How would it be perceived, if I convened press conferences every other day and complained that besides my newspaper, people also read other newspapers and demanded directly or indirectly that the government ban all newspapers, except for Aravot? Such an attitude would be perceived as strange, to say the least – there is information, there is a market of ideas, be so kind as to find your readers yourself.
However, when clergymen of our Armenian Apostolic Church complain about sects, it is usually perceived as normal, moreover, it is often considered as legitimate concern. It is certainly right that sects are many and there are such sects among them that inflict spiritual and physical damage on people. However, the state must be guided exceptionally by the law – if the given religious organization is eligible for registration, it should be registered and operate in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Armenia. The rest is the citizens’, i.e. our, problem. If I see that someone takes antisocial actions for sectarian reasons – for example, s/he is engaged in quackery – I must report to the law-enforcement bodies. If I think that the law on religious organizations is too liberal, I should struggle, in order that it becomes stricter. In the end, both we, ordinary citizens, and, more so, priests should warn our brothers about the dangers of sects.
However, the priests’ demanding that the government ban sects is an admittance of their own inability. Find the words that will keep people away from the wrong path. And more importantly, behave so that your behavior with its restraint and modesty convinces people to follow the right faith. Otherwise, looking for “imperialistic,” “Judeo-Masonic” or “Mormon” conspiracy; let us leave this paranoia to politicians.
…Garegin II, the Supreme Catholicos of All Armenians, is on a patriarchal visit to the US. As far as I know, he hasn’t been to Syria or Iraq, where our compatriots’ problems are surely bigger and where, therefore, his “patriarchate” is much more needed, on such a visit recently. Moreover, the Holy See seems to be careless about Armenians in Syria who have been going through hardships recently. There is no denying, a visit to the United States is much more pleasant – they will treat one to food, drink and perhaps give presents.
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Aram Abrahamyan
