Christian Church Service Suspended

A Christian church in Mondulkiri had its operations suspended by municipal and military police on Sunday morning after the Sen Monorom City Hall determined it had not received adequate permission from the local authority. Municipal police section chief Chan Pheng said the Cambodian-owned church, which offered professional healthcare and religious services out of a rented residential space, would have to acquire official authorization before reopening. The church will also be issued a fine for its infractions.

“The Christian church opened to cure people without asking for permission. We will allow them to request a license,” Mr. Pheng said, adding that if the church plans to continue offering healthcare services it will need authorization from the local department of health. Sen Monorom Governor Long Vibol elaborated on the extent of the city’s requirements for the church to resume operations.

“It is not really a Christian church that has just been built. They only rented a house and created a seating area inside it. This is the right of the religion, but we want them to ask permission from the authority to let them know how many followers and families there are in the congregation,” the governor said. “They also have to ask for a license from the department of religion to let them know that they have organized a place for worship.”

read more http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/26842/christian-church-service-suspended/