Authorities re-register Catholic Hrodna diocese

May 16, Pozirk. Belarusian authorities have re-registered the Hrodna diocese of the Roman Catholic Church as a religious association, grodnensis.by reported.

Alaksandar Rumak, commissioner for religions and nationalities, handed the certificate to Hrodna Bishop Uładzimir Hulaj yesterday, it noted.

The move follows the re-registration of the Catholic Minsk-Mahiloŭ archdiocese about a month ago. There is no information about similar procedures for the two other Belarusian Catholic dioceses in Viciebsk and Brest region’s Pinsk. All dioceses along with the archdiocese are accountable directly to the Holy See.

The Belarusian Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church was re-registered in September. Other religious associations have until July 5 to complete the procedures outlined in the amended religion law adopted one year ago.

The amendments expand the grounds for closing religious organizations and ban religious associations from expressing political positions that differ from the official line.

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