Holy Synod Demands Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Respect Church Autonomy

The Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church released a statement on January 18, 2015, regarding a recent violation of religion, canon, and governance that took place in the Haro Bealewold Church. The Synod condemned the actions of those who claimed to have been appointed as bishops outside of the church’s religious laws and revoked their priesthood authority. This decision was met with joy from the priests and lay people of the Church and support from various religious and civic organizations both in Ethiopia and abroad.

However, the statement also addressed the explanation provided by the Honorable Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on January 23, 2015, regarding the current situation in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. The Holy Synod’s position on the Prime Minister’s explanation is as follows:

1. The government’s underestimation of the consequences of the Synod’s decision and the belief that the issue can be resolved through conversation ignores the impact of religious and canonical decisions and interferes with the teachings of the Church.
2. The Prime Minister’s instructions that no cabinet member should interfere with the matter and respect the decision of the Holy Synod nullifies the authority given to the executive body by the constitution and encourages disorder.
3. The separation of government and religion, as stated in the constitution, should be respected and the government should not interfere in the religious and canonical affairs of the Church.
4. The behavior of the government, including the hijacking of the Pope’s apostolic mission and the dispersal of a Christian worship crowd, calls into question the rule of law and the government’s responsibility to ensure the security of institutions.
5. The Synod strongly urges the government to rectify its behavior and fulfill its constitutional responsibility to ensure the rule of law and the security of institutions.
6. The Holy Synod also urges the government to consider the law and the ancient history of the Church and its indebtedness to the country, as well as to approach both the legally recognized Church and the illegal groups from an equal viewpoint, rather than encouraging illegality.

In conclusion, the statement from the Holy Synod highlights the importance of respecting the religious and canonical decisions of the Church, as well as the constitutional separation of government and religion. The Synod urges the government to fulfill its responsibilities to ensure the rule of law and the security of institutions.