Transylvanian Reformed Church District Denied Restitution of Székely Mikó High School

Six years ago, the Reformed high school was renationalized by the Romanian state, after which the Transylvanian Reformed Church District appealed to the Romanian Supreme Court. On 22 November 2018, the Court rejected the appeal to rightfully reclaim the school.

A White Book to Document Injustice

With the publication of a new White Book to document the illegalities of property confiscation in Romania, we hope that finally the foundation of our lives may be justice and peace. The long struggle between the Transylvanian Reformed Church District in the Reformed Church in Romania and the Romanian government in regards to Székely Mikó High School continues, but this new publication seeks to highlight the contested property on an international scale.

Communiqué regarding the Székely Mikó Highschool

The Transylvanian Reformed Church District turned to the Strasbourg European Court of Human Rights in the case of the Reformed Székely Mikó High School’s renationalization in Sfantu Gheorghe (Sepsiszentgyörgy), Romania.

Study on the case of Székely Mikó High School of Sepsiszentgyörgy

The Research Institue for Hungarian Communities Abroad has published a study analysing the case of church property, Székely Mikó High School of Sepsisentgyörgy.

Human Rights Alert Issued about Re-nationalization of Székely Mikó High School

"Since all legal recourse has been exhausted in Romania for the Hungarian Reformed Church and the three defendants, their only hope for fair decision rests in the European Court of Human Rights", the New York based Hungarian Human Rights Foundation states in its latest Alert in regard to the case of the Székely Mikó High School. The alert explains the situation of the church property restitution in Romania.

Statement of the Presidium of the Transylvanian Reformed Church District regarding the decision of High Court of Ploiesti on 26 November 2014

RCH's Statement of Solidarity with the Transylvanian Reformed Church District

The Synod Council of the Reformed Church in Hungary approved the following statement on the court ruling of the  Ploiesti  High Court in regards to Székely Mikó High School in Sepsiszentgyörgy/Sfântu Gheorghe

Statement of The Transylvanian Reformed Church District’s Extraordinary Assembly on the 29th of November 2014

The Extraordinary Assembly of the Transylvanian Reformed Church District approved unanimously the following statement regarding the Re-Nationalization of the Székely Mikó Reformed High-School in Sepsiszentgyörgy/Sfântu Gheorghe by the Romanian State on the 29th of November 2014.

Reformed Church in Romania Fears Potential Precedent in Re-nationalization of Church Property

At an extraordinary Assembly of the Transylvanian Reformed Church District on 29 November, convened in Cluj following a heavily criticized High Court ruling on the re-nationalization of the Székely Mikó High School, the district’s Bishop, Béla Kató, even offered his resignation, which was unanimously rejected by the Assembly members.

Heavy Protests against Re-nationalization of Church Property in Romania

After the High Court of Ploiesti announced its ruling on 26 November 2014 about the legal status of the property of the Székely Mikó High School, and restored the building to the local government of the city, the Transylvanian Reformed Church District, lawful owner of the property, launched a wave of protest.

Updated: Battle Over Church-Owned Property Still Ongoing in Romania

The Transylvanian Reformed Church District's battle with the Romanian government concerning the re-naturalization of church-owned property will come to a head 21 January when the court will reconvene for the next court session. It will likely be the final turning point in the prolonged legal battle. Bishop Béla Kató released the following statement on 18 January concerning the case:   "We look at the confiscation of our rightful property under the communist tyranny as historical injustice, and now we must suffer the fear and pain of loss again. We recognize with bitter displeasure that the Romanian administration of justice and current political powers will polish their worn prestige by once more taking away – based on half-truths and false testimonies – what was already lawfully returned and dragging through the mire the names of those who simply performed their duties in this matter."

Nationwide Protest Against Buzau Court Decision Regarding Re-Nationalisation of Church Property

On 1 September, 2012 church delegations from all over Transylvania are going to gather at the grounds of the Székely Mikó Reformed High School in Sepsiszentgyörgy (Sfântu Gheorghe), protesting against a legal verdict issued by the Romanian government to re-nationalise the school which is owned by the Transylvanian Reformed Church District in Romania. Dr Géza Pap, bishop of the Transylvanian Church District has asked all deans, ministers, elders and congregation members to join the cause and raise their voices together against the unfair decision of the Buzau Court.