Russian Government: Catholics and Protestants More
Dangerous Than Satanists?
December 13, 2002
International News Analysis Today Exclusive Report
By Toby Westerman
Copyright 2002 International News Analysis Today
www.inatoday.com
Catholic and Protestant Churches in Russia constitute a greater danger to the Russian state than do satanic cults or Islamic extremism, according to documents identified as official government sources, as reported in the Russian newspaper Gazeta.
The Italian news daily La Stampa carried a summary of the Gazeta document, and the scandal it is causing.
The document, which Gazeta states comes from Russia's Ministry of Nationality, declares that the "Catholic Church of Rome" regards Russia as a "province," and denounces efforts to convert Russian Orthodox believers to the Catholic Faith.
The Catholic Church is first on the list of extremist religions, and is a "source of danger" to Russia, because many of its personnel in Russia are non-Russians, or "have studied abroad," according to the report.
The attack is ironic, because the Catholic Church in Russia has not experienced any documented cases of clerical misconduct along the lines of the scandals involving Catholic clergy in the United States.
Protestant denominations hold second place on the list of dangerous groups. Protestants are accused of using "humanitarian aid" to convert Russians from the "traditions of the people" and alienate the citizens from the "State."
A class of "pseudo-religions" constitutes the third group on the list, including Scientology, the cult of Reverend Moon, and Satanism.
Islamic extremism ranks as only number four on the list of dangerous religions, despite the recent attack upon the Moscow theater by Chechen Moslem militants, causing well over one hundred deaths.
The Russian document cited by Gazeta recommends the establishment of a Ministry of Religions, which would have the power to regulate religious activity in Russia. La Stampa views the proposed Ministry of Religions as the next step for Russian Orthodoxy to reclaim its status as "State religion."
Vladimir Zorin, chief of the Minister of Nationalities, denies that the final draft to the Security Council contains any of the statements cited in the "Gazeta" document, La Stampa reported.
Whatever the precise details of Mr. Zorin's document, the bitter reality is that religious life for Catholics and Protestants in Russia is harsh.
By law there are only four recognized religions in Russia: Russian Orthodoxy, Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism. Clergy of these religions are supported by the state, and must avoid at all cost any conflict with the state - including questions of morality.
"Local religious leaders rarely take a position on state matters that have a direct impact on their moral teachings and beliefs," and they must leave certain issues unmentioned, including abortion, homelessness, and the military's war crimes in Chechnya, according to a report from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Missionaries of various faiths find it increasingly difficult to locate their congregations, with some Russian authorities demanding that missionaries obtain permission from the local Orthodox priest to settle in an area, according to news reports.
The Catholic Church, however, retains the status of religious enemy number one.
The already uncertain relationship between the Catholic Church and Russian Orthodoxy turned hostile in February 2002 when the Vatican increased the number of Catholic dioceses in Russia to four.
A spokesman for the Russian Orthodox Church branded the reorganization as "an unfriendly action."
Catholic/Russian Orthodox relations continue to deteriorate to this day.
Bishops and priests have difficulty reentering Russia once they leave the country, provoking denunciations from representatives of the Catholic Church in Russia. Russian authorities have also denied building permits for new Catholic construction.
Earlier this year the Catholic Church in Russia narrowly missed becoming a banned organization in Russia.
In May 2002, the Duma - Lower House of the Russian parliament - almost passed a resolution to outlaw the Catholic Church in Russia (226 votes were needed, 169 voted in favor, but only 37 voted against proposed ban).
Copyright 2002 International News Analysis Today
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