The (Not-So) Daily Cegerth

[Cegerth]

The Daily Cegerth

Accipere Quam Facere Praestat Iniuriam

 

Reformational Orthodox Church In Uproar Over Religious Income Tax Law

 

The Reformational Orthodox Church of Cegerth (ROCC) has staged protest marches all over Eastern Cegerth in response to the religious income tax law passed by the parliament last week. This law, proposed by minister of Finance Juhan Sarazen (47) and regulating that churches must, like all institutions where a sizable amount of money passes hands, pay income tax. This was the subject of a long debate in the Parliament, with the Liberal Party (of which Sarazen is a member) being in favor, the Confessional Christian Union being staunchly opposed to it, and the Secular Socialist Party (the largest party in Cegerth, of which the current president is a member) being divided. The law was, in the end, passed with a small majority of votes.

 

The varied religious institutions of Cegerth are outraged at the government's decision, but the ROCC has by far been the most outspoken about it. The Reformational Orthodox Church, though only followed by about 6% of Cegerth's populace, has a following of 58% of the total population in the eastern areas of Cegerth. Not only followers of the ROCC, but also those of other religious groups and the occasional secular attended the protest marches. The ROCC has claimed that 2,150,000 people participated in the actions; local authorities believe that the correct number lies at 800,000. The 'pope of the ROCC', clergyman Salis Juzic (63) has claimed that the Reformational Orthodox Church will not pay any taxes to any worldly government. It will remain to be seen if Juzic and his Church will keep this promise.

[Suverina]

The government is ruled under the will by god. So the god rules the country through the government. Not paying taxes will be like not obeying the lord! Burn the sinners!

[Cegerth]

((Ooc question: Was that a public message to Cegerth, an off-hand comment by your local Person In Charge, or a fanatical OOC comment? In either case, with Cegerth being a republic where a lot of indecent things are allowed and the official state religion is atheism, they wouldn't think the same way.))

[Cegerth]

The Daily Cegerth

Accipere Quam Facere Praestat Iniuriam

 

Protests Flare Up As Government Sells Historical Church Property To Large Private Construction Company

 

Controversy abounds in Cegerth as the Government announces its confiscation and subsequent sale of the Teratch Cathedral to CegerthiCon, Cegerth's leading private construction company. This is in response to the Reformational Orthodox Church's refusal to pay the religious income tax, featured in the Daily Cegerth earlier this week. According to a government spokesperson, CegerthiCon paid 100 million cegers (an amount equivalent to 149,25 million USD) for the property. The ROCC, along with other religious groups and individuals, is outraged.

 

The Teratch cathedral was built in Teratch, capital of Cegerth's easternmost province, in 1121 AD, and is both a historic and touristic site as well as the ROCC's primary site of worship.

 

"This scandal is only further proof of the depths to which our nation has sunk." , clergyman Salis Juzic (63) announced in response. "The government - even parts of the CCU - is godless and corrupted to perform such a thing. Not only should the church answer to no worldly government, they also recieved far more money for the sale of the holy place than they demanded in taxes. I call upon all true believers in Cegerth to stand up against this depraved course of action."

 

Again, many have taken to the streets in protest against this controversial action. Unlike the earlier protests against the newly-passed law, participation is far higher (both the ROCC and local authorities confirm that the total attendance lies at around 4 million people) and raged across all of Cegerth, though still strongest in its easternmost province, Sisketch, where following of the ROCC is strongest and the Cathedral of Teratch is located. Additionally, the protests are attended by far more than just outraged Reformational Orthodoxists.

 

"I'm not very religious, I'll be the first to admit that." , says Joanna Telserm (21), a History student at the university of Cegetholm, one of the estimated 12,500 to participate in the protests in Cegerth's capital. "But the cathedral has existed for almost nine centuries, and it is not right to sell a historical site like that to a private construction business which'll plant a shopping complex there. Not for any amount of cegers."

 

Police reports to have taken 360 people in custody who have commited acts of violence against the police and public during these actions. These people, mostly from Sisketch and from hard-line ROCC communities, have been released overnight, save the three responsible for the grave injury of a police officer in the Sisketchan town of Jogsym. An anonymous police spokesperson has stated to the Daily Cegerth that charges against these three will be filed.

 

Tensions run high in the Parliament as the new law continues to be the subject of much debate. Again, the Liberal Party is in favor, and the Confessional Christian Union is heavily opposed. The Secular Socialist Party remains divided.

Edited June 26, 2006 by Cegerth (see edit history)

[Suverina]

((Ooc question: Was that a public message to Cegerth, an off-hand comment by your local Person In Charge, or a fanatical OOC comment? In either case, with Cegerth being a republic where a lot of indecent things are allowed and the official state religion is atheism, they wouldn't think the same way.))

A somewhat inofficial message to the Orthodox church of Cegerth.

[Tagmatium Rules]

To: the Republic of Cegerth

From: the Greater Holy Empire of Tagmatium

Re: Treatment of the Reformational Orthodox Church of Cergerth

 

The Imperial Government of Tagmatium is becoming increasingly disturbed by the actions of the government of Cergerth?s actions against the Orthodox community living within its national borders.

 

As Tagmatium is an Orthodox Christian nation, we feel that this does border on an unjust persecution of a community of co-religionists within your nation, especially the sale of the Teratch Cathedral. We feel we must protest against these actions.

 

OOC: Thanks for covering for my blooper, Ceg!

[Cegerth]

From: Cegerth Ministry of Foreign Relations

To: Greater Holy Empire of Tagmatium

Re: Treatment of the Reformational Orthodox Church of Cegerth

 

The Greater Holy Empire's concern has been noted. This law was, however, passed by the majority of the democratically elected government - and therefore, that same majority is needed to revoke it. The ROCC is not discriminated any more or less as any other religious group by this law. Though the Cathedral of Teratch is now owned by CegerthiCon, it is still a historical monument and protected as such. The construction company will have to go to great lengths to construct the economic complex it allegedly plans to build on the site. However, it may still use the Cathedral to generate revenue, such as charging for entry.

 

The government of the Republic understands the concern Tagmatium may have about this issue; however; we wish to stress that the ROCC is treated equally to all other religious groups, and the Cathedral will likely remain intact. Cegerth does not wish its relations with Tagmatium to be strained, especially with the important recent canal-building endeavor Tagmatium is undertaking which is of significant importance to Cegerth's naval trade.

[Suverina]

To: Cegerth

From: Suverina

 

But if Suverina and Tagmatium would but pressure on Cegerth's government to remove it. Suverina and Tagmatium happens to be powerfull neighbours to Cegerth. The government and church of Suverina have full interest in protecting the interests in any orthodox churches in Europa.

[Cegerth]

From: Cegerth Ministry of Foreign Relations

To: Government of Suverina

Re: Pressure

 

Cegerth, though understanding the foreign concerns arising by this issue, would like to stress the point that, although it does not wish for detrimental relations with other countries, much less its neighbors, it is Cegerth that makes and repeals its own laws, as any other country does with theirs. The Republic, however, does not wish to create an international conflict over this, and will take the concerns of Suverina into consideration.

[Tagmatium Rules]

To: the Republic of Cegerth

From: the Greater Holy Empire of Tagmatium

Re: Taxation

 

The Imperial Government of course respects that the law in question was democratically government and has no wish to infringe upon the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cegerth. We accept your assurances that the Orthodox Christian community within your borders is not being unjustly persecuted nor treated any differently than members of other faiths. Members of the Orthodox Church of Tagmatium may wish to visit the ROCC to confirm this, but this will not colour Tagmatine governmental policies in any way.

 

The sale of such a historical monument, especially one of a religious nature that is important to people within your nation and communities out side of it, does sit uneasily with the Imperial Government, although this is just a reflection of the socialist policies and actions of Tagmatium. It is felt that a business owning such a monument can only detract from the building and damage its future prospects especially as it a historical building that is of importance and interest not just to those interested in the history of Cegerth but also the wider region. An economic complex within the cathedral?s ground would undoubtedly detract and even damage the historical nature of such an ancient building.

 

Although, again, the Imperial Government does realise that it cannot infringe upon Cegerth national sovereignty and demand the cancellation of the sale and the return of the cathedral, not just to the Orthodox Christians and people of Cegerth, but to the people of the wider region of Europa as well. To this end, Tagmatium wonders whether some deal could be made over the future of the cathedral. Of course, it is well within Cegerth rights to reject such and offer. The Imperial Government also recognises that this wouldn't be som much as a deal with the Cegerth government, but with the company of CegerthiCon.

Edited June 27, 2006 by Tagmatium Rules (see edit history)

[Akiiryu]

To: The Republic of Cegerth

From: The Sublime Principate of Akiiryu

Re: Taxation, Foreign Interference

 

 

It has come to the Baronic Council's attention through its diplomatic corps in your fair nation that the Orthodox nations of Tagmantium and Suverina are questioning your government's recent decision to seize and sell Teratch Cathedral inresponse to the Reformational Orthodox Church's refusal to pay your government's recently installed religious income tax. As a country that has taxed its religious organisations since the beginning of time, the Sublime Principate wishes to express its support for your government's actions. The Sublime Principate finds the Suverinese government's talk of working with Tagmatium to exert pressure on the government of The Republic of Cegerth, and reference to the relative strength's of Suverina and Tagmatium vis-a-vis Cegerth especially offensive. While the Baronic Council is sure the government of Tagmatium in no way condones such implied threats, it does find its lack of willingness to distance itself from the Suverinese government's statements troublesome. With that in mind, the Baronic Council is willing, if necessary, to issue a public statement of support for you government.

 

However, although the Baronic Council does supports the Republic of Cegerth's right to both tax and nationalise religious assets, it also wishes to express its hope that Teratch Cathedral will be retained, unchanged, as a national historic treasure.

 

Mod: Thread cleaned of Tag-Aki debate, see OOC

[Cegerth]

FROM: Cegerth Ministry of Foreign Relations

TO: Tagmatium

RE: Taxation

 

As this matter is now out of the hands of the Republic, the government of the Greater Holy Empire will indeed be better off making contact with CegerthiCon. The Ministry of Foreign Relations is certain that its CEO will be willing to listen to any Tagmatine proposals regarding the cathedral's future.

 

FROM: Cegerth Ministry of Foreign Relations

TO: Akiiryu

RE: Taxation, Foreign Interference

 

The Baronic Council's concern support is noted and appreciated. The Republic wishes to assure the Council, however, that an arrangement between the involved parties is being worked out even now. Furthermore, the Republic wishes to congratulate Akiiryu on its extensive knowledge of the unpublished messages sent to Cegerth by the concerned countries.

Edited June 27, 2006 by Cegerth (see edit history)

[Akiiryu]

***Encoded***

To: The Republic of Cegerth

From: The Sublime Principate of Akiiryu

Re: Taxation, Foreign Interference

 

The Baronic Council is pleased to support the Republic of Cegerth. As to the Baronic Council's knowledge of "unpublished messages", the Baronic Council can only state that the Akiiryan diplomatic corps is observant and the religious communities in all countries concerned are less than discreet. You will also no doubt understand that due to our peacekeeping role in Suverina the Akiiryan government has good reason for monitoring Suverinese diplomacy.

[Tagmatium Rules]

To: CegerthiCon

From: the Greater Holy Empire of Tagmatium

Re: Teratch Cathedral

 

It has come to the attention of Imperial Government of Tagmatium that this company has purchased the Cathedral of Teratch and is planning to change it from its historical function as the spiritual centre of the Orthodox Christian community of Cegerth, as well as constructing a large economic complex up on this site.

 

As a predominately Orthodox Christian nation, Tagmatium feels uncomfortable with this process, and therefore wishes to purchase the site from CegerthiCon. Your purchase price of this site from the government was, if our calculations are correct, amount to $14,925,000. Taking this into account, as well as any profits that the company was took make through either rent or sale of properties in the economic complex, the Imperial Government?s bid to purchase the Teratch Cathedral is $20,000,000.

 

We hope this offer proves to be acceptable to the board of managing directors of CegerthiCon.

[Cegerth]

FROM: CegerthiCon Inc.

TO: Government of Tagmatium

RE: Cathedral of Teratch

 

Tagmatium's unprecedented offer has stirred some debate amongst the executive board of CegerthiCon. We have not yet decided on a course of action, but will soon inform the Imperial Government of our reaction to its offer. In either case, due to restrictive laws the Cathedral will likely remain standing as it is. We do, however, reserve the right to charge for access.

 

Most Sincerely,

Peter Selskirm

CEO of CegerthiCon Inc.

[Cegerth]

The Daily Cegerth

Accipere Quam Facere Praestat Iniuriam

 

Selskirm Found Dead In Teratch Hotel Room!

 

Yesterday evening, Peter Selskirm (52), CEO of construction firm CegerthiCon, which has been in the news recently due to its controversial purchase of the cathedral of Teratch, announced a press conference in the same city of Teratch, capital of Sisketch province, regarding the Cathedral's future. However, this morning an employee of the hotel where Selskirm had been staying for the night found him dead in his room! The local police was informed immediately and closed up the scene for investigation. An anonymous police spokesperson has stated that foul play is suspected, but has refused to provide more information regarding the alleged crime. This spokesperson also stated that the local police corps has asked for specialized help from the Cegetholm police forces.

 

CegerthiCon has cancelled the press conference, and will be canceling all their operations for the next two days in Selskirm's memory. The date of the funeral is yet unknown, as Selskirm's body will likely still be required by the police forces for the sake of forensic research. The Daily Cegerth will, of course, provide more information on this as it becomes available, and we wish mr. Selskirm's wife and children strength in these hard times.