishes based on contributions.

• “In theological language, this is called simony: an attempt to buy or sell something holy. This is something simply scandalous in its essence, because the shrine can neither be bought nor sold. You cannot sell the Holy Communion and, in general, you cannot sell the parish. To buy influence and offer money to put me as a priest in the parish, the money is offered, of course, from somewhere above, it is very serious.”
• “But the position of the Church, the legislation of the Church, the status of the Church are very clear: these things are strictly sanctioned, simony is, in fact, a sin. In addition to the moral aspect, it is also a very serious mistake from an administrative point of view, because, you understand, the purchase of parishes leads to the degradation of the church body and, so to speak, the community. This is very serious!” Vasile Benescu told Euronews Romania on Thursday evening.

He said that such measures represent an “adjustment to a sad reality”, stressing that the Church “must defend itself” if such cases arise, including sometimes from “insiders”.

• “I repeat what I have said many times, and it has become a truism, but the greatest enemy of the Church is not outside. The demon also works within the Church, tempting some, and the unworthiness, the failure of the calling of some, and the unworthiness attracted by the failure of the calling, is the greatest adversary of the Church. And the Church, through its absolutely clear and very realistic head, and I mean the patriarch, reacts,” Benescu asserted.

On the investigation against IPS Teodosie: “It is completely unnatural for a high representative of the Church to be under investigation”

Patriarchate spokesman Vasile Benescu said, referring to the indictment of Archbishop Tomis, IPS Teodosie, in a file equipped with DNA, that the case is “one that is shocking and saddening” and “the emergence of a new situation with Archbishop Tomis as a defendant says something disturbing.” Benescu says that “the Romanian Patriarchate, as well as the judicial authorities, are fully interested in finding out a possible act of corruption.”

• “The position of the Romanian Patriarchate in this well-known case, since the agenda of this case is older and quite extensive, was expressed at the beginning of the investigation carried out by the DNA regarding the situation in which the Archbishop of Tomis is involved, and it is very clear: the Romanian Patriarchate, as well as the judicial bodies that are fully interested in finding out a possible act of corruption. Only the authorities, of course, the judiciary, will speak at the end of the investigation in this regard.”
• “Certainly, the emergence of a new situation of Archbishop Tomis as a defendant indicates something disturbing. I can’t say in advance, we can’t do that, but the case is impressive, which of course is upsetting, because it is completely unnatural for a high representative of the Church to be under investigation, based on the reality, which will of course be deciphered by the judicial authorities and interpreted in the right way. Therefore, the position of the Romanian Patriarchate is favorable for the clarification of this case, that is very clear,” the spokesperson of the Patriarchate also stated on Thursday evening to Euronews Romania.

What he says about the resignation of Archbishop Tomis

Answering the question about the possible resignation of IPS Theodosius, he specified that the moral law should prevail.

• “The most important law in the world inhabited by man is the moral law established by God in His intelligent creation. The unwritten law of common sense derives from the moral law. Naturally, in such a situation, everyone should protect the institution they represent. The laws to which I have referred, the moral law and the law of common sense, must operate in everyone. I understand that it works with different intensity from person to person. The Church cannot compel anyone, but the Church, which does not want the death of the sinner, to quote the Holy Scriptures, but to correct him, the Church recommends from a moral point of view an attitude and an attitude corresponding to reality.
• “The case we are talking about is a complex case, and it is connected with a person who understands here to cope, I would say, in contradiction with those who prove that something happened after all. It is a film that everyone has seen, it is not a secret, it is a film that did not leave room for many interpretations. This is the verbal consent of the person concerned, who agrees to an absolutely impure intervention in the interests of the diocese concerned, although not a specific person,” said Benescu.

He added that the position of the Patriarchate is “unfavorable to concealing the truth.”

He said that it is the Holy Synod that can give recommendations to Archbishop Tomis on this matter. Benescu clarified that the BOR Statute provides for sanctions upon confirmation of guilt, but the Church has never encountered such a case.

_______

The Archbishop of Tomis, His Holiness Theodosius, arrived at the headquarters of the National Anti-Corruption Authority in Constanta to be heard in a case in which he is being investigated for influence-peddling, and his defense attorney, lawyer Adrian Koukoulis, said the case was based only on a recording that appeared in the open, and that there is probably an attempt to discredit IPS Teodosie. The lawyer stated that he is going to file a motion to exclude the registration from the case, believing that it was done illegally.

• IPS Theodosius, in DNA: “I brought the Holy Liturgy, I am a communicant”
• Archbishop Tomisa blames the devil for the DNA file: “Satan always lies to us, confuses us”
• VIDEO IPS Teodosia, asked about the DNA file: “Only rumors and provocations.” That’s all, let me go, I’m talking about the Christmas tree, this is a tree that is always green”