Bucharest, October 9, 2026
Photo: pdxmonthly.com
The Romanian Patriarchate is watching with concern as a bill that would decriminalize certain acts involving drug possession for personal use moves forward.
In a statement released by its Press Office, the Church urges that any change to the law put the protection of life, personal health, and the well-being of families and communities first.
In the statement, the Patriarchate says no legislative change should make drug use seem like a minor matter or normal behavior, and that prevention, educating young people, and supporting families must come first. It calls for firmness toward drug traffickers who exploit people’s vulnerability, and says the Church is ready to stand with those struggling with addiction and their families through prayer, pastoral counseling, and fraternal help.
The full text of the statement follows:
The Romanian Patriarchate notes with concern the bill on decriminalizing certain acts related to the possession of drugs for personal use, and considers that any change to the legislation in this area must have in mind, as a priority, the defense of the gift of life, the health of the person, and the good of the family and the community.
Particular attention must be paid to children and young people, who are at a stage of life in which they need moral reference points and models of healthy living. In this regard, the Romanian Patriarchate stresses that no legislative change should create the impression that drug use is something lacking in seriousness or normal behavior. Preventing drug use, educating young people, and supporting families must always take precedence.
The Church also draws attention to the responsibility of those who exploit people’s vulnerability through drug trafficking. In the face of such practices, society is called to show firmness in order to protect children and young people in particular and to stop the spread of behaviors that bring suffering to the person, the family, and the community.
The Church’s pastoral experience shows that many of the wounds people suffer from addictions are not healed through isolation and stigmatization, but through compassion and support for healing. In this regard, the Romanian Orthodox Church reaffirms its readiness to stand beside people affected by addictions and their families, through prayer, pastoral counseling, and fraternal assistance.
The Romanian Patriarchate hopes that the public authorities and all those involved in the debate on this legislative initiative will have the health of individuals, the harmony of the family, the protection of the young generation, and the support of those who are victims of drug use as their primary aim.
In April, the Romanian Church issued a statement warning of the social and moral dangers of gambling.
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