The Priest of Thorns – Endless Thorns: Another Chapter


The independent catholic priest Pater Don Demidoff, aged 61, Member of the International Council of Community Churches USA, can now add a new chapter to his book titled "The Priest of Thorns" (ISBN 973-0-03816-3). On November 23rd 2005 the High Court of Cassation and Law requested the Ministry of Domestic Affairs to grant to the German citizen the unlimited right of residence and to pay him damages with a total value of ROL 500 million (approx. EUR 14.000). In February 2004, the same amount was claimed from the Ministry of Health, payable to the priest that took care, from the Revolution on, of abandoned children. Due to the fact that the Father is always tireless and represents without any impediment the right of children and of the discriminated, and due to the fact that he leads a constant fight against corruption, he has been constantly attacked by the Romanian government for the last 14 years, and especially when he requested the extension of his right of residence. Demidoff hopes that this time the state will pay the amount fairly and without any hidden interest. Mr. Barzan, the Minister of Health of that time, refused to pay the due amount up to the moment that the priest sequestered the Ministry’s car. The entire amount was used for the restoration of his church, the Church of Pain, as Mr. Demidoff called the ecumenical church of Iacobeni that he restored, as well as for the activities performed for the homeless children and for the home from Cincu (Transilvania). The Romanian lawyer, Aneta Vovca, who represented the priest and his foundation in over 100 trials, sees this "battle" as an important step towards the road for Europe.