Urging the Government of Romania to recognize its responsibilities to provide equitable, prompt, and fair restitution to all religious communities for property confiscated by the former Communist government in Romania.

Bill: 109-hres-191
Sponsor: Rep. Lantos, Tom [D-CA-12]
Introduced: 2005-04-06 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Catholic Church
Church and state
Church property
Churches
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil actions and liability
Claims
Communism
Compensation (Law)
Crime and Law Enforcement
Destruction of property
Europe
Expropriation
Farm lands
Forests, forestry, trees
Government Operations and Politics
Government liability (International law)
Human rights
Judicial opinions
Law
Maintenance and repair
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Religion
Religious liberty
Rent
Right of property
Romania
Synagogues
Treaties

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-06
text: 
Notes with concern the unwillingness of past Romanian governments to provide fair restitution of religious property that was confiscated by the former Communist government of Romania.
 
 Calls on the Government of Romania to: (1) respect the constitutional rights of existence and practice of all religious communities to celebrate and practice their own religion in respectable locations; (2) provide fair restitution to all religious communities under Romanian law and in accordance with the Constitution of Rumania and all international agreements to which Romania is a party; and (3) amend Decree-Law 126/1990 to require that claims involving Romanian Greek Catholic properties be heard by an independent nonreligious commission, and to prevent the demolition of Greek Catholic churches.

action_date: 2005-05-23
text: 
Notes with concern the unwillingness of past Romanian governments to provide fair restitution of religious property confiscated by the former Communist government of Romania.
 
 Calls on the Government of Romania to: (1) respect the constitutional rights of all religious communities to practice their religion in respectable locations and openly communicate their religious beliefs; (2) provide fair restitution, including agricultural and forestry land restitution, to all religious communities under Romanian law and in accordance with the Constitution of Rumania and all international agreements to which Romania is a party; and (3) amend Decree-Law 126/1990 to require that claims involving Romanian Greek Catholic properties be heard by an independent nonreligious commission, and to prevent the demolition of Greek Catholic churches.
 
Calls upon the Government of Romania, with respect to Romanian Law No. 501/2002, to: (1) amend the law to reflect the principle of &quot;restitution in integrum&quot; and restore full property ownership; (2) reduce to one year the period during which public institutions can continue to occupy confiscated religious properties; (3) provide compensation for demolished religious properties; (4) increase the rent paid to religious communities for properties which they cannot immediately regain use; (5) cease requiring religious communities to cover state maintenance costs for confiscated buildings; and (6) obligate local governments to cooperate in implementing Special Restitution Committee decisions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-05-23
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2005-05-23
text: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3729)
action_date: 2005-05-23
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H3729)
action_date: 2005-05-23
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 191.
action_date: 2005-05-23
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3729-3732)
action_date: 2005-05-23
text: Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.
action_date: 2005-05-18
text: Subcommittee on Europe and Emerging Threats Discharged.
action_date: 2005-05-18
text: Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2005-05-18
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2005-04-12
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Europe and Emerging Threats.
action_date: 2005-04-06
text: Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
action_date: 2005-04-06
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2005-04-06
text: Introduced in House