Following the publication of journalistic materials raising the issue of an alleged “illegal” teaching of the subject Religion, the Romanian Patriarchate makes the following clarifications:
1. According to the Constitution of Romania, “The State shall ensure the freedom of religious education, in accordance with the specific requirements of each religious cult. In public schools, religious education is organized and guaranteed by law” (Article 32, para. 7). At the same time, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance” (Article 18). Therefore, the participation of children and young people in Religion classes is a constitutional right, further regulated through Law no. 489/2006 on religious freedom and the general regime of religious denominations, through Law no. 198/2023 on pre-university education, and through the Methodology for teaching the subject Religion (approved by Order of the Minister of National Education no. 7,047 of 22 December 2025, with content similar to the Methodology on organising the teaching of the subject Religion in pre-university education, approved by Order of the Minister of Education and Scientific Research no. 5,232 of 14 September 2015 and amended by Order of the Minister of National Education no. 3,218 of 16 February 2018).
2. Law no. 198/2023 on pre-university education provides: “The framework curricula for primary, lower secondary and upper secondary education include Religion as a school subject, part of the common core. Pupils belonging to state-recognised denominations, regardless of their number within an educational institution, are guaranteed the constitutional right to attend Religion classes according to their own confession. Enrolment for Religion classes is made by written request submitted by the adult pupil or by the parents/legal representative in the case of a minor pupil. Any change of this option is also made by written request submitted by the adult pupil or by the parents/legal representative in the case of a minor pupil. If a pupil does not attend Religion classes, the school record is completed without the subject Religion” (Article 87, paras. 1–2).
3. According to the Methodology for teaching the subject Religion, the request to attend Religion classes is registered in the Integrated Information System of Education in Romania (SIIIR) and remains valid throughout the entire period of schooling in pre-university education, or until the option is changed (Article 3, paras. 4–5). This provision ensures both the constitutional right to attend Religion classes and freedom of conscience, in accordance with Law no. 198/2023 on pre-university education.
4. Regarding the grading of students in Religion classes, we note that assessment is part of the specific character of any school subject. The absence of assessment in Religion classes, or the search for alternative solutions to grades, constitutes an affront to its status as a school subject (part of the common core—an aspect also recognised by Decision no. 669/2014 of the Constitutional Court of Romania). A grade functions as an incentive for learning and is valued by pupils and teachers as a barometer of pupils’ effort. The effort made by pupils in acquiring knowledge and in shaping moral and religious attitudes and conduct should be rewarded and recognised.
5. We recall that, in Romania, Religion was the first subject listed in the school register until the atheistic communist regime. We also note that in most European countries Religion is taught confessionally. In several European Union states, Religion is allocated one hour per week (for example, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden) or two hours per week (for example, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Malta). The presence of Religious Education in European education systems reflects pedagogical and institutional continuity, as well as recognition and a way of valuing the formative and educational potential of Christian values, proposed through this school subject, in shaping the human personality at cognitive, emotional, volitional and attitudinal levels.
Religious Education contributes to the development of personal identity and to the understanding of humanity’s cultural values, and it offers elements of applied morality necessary for the spiritual well-being of the individual and the community. Religious denominations support an integral education of pupils and cooperate in designing the common elements of school curricula. For this reason, a very large number of pupils wish to participate and are enrolled in Religion classes.
Press Office of the Romanian Patriarchate
