SENATOR HUFF'S CALL ON THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B01370R000801060035-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 30, 2010
• Sequence Number: 35
• Publication Date: July 20, 1984
• Content Type: CABLE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/02/23: CIA-RDP90B01370R000801060035-9
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LEfiiSlA11YE IIAIS(25X1
PF RUEAIIB
ZNY CCCCC ZOC STATE ZZH
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DE RUDKAR a4645 2020900
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P 1915002 JUL 84
FM AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8547
BT
C O N F I DENT I A L BUCHAREST 4645
E.O. 12356: DECL:OAOR
TAGS: SHUM RO PGOY PINS SCUL
SUBJECT: SENATOR HUFF'S CALL ON THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTS
2. SUMMARY: THE NEW HEAD OF THE GOR'S DEPARTMENT OF
CULTS, ION CUMPANASU, TOLD VISITING NTUCKY STAT
SENATOR EUG F THAT GOR POLICIES T GIONS
B4"TF{ PARTMENT OF CULTS ARE CONSTANT AND HAVE NOT
CHANGED AS A RESULT OF HIS ASSUMPTION OF LEADERSHIP.
CUMPANASU STATED THAT ALL CHURCHES MUST RESPECT THEIR
CHARTERS AND HAVE DIRECT CONTACTS WITH CULTS WHICH DO
NOT REWIRE HUFF'S INTERVENTION. DIRECTOR ION POPESCU
STATED THAT BIBLES ACCEPTABLE TO PROTESTANTS ARE BEING
PRINTED AND THAT ALL CHURCH CONSTRUCTION SHOULD RESPECT
ROMANIAN LAW. BAPTISTS HAVE ONLY BEEN ALLOWED TO
FUNCTION FREELY SINCE WORLD WAR II AND THEIR NUMBERS
HAVE INCREASED GREATLY. CUMPANASU EMPHASIZED THAT
"FAIT ACCOMPLIS" WOULD NOT BE PERMITTED BY THE CHURCHES
IN TRYING TO IMPOSE THEIR WISHES ON THE DEPARTMENT OF
CULTS. END SUMMARY.
3. KENTUCKY STATE SENATOR EUGENE HUFF ACCOMPANIED BY
TWO FELLOW PENTECOSTAL MINISTERS AND BY AN EMBOFF PAID
A CALL, JULY 5, ON ION CUMPANASU, PRESIDENT OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF CULTS. CUMPANASU WAS AIDED BV DIRECTOR
ION POPESCU AND INSPECTOR GENERAL VIRGIL CONSTANTINESCU
WHO SERVED AS TRANSLATOR. HUFF OPENED BY STATING THAT
HE DID NOT WISH TO INTERFERE IN THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF
ROMANIA BUT CAME IN A CONSTRUCTIVE SPIRIT DUE TO HIS
CONCERN FOR HIS CO-RELIGIONISTS.
4. CUMPANASU STATED THAT THE POLICIES OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF CULTS DO NOT CHANGE FROM DAY TO DAY AND THAT ITS
FUNCTION IS TO APPLY THE POLICIES OF THE STATE WITH
RESPECT TO THE CHURCHES. HE SAID ALL CHURCHES MUST
RESPECT THE LAW AND ANY PROBLEMS ARE DEALT WITH IN A
FORTHRIGHT MANNER WITH THE OFFICIAL LEADERS OF EACH
DENOMINATION. HE SAID THAT CULTS IS NOT CONCERNED
WITH NON-OFFICIAL RECALCITRAINS OR UNOFFICIAL PROBLEMS
AND THAT THERE IS NO NEED FOR OUTSIDERS TO MEDIATE
SINCE ALL THE FAITHS HAVE DIRECT CONTACTS WITH CULTS.
5. CUMPANASU RESPONED TO HUFF'S SPECIFIC QUESTIONS
BY SAYING THAT IF A CHURCH WALL IN RESITA HAD BEEN
TORN DOWN DUE TO AN ENLARGEMENT WITHOUT A PERMIT, IT
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WAS A QUESTION HANDLED EXCLUSIVELY BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES.
HE NOTED THAT ALL PERSONS NEED BUILDING PERMITS BEFORE
ANY CONSTRUCTION MAY BEGIN. BOTH HE AND POPESCU SPOKE
AT LENGTH ON THIS POINT AND EMPHASIZED NO SPECIAL
TREATMENT WOULD BE GIVEN TO RELIGIOUS BELIEVERS WHO
VIOLATED CONSTRUCTION LAWS AND THAT RETRIBUTION SUCH AS
THE TEARING DOWN OF WALLS WAS STRICTLY DECIDED ON THE
LOCAL LEVEL. THEY FURTHER CLAIMED THAT SUCH INCIDENTS
PLACES CULTS IN THE EMBARASSING POSITION OF MEDIATOR
BETWEEN THE CHURCHES AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES, AND THAT
IF THEY CONVINCE LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO IGNORE CONSTRUCT-
ION LAW VIOLATIONS IT SIMPLY ENCOURAGES THE CONSTRUCTION
OF MORE UNAUTHORIZED BUILDINGS AS THE AUTHORITIES
APPEAR TO BE WEAK. "FAIT ACCOMPLIS" ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE
SAID COMPANASU. POPESCU CLAIMED THAT NEW BIBLES
ACCEPTABLE TO THE BAPTISTS AND PENTECOSTALS ARE
CURRENTLY BEING PRINTED (COMMENT: THE LEADERSHIP OF
THE TWO RELIGIONS SAY NOT AS YET) (SEPTELS) AND THAT
ALL PUBLICATIONS MUST MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE
PRINTING LAWS OF ROMANIA. THEY CAAIMED ALSO THAT THE
NUMBER OF BIBLES TO BE PRINTED IS STRICTLY UP TO THE
RELIGIONS. (COMMENT: THE BAPTIST LEADERSHIP SAYS THE
MAIN PROBLEM IS OBTAINING CULTS APPROVAL ON A FIGURE.
END COMMENT)
6. CUMPANASU CLOSED BY SAYING THAT RELIGION IS NOT
PERSECUTED IN ROMANIA AND THAT RELIGIONS SUCH AS THE
BAPTISTS DID NOT HAVE PERMISSION TO FUNCTION BEFORE
WORLD WAR II. HE SAID MEMBERSHIP HAD GROWN 2 OR 3
TIMES SINCE THEN. HE CRITICIZED THE MOTIVES OF PEOPLE
WHO HAVE WRITTEN NEGATIVELY ABOUT ROMANIA ON RELIGIOUS
QUESTIONS SAYING THAT HE UNDERSTANDS WELL HOW THE
PRESS FUNCTIONS. HE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT HUFF
WOULD PAINT A REAL PICTURE OF THE RELIGIOUS SITUATION
HERE.
7. COMMENT: CUMPANASU AND POPESCU DEFENDED THE
POSIITIONS OF THE GOR STRONGLY AND ACCEPTED NONE OF
THE SUGGESTIONS OF CRITICISM FROM HUFF. POPESCU IN
PARTICULAR IS VERY ADEPT AND HARD-HITTING IN MAKING
HIS POINTS. IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT SOME
BAPTIST DISSIDENTS COMMENTED AT THE JULY 4TH
RECEPTION THAT THEY FIND POPESCU EASIER TO DEAL WITH
THAN ANYONE ELSE IN CULTS. WE HAVE NO FEEDBACK YET
ON CUMPANASU ALTHOUGH NO ONE IS EXPECTING CHANGES.
BOTH SPOKE IN THE BEST TRADITION OF ROMANIAN
JOURNALISTIC ACCURACY. END COMMENT. FUNDERBURK
END OF MESSAGE CONFIDENTIAL
CONE 1 DENT I AL
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