wfn.org | Reaction to Russian Law

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (179
notes).

Note 177 by UMNS on June 23, 1997 at 15:38 Eastern (3540 characters).

Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Linda Bloom                           365(10-21-71B){177}
          New York (212) 870-3803                    June 23, 1997

Moscow bishop voices concern
over new Russian law on religion

               by United Methodist News Service

     The United Methodist bishop based in Moscow has expressed
concern about a new law on religion passed recently by the Russian
parliament.
     According to Bishop Ruediger R. Minor, bishop of the Eurasia
Area, the law passed June 18 -- called "On Freedom of Conscience
and Religious Associations" -- "severely restricts freedoms to
exercise religion both privately and corporately, freedoms granted
by the law presently in force."
     Expected to pass on third reading in the near future and go
to President Boris Yeltsin for his signature, it would replace a
more liberal 1990 law on religious activity. Yeltsin does have the
option of vetoing the new law.
     According to Religion News Service, Senator Richard Lugar, R-
Ind., a United Methodist, has urged President Clinton to discuss
the new law with Yeltsin at the Summit meeting in Denver.
     Under the new law, Minor said, a "lower category" of
religious associations is introduced. Groups in that category
would have no legal status and face restrictions such as not being
able to publish or own property.
     In a June 21 letter to other United Methodist bishops,
boards, agencies, ecumenical representatives and the wider
Christian community, Minor stated that the action of the Russian
Federal Duma to implement such restrictions was no surprise. But,
he added, "Up to now, common sense, wisdom and statesmanship have
in previous times successfully resisted those attempts."
     Minor said he was most concerned because the law "contradicts
and violates the very principles of what the ecumenical community
has been standing for."
     Since the ecumenical community has defended the rights of the
Russian Orthodox Church for years, "it is sad to listen to the
commentaries of Russian Orthodox representatives who praise the
new law while forgetting about Christian fellowship and
solidarity," he added.
     Local United Methodist churches in Russia could be "severely
affected" if the new law were enforced. "Some of us have already
experienced the intimidation that comes as a fallout of such
changes of the political climate," Minor reported.
     The Rev. Bruce Robbins, general secretary, United Methodist
Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns,
expressed his own dismay at the new law.
     "I find it deeply disappointing that the Russian Orthodox
Church and the Russian government would support a law with these
kinds of sweeping restrictions," he told United Methodist News
Service. "I can understand the difficult situation in Russia with
the tremendous influx of all sorts of Christian groups and other
sects, but I wish there was another way to address the situation."
     In his letter, Minor asked United Methodist representatives
in the World Council of Churches, Conference of European Churches
and U.S. National Council of Churches to encourage those bodies
"to provide a forum for honest discussion" about the ecumenical
fallout from the new law.
     He also encouraged discussion with representatives of
Orthodox churches regarding the matter.
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