The Church Retains Its Lead in Public Trust Rankings in Moldova

According to the latest sociological survey conducted by the IMAS research company, the Church remains the most trusted public institution in Moldova. The results were reported by the source “Orthodox Moldova and the World.”

The combined total of high and very high levels of trust in the Church amounts to 66%. Of these, 50% of respondents indicated a high level of trust, and another 16% expressed very high trust.

By comparison, the country’s president, Maia Sandu, received only 25% trust.

Against this backdrop, the authorities continue their campaign of pressure on the clergy of the Orthodox Church of Moldova. Sociological data show that there is no real public demand for such actions. Nevertheless, on the eve of parliamentary elections — which Sandu described as “the final battle” for Moldova’s EU course — the repressive measures are escalating.

It should be recalled that Metropolitan Petru (Păduraru), head of the Bessarabian Metropolis under the Romanian Patriarchate, stated that the process of uniting Moldova with Romania must continue. He noted that “The Bessarabian Metropolis, a living and historic part of the Romanian Orthodox Church, today stands as evidence that unity is not destroyed by borders.”