A Christian couple in Norway became embroiled in a battle with social services in November after their five children (Eliana, Naomi, Matthew, John and Ezekiel) were removed on charges including ‘Christian radicalisation and indoctrination’.
Marius Bodnariu, a Romanian citizen, and his wife Ruth, a Norwegian citizen, were former members of Philadelphia Pentecostal Church in Bucharest. They married in Romania, moved to and settled in Norway approximately ten years ago, to start and raise a family in Ruth’s hometown.
Parents arrested
According to a Facebook page set up in support of the family, the ordeal began on 16 November when Norway’s child welfare services, the Barnevernet, took the two oldest children out of school, without their parents’ knowledge, to an undisclosed location. Officials and police then visited the family home, where, apparently without any documentation, they seized their two sons and arrested Ruth, who they took to the police station along with three-month-old Ezekiel. Marius was arrested while he was at work and also taken into custody.
Marius and Ruth were interrogated for several hours and then allowed to return home with Ezekiel. However, the Barnevernet returned the following day to take baby Ezekiel, claiming that Ruth was ‘dangerous’.
Refused access
Over the next two weeks the parents were refused access to their older children and were told that they had integrated well into their separate foster homes and didn’t miss their parents. Subsequently, it was agreed that the couple be allowed to see Ezekiel twice a week for two hours at a time, Ruth will be allowed to see their younger boys once a week, but they will be denied any contact with their daughters.
Allegations
The family’s lawyer was eventually able to secure a document clarifying the allegations against them, which included being ‘radical Christians who were indoctrinating their children’. The family attended a hearing on 27 November to appeal against the decision, but the Barnevernet rejected their arguments.
On 2 December, in an update of the Facebook page, Marius's brother Daniel reported that it has emerged that the social services investigation was prompted by a call from the principal of the daughters’ school, who had concerns about how the children were being raised, disciplined at home, and about the nature of the family's Christian faith.
‘God punishes sin’
She cited how the parents, aunts, uncles and grandmother of the children believe that ‘God punishes sin’. She apparently does not believe them to be physically abused at home, but believes that the parents need ‘help’ and guidance in raising their children. Importantly, however, when the principal realised that they were about to remove the girls from the family, she refused to collaborate further with the Barnevernet.
Daniel, who is a pastor, added that when investigators interrogated the girls about their home life, they admitted that they hide some things from their parents because they fear being pulled by the ear or spanked. Daniel added that the girls explicitly told investigators that, although they might fear punishment, they do not fear their parents.
It would appear that the Barnevernet has a long history of similar actions, particularly with regard to the families of immigrants.
Living nightmare
Daniel, Marius’s brother, said: ‘Marius and Ruth love their children and have taken every imaginable step in raising their children with loving care. The tearing apart of their family by the Barnevernet is a living nightmare for them. However, their hope is founded, and rests, in God; he can change any situation and is always in control! Please pray for Marius, Ruth and their children as God can give them deliverance out of this difficult trial.’
