Holy See representative urges Open Society Foundations-Armenia not hide its anti-propaganda of Armenian Church behind the charity

Head of the Holy See Social Services Office Marcos Rev. Mangasaryan referred to the statement of the head of Open Society Institute Foundations-Armenia office Larisa Minasyan that the Armenian Apostolic Church is the only religious establishment ever financed by the OSF. She also said that in 2010-2011 $50,000 grant was provided for the organization of summer camp for 130 children from socially insecure families.

Marcos Rev. Mangasaryan has sent to Aysor.am a response to the statement, condemning the approach adopted by the OSF-Armenia denying the fact of its denial attitude toward the Church, hiding it behind the charity done for the organization of the rest of 130 insecure children.

Mangasaryan reminded the public discussion organized on December 18, 2019 by the Partnership for Open Society and Open Society Foundations-Armenia which he said was an anti-propaganda and sowed hatred toward the Armenian Apostolic Church.

“Were any representatives of the Armenian Church or civil society organizations not sharing the viewpoints of the OSF invited to the discussion? Of course, not, otherwise they would not have managed to voice from the UN chair in Geneva days later their report on behalf of Armenia’s civil society full of problematic assessments and observations,” Mangasaryan said, adding that the document-proposal circulated there was telling about the violation of freedom of religions and expression and the violation of state’s secular grounds due to the growing interference stance of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

The report stated that the Church not only has the monopoly envisaged by the law to enter education system and armed forces but it abuses its power interfering in the activity of these structures violating their secular nature.

“Now basing on this fact I ask what can be supposed from the reality of these discussion organized with the efforts of the Open Society Foundations –Armenia and the report the OSF has ratified? Does it support the anti-propaganda of the Armenian Church or not? You should not hide under the charity you made. Selfless charity is always a commendable act,” Rev. Mangasaryan said.