Three Romanians initiate hunger strike over tower next to cathedral

Published: 2006-07-18

BUCHAREST, Romania (CNS) -- Three Romanian Christians have initiated a hunger strike to protest the construction of an 18-story office building next to the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Bucharest, while the Senate is investigating the builder. Camping out at a busy intersection across from the Romanian prime minister's office, Lucia Matei Golopentia, Georgeta Zecheru and Ion Doja Fodoreanu said they hoped to bring attention to the cathedral crisis and demonstrate Christian unity in the face of government indifference. "All of the parishioners of St. Joseph's are upset and furious at this construction, as I am," said Golopentia, a Roman Catholic. "We cannot hear the priests saying Mass, the noise is so loud. My heart tells me that to save the cathedral I should make this gesture, and I will continue as long as I can resist," she said.

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