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NOBODY DEMANDED CASH MACHINE RECEIPT FROM CHURCH
Siranush Papyan
Lragir.am News
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/interview23939.html
18:38:03 - 26/10/2011
Interview with Hovanes Hovanisyan, Candidate of Science, Assistant
Professor, on the tax on property, tax on land, the decision of the
government to amend the land code
Hovanes, the Armenian Apostolic Church has come up with a proposal on
the tax on property, the tax on land, the land code of Armenia. The
government has sent a draft law to the National Assembly. The appendix
to this draft law includes 286 buildings, including a resort, a meadow,
an artificial lake, a dental clinic, a villa, which will be exempt from
the tax on land and property. Do you think this is a regular action?
As a separate institution which has its interests, it should try to
gain privileges in the area where it operates. The church is also
trying to get privileges abroad, in the United States, it is trying to
get a status in Georgia together with other churches. Of course, having
a dominant position laid down in the Constitution, compared with other
religious organizations, it must try to get additional privileges. On
the other hand, I relate this to the recent rapprochement of the church
and the government at personal, institutional and other levels, and
this was something expected. On the other hand, I should say that I
cannot understand the wish of the church to have such a legal document
because I think the church is exempt from most taxes, and so far no
tax inspector has ever visited the church and demanded cash machine
receipts. In this meaning, the church enjoys privileges. So why is
it necessary to provide necessary legal justification? This is the
issue. I have to agree with the speaker of the National Assembly that
the draft law must be amended, and quite big changes are needed to it.
The draft law has a lot of opponents. For instance, Hovik Abrahamyan
is against privileges to the church, which will take place at the
expense of communities because some communities live on these taxes.
Is it possible that the bill will be voted down?
The state has units, including the local governments. The church as
such is not a unit, under the constitution, it is separate from the
state, and in this meaning it means that the state is interfering with
the affairs of the church because if you try to bring the church into
business, the functions of these two structures cross, which does not
favor the church and especially in such complicated social conditions.
Will the adoption of this draft law strengthen the church and make
it a major economic operator?
The European countries were in this process in the remote past,
and this process was overcome through different methods. In reality,
the church and the state have separated which is also laid down in
our constitution but we start this process a little later. The full
provision that the church is separate from the state must be applied
in our life which will benefit both the state and the church. Simply
today we do not have the understanding because the statesmen do not
pay attention to public opinion and do not see what moods are shaping
in the country. Most Members of Parliament own more property than
the church and often avoid tax obligations. I think if the church
separates from the state, it will benefit rather than suffer. It is
like the Russian-Georgian war when Abkhazia was de facto independent
but Georgia caused them to become de jure independent. In other words,
this is a situation when you have de factor privileges and there is
no need for de jure privileges, it may produce the opposite effect.
Maybe our government, the National Assembly are more pious and
therefore they grant so many privileges to the church?
I don't think it is a matter of piety. It is a matter of human,
interpersonal connections rather than institutional. The problems
come from there, rather than piety. In many cases, piety is an image
which they sometimes need to shape an aura but on the other hand
the discussion at the National Assembly shows that most government
officials are not pious and are ready to discuss these issues in a
constructive way.
Hovhannes, is there a need for modernization of the church and how
does the church approach modernization?
Because the church is a non-governmental institution and represents
the religious interests of a greater part of the society, in this sense
it is a dynamically developing body which needs constant modernization
and renewal which some progressive clergymen admit to.
In other words, when the society changes the church which is one
of the parts of this body has to change too. As a social body, the
church needs to be in constant change. Our problem is that sometimes
the church cannot keep up with the society and its demands. When the
Armenian Apostolic Church starts changing at the same pace as the
demands of the society and serves its interests and is fully fitted
in the field of constructive understanding, the society will bend
toward the church and the church will only benefit.
Does the society set demands before the society?
The society has several demands. And it must be viewed in the
spiritual field. In other words, a large part of the society has
spiritual needs which are satisfied in church, while another part
of the society needs increase of their social role. As well as
psychological needs. Some set forth political demands but I think
social demands are more important. In other words, the church must
focus on its social function more which it has from the beginning. It
must express its opinion on the problems worrying the society, as
well as the problems in the government bodies or the police. We know
that a lot of clergymen are active in the army, and the church must
be more active regarding the cases of violence in the army, the police
or penitentiaries, because these people are members of its community,
and they think so. Finally, the church has a great role in the sphere
of information because a greater part of the society is not aware of
every day and general activities of the society. I think the role of
the church will essentially improve if all these steps are taken.
What is a clergyman supposed to do in the army?
The army has a lot to do. Of all the clergymen I have met who served
in the army, they have a role but this role is not limited to the
administration of the religious function of belief. In the army, a
clergyman must be a good psychologist, help servicemen of junior age to
overcome a lot of issues, act as arbitrage, console. In other words,
a clergyman is the one who should preach love and mutual respect
among servicemen which our army needs badly. On the other hand, a
clergyman should not fear criticism of murders and other vices in the
army. If the clergymen carry out this function, the army will become
stronger, but on the other hand, there is no need to hunt on witches
in the army. We know that there are Yezidis, Assyrians in the army,
and it will lead to a situation which will divide. There is need to
preach love and friendship without hunting witches among servicemen.
Hovhannes, do you know any case among defrocked clergymen who were
punished for forcing people to make donations?
I don't have such information, whether any clergymen accepted money,
and I don't know how this thing is controlled. I don't know how the
budget of the church is made. I don't know what part of donations does
to Echmiadzin and what part remains with the local church. This is
confidential information, and I don't know if there were breaches,
and if anyone was punished for that. I cannot rule out financial
misuse in this institution which handles financial means.
From: Baghdasarian
Siranush Papyan
Lragir.am News
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/interview23939.html
18:38:03 - 26/10/2011
Interview with Hovanes Hovanisyan, Candidate of Science, Assistant
Professor, on the tax on property, tax on land, the decision of the
government to amend the land code
Hovanes, the Armenian Apostolic Church has come up with a proposal on
the tax on property, the tax on land, the land code of Armenia. The
government has sent a draft law to the National Assembly. The appendix
to this draft law includes 286 buildings, including a resort, a meadow,
an artificial lake, a dental clinic, a villa, which will be exempt from
the tax on land and property. Do you think this is a regular action?
As a separate institution which has its interests, it should try to
gain privileges in the area where it operates. The church is also
trying to get privileges abroad, in the United States, it is trying to
get a status in Georgia together with other churches. Of course, having
a dominant position laid down in the Constitution, compared with other
religious organizations, it must try to get additional privileges. On
the other hand, I relate this to the recent rapprochement of the church
and the government at personal, institutional and other levels, and
this was something expected. On the other hand, I should say that I
cannot understand the wish of the church to have such a legal document
because I think the church is exempt from most taxes, and so far no
tax inspector has ever visited the church and demanded cash machine
receipts. In this meaning, the church enjoys privileges. So why is
it necessary to provide necessary legal justification? This is the
issue. I have to agree with the speaker of the National Assembly that
the draft law must be amended, and quite big changes are needed to it.
The draft law has a lot of opponents. For instance, Hovik Abrahamyan
is against privileges to the church, which will take place at the
expense of communities because some communities live on these taxes.
Is it possible that the bill will be voted down?
The state has units, including the local governments. The church as
such is not a unit, under the constitution, it is separate from the
state, and in this meaning it means that the state is interfering with
the affairs of the church because if you try to bring the church into
business, the functions of these two structures cross, which does not
favor the church and especially in such complicated social conditions.
Will the adoption of this draft law strengthen the church and make
it a major economic operator?
The European countries were in this process in the remote past,
and this process was overcome through different methods. In reality,
the church and the state have separated which is also laid down in
our constitution but we start this process a little later. The full
provision that the church is separate from the state must be applied
in our life which will benefit both the state and the church. Simply
today we do not have the understanding because the statesmen do not
pay attention to public opinion and do not see what moods are shaping
in the country. Most Members of Parliament own more property than
the church and often avoid tax obligations. I think if the church
separates from the state, it will benefit rather than suffer. It is
like the Russian-Georgian war when Abkhazia was de facto independent
but Georgia caused them to become de jure independent. In other words,
this is a situation when you have de factor privileges and there is
no need for de jure privileges, it may produce the opposite effect.
Maybe our government, the National Assembly are more pious and
therefore they grant so many privileges to the church?
I don't think it is a matter of piety. It is a matter of human,
interpersonal connections rather than institutional. The problems
come from there, rather than piety. In many cases, piety is an image
which they sometimes need to shape an aura but on the other hand
the discussion at the National Assembly shows that most government
officials are not pious and are ready to discuss these issues in a
constructive way.
Hovhannes, is there a need for modernization of the church and how
does the church approach modernization?
Because the church is a non-governmental institution and represents
the religious interests of a greater part of the society, in this sense
it is a dynamically developing body which needs constant modernization
and renewal which some progressive clergymen admit to.
In other words, when the society changes the church which is one
of the parts of this body has to change too. As a social body, the
church needs to be in constant change. Our problem is that sometimes
the church cannot keep up with the society and its demands. When the
Armenian Apostolic Church starts changing at the same pace as the
demands of the society and serves its interests and is fully fitted
in the field of constructive understanding, the society will bend
toward the church and the church will only benefit.
Does the society set demands before the society?
The society has several demands. And it must be viewed in the
spiritual field. In other words, a large part of the society has
spiritual needs which are satisfied in church, while another part
of the society needs increase of their social role. As well as
psychological needs. Some set forth political demands but I think
social demands are more important. In other words, the church must
focus on its social function more which it has from the beginning. It
must express its opinion on the problems worrying the society, as
well as the problems in the government bodies or the police. We know
that a lot of clergymen are active in the army, and the church must
be more active regarding the cases of violence in the army, the police
or penitentiaries, because these people are members of its community,
and they think so. Finally, the church has a great role in the sphere
of information because a greater part of the society is not aware of
every day and general activities of the society. I think the role of
the church will essentially improve if all these steps are taken.
What is a clergyman supposed to do in the army?
The army has a lot to do. Of all the clergymen I have met who served
in the army, they have a role but this role is not limited to the
administration of the religious function of belief. In the army, a
clergyman must be a good psychologist, help servicemen of junior age to
overcome a lot of issues, act as arbitrage, console. In other words,
a clergyman is the one who should preach love and mutual respect
among servicemen which our army needs badly. On the other hand, a
clergyman should not fear criticism of murders and other vices in the
army. If the clergymen carry out this function, the army will become
stronger, but on the other hand, there is no need to hunt on witches
in the army. We know that there are Yezidis, Assyrians in the army,
and it will lead to a situation which will divide. There is need to
preach love and friendship without hunting witches among servicemen.
Hovhannes, do you know any case among defrocked clergymen who were
punished for forcing people to make donations?
I don't have such information, whether any clergymen accepted money,
and I don't know how this thing is controlled. I don't know how the
budget of the church is made. I don't know what part of donations does
to Echmiadzin and what part remains with the local church. This is
confidential information, and I don't know if there were breaches,
and if anyone was punished for that. I cannot rule out financial
misuse in this institution which handles financial means.
From: Baghdasarian