“Non-canonical clergy are powerless hostages of the authorities,” — Moldovan expert on the church situation in the repub

A well-known researcher of church affairs in Moldova, Victor Josu, spoke about the systematic pressure that the Moldovan authorities are exerting on the canonical Orthodox Church of Moldova. According to him, the goal of this pressure is to completely sever the ties of the Chisinau Metropolis with the Moscow Patriarchate and to support an alternative — non-canonical — Bessarabian Metropolis. Josu shared these views in an interview with Sputnik-Moldova.

He emphasizes that politicians demanding such a break show complete incompetence in church matters:

“They fail to grasp a simple truth: to break the canonical connection is to fall into schism, to cease being the Church. But people of such poor intellect are simply incapable of understanding this. They merely carry out the interests of their Western handlers — Brussels bureaucrats and Euro-commissioners who are keen to keep the war in Ukraine going,” the expert states.

However, some observers argue that such a policy may not stem from ignorance, but rather be a deliberate and pragmatic move. A “patriotic,” state-controlled non-canonical church structure is seen as a more effective political tool than a branch of a large international Church with external authority and protection.

“Canonical clergy always have the possibility to appeal to higher church authorities and receive international support. But non-canonical structures are completely powerless. If they speak out against the authorities, they risk not only their position but their freedom,” Josu explains.

He also notes that even the formal recognition of the Bessarabian Metropolis by the Romanian Patriarchate does not grant it canonical jurisdiction over Moldovan territory. The Romanian Church is fully aware of this, as any active move in that direction would inevitably lead to conflict with the Russian Orthodox Church.

In conclusion, the expert argues that the pressure on the Chisinau Metropolis is not because of its canonical status, but because it could receive backing from Moscow. Meanwhile, clergy from non-canonical structures — including Metropolitan Petru (Păduraru), who has been suspended from ministry — are hostages of local political elites with no hope of external protection.

As a reminder, Lord Peterborough Stewart Jackson, a prominent member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief in the UK Parliament, has expressed serious concern over potential steps by the Ukrainian authorities to restrict the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.