15 religions are recognized by the government and may receive government financial support with the Romanian Orthodox receiving the most support. To obtain legal status and exemptions from taxes, religious groups must register with the State Secretariat for Religious Affairs. 385 faiths, organizations, and foundations have been registered as religious associations though this registration process is extremely slow currently. These religious associations are still not acknowledged as religions and are not allowed to found churches or perform rites. There are reports from Protestant denominations of harassment and interference with proselytizing and worship by low-level officials.
Missionaries often have great difficulty when obtaining long-term visas.
The Orthodox want to be considered the national religion of Romania, gain special status with the government and to limit proselytism and other activities of non-Orthodox religious groups and churches. A Romanian boy testified that police coerced him and a second boy to make false accusations of sexual misconduct against Chuck Bronson, an American church supported social worker. Bronson had been arrested in March and spent two months in prison before being charged. There is no evidence that prisoners are being held for their Christian beliefs at this time. Pray for the Christians of Romania that they may continue to be protected from harm and that the Christian message may be heard and received by all.