The Romanian Patriarchate has taken note with concern of the critical situation of the Bodnariu family in Norway due to the forced separation of the five children from their parents, following the decision of the Norwegian local authorities.
We consider that, regardless of the legal reasons invoked by the authorities, the role of parents, respectively of the family, must remain a priority in raising and educating children, which does not exclude the cooperation with the state. In this respect, the Church permanently supports the family as a natural environment for giving birth to, raising and educating children in the spirit of the fundamental values for the European culture and civilization of Christian origin.
We express our hope that, through an objective analysis of the Bodnariu family case undertaken by the responsible factors in Norway, the natural re-integration of the five children in the family where they were born and raised will be reached.
Press Office of the Romanian Patriarchate
