New Macedonian Religion Law Threatens Serbian Orthodox Church

Forum 18 reported on Monday that Macedonia's new "Law on the Legal Status of a Church, Religious Community and a Religious Group," passed last September and scheduled to come into effect May 1, is designed to prevent the Serbian Orthodox Church from gaining legal status. The Serbian Orthodox Church has experienced ongoing problems in Macedonia. (See prior posting.) The new law is unclear on what unregistered churches may do. Its provisions may also adversely affect the Bektashi Muslim community, Seventh Day Adventists and various Baptist Churches. The law clearly maintains the legal status of the Macedonian Orthodox, Catholic and Methodist Churches , and of the Islamic and Jewish communities.