wfn.org | New Russian law protects Orthodox C

[ENS.parti@ecunet.org (ENS)]

October 16, 1997
Episcopal News Service
Jim Solheim, Director
212-922-5385
ens@ecunet.org

97-1978
New Russian law protects Orthodox Church

by Michael Barwell
      (ENS) Despite protests from religious and government leaders
around the world, Russian President Boris Yeltsin signed a new law in
late September guaranteeing the Russian Orthodox Church a virtual
monopoly on religious activity in post-Communist Russia.
      The controversial bill, which Yeltsin had vetoed earlier this year,
ensures the Russian Orthodox Church takes a place at the top of a new
hierarchy of religious groups, at the same time curtailing the activities
and rights of new "sects", --including the Roman Catholic Church. 
      But Russian Orthodox relationships with the Church of England
and the Episcopal Church are now "among the warmest ever," according
the Bishop Roger White of Milwaukee, who is co-chair of the
coordinating committee for relationships with the Russian Orthodox
Church.  
      "Russia has been inundated by mainline, evangelical and religious
sects," White said. "They were being overwhelmed by them." White
added that other Christian denomination's efforts to convert Russians--
including members of Orthodox congregations--broke long-standing
agreements among members of the World Council of Churches not to
proselytize, or convert, members of other churches. "They just didn't
know what to do."
      White added that the Episcopal Church's position has been to
support and not be critical of the Russian Orthodox Church. "We are
their closest friends, and they are feeling very lonely right now," White
said.
      "It is even more essential that we continue to build on the very
practical relationship between our two churches," said the Rev. David
Perry, ecumenical relations officer for the Episcopal Church. "Trust,
mutual respect and partnership are key elements to ensure a continuing
witness together in the midst of the many challenges that face the people
of Russian and the Russian Orthodox Church."
      "Although the law looks very harsh on religious freedom, it is not
unexpected," White said. "Russia modelled their law on other European
laws, and even on some U.S. laws which bar outsiders from beginning
new missionary work without local sponsors." 

"Sweeping rollback?"
      Critics of the new law were not as kind in their interpretation.
      "It is the most sweeping legislative rollback of human rights since
the birth of post-Soviet Russia," according to press reports quoting
Lawrence Uzzell, a representative of the Keston Institute, which monitors
religious freedom in former Communist countries.
      While the measure pledges "respect" for Christianity, Islam,
Judaism and Buddhism, it accords secondary status to any church or
religious organization which has not been present and registered in the
country for at least 15 years, or before the collapse of the Soviet empire
in the early 1990s. Few religious institutions were allowed to legally
operate under the Communist regime--except for the Orthodox Church,
which was tolerated and tightly controlled.
      The law, strongly endorsed by Patriarch Alexy II, is seen as a
move to curb the influence and affluence of American evangelical
groups, Roman Catholics, Mormons, and a host of religious sects which
have poured enormous amounts of money and personnel into missionary
programs in post-Communist Russia. 
      In the past, Alexy II and other prominent Orthodox leaders have
expressed their horror at the assumption that Russia is not a Christian
country. They have said they view the Russian Orthodox Church as
having survived a 72-year persecution--a mere blink in the church's
thousand-plus-year history. Efforts to "reclaim lost souls" by evangelicals
and other groups are seen as an affront and invasion by the strongly
nationalistic church leaders.
      Historically, relationships with Anglican--and subsequently with
Episcopal--churches have been extremely cordial. The friendliness dates
back to the time of Peter the Great, who was enamored with the
European Enlightenment, according to church historians. Anglicans also
tend not to proselytize--or seek to convert from other religions -- in
Europe. The Russian church in the past was not threatened by Anglican
congregations which catered primarily to expatriate and diplomatic
communities in major cities.
      But even Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey warned that the
new law could lead to discrimination against minority religions.

Status of Anglican Churches    
      How the new law influences the past cordial relationships between
the Episcopal/Anglican church and the Russian Orthodox remains to be
seen, White said, but for now looks favorable for continuing to be
recognized as a long-standing organization.
      "We have had an Anglican chaplaincy in Moscow for a long, long
time, so it appears it will qualify," White said. That technicality of being
officially recognized for at least 15 years--even though St. Andrew's had
been seized by Stalin and turned into a warehouse and recording studio--
may allow Episcopalians and Russian Orthodox to continue their official
relationships.
      During the General Convention in Philadelphia, Bishop Richard
Grein of New York warned that U.S. government threats to impose
financial sanctions against Russia because of the Religious Freedom Act
would be a wrong response. Grein told the bishops during debate of a
resolution that U.S. understandings of religious freedom are not
universal.
      "Russian ideas on freedom of religion are very different from
ours," Grein said. "But they are working on it," he said, adding that to
withhold money from Russia at such a critical time is the wrong
response. 
      Continuing talks with the Russian Orthodox leaders to foster
ecumenical relations, providing practical help, and facilitate exchanges of
clergy and lay people will continue in New York after the Frank
Griswold is installed as presiding bishop. Archbishop Clement of Kaluga
and Borovsk, deputy of the Russian church's department of external
affairs, wrote recently that Moscow's external affairs department is being
reorganized, and that they would be unable to attend a meeting scheduled
for late October.  
      White discounted dire predictions of significant hardship by all
religious organizations. "There will be a leveling time for them to sort
out who should be doing what. Although it looks harsh on religious
freedom, it is not unexpected."

-- Michael Barwell is deputy director for news and information of the
Episcopal Church.